Soft Vegan Lemon Blueberry Scones (Fresh or Frozen Berries)
Soft vegan lemon blueberry scones with bold citrusy flavour and juicy blueberries that are easy to make at home. This dairy-free, egg-free scone recipe uses homemade vegan buttermilk for a fluffy, light inner texture, and they bake up with golden crisp edges on the outside. A gluten-free option is included so everyone can enjoy this scrumptious treat with morning coffee or afternoon tea!
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
Make Vegan Buttermilk:
Pour the dairy-free milk into a measuring cup or bowl.
Add the lemon juice to the milk and stir. Set aside for 10 minutes.
Make Scone Dough:
In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
Add cubed butter to the bowl and, using a pastry blender, cut the butter into the flour mixture. Stop when the butter has broken down into pea-sized chunks. It's okay if some larger pieces remain.
In a small bowl, add the sugar and lemon zest. Mix them, occasionally pressing the back of the spoon against the mixture to help release the oil from the zest. Mix until both ingredients have combined well and look like wet sand.
Add the vegan buttermilk, lemon juice and vanilla extract to the sugar mixture and mix together until blended.
Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, add the blueberries, then gently stir with a wooden spoon until the mixture comes together to form the dough.
Working quickly, use your hands to press any loose bits together and form the dough into a ball.
Transfer the dough ball to a well-floured piece of parchment paper, sprinkle a little flour on top of the dough and form it into an 8-inch circle.
Transfer the parchment paper with the dough to a plate and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
After the chilling time has ended, remove the plate from the fridge. Place the parchment paper on a flat surface and, using a knife, a pizza cutter, or a bench scraper, cut the dough into 8 equal wedges.
Separate and transfer each wedge to the prepared baking sheet. Arrange them at least 2 inches apart.
Brush the top with the milk and sprinkle with the turbinado sugar.
Bake and Cool:
Bake for 18 minutes. They will be slightly brown on top and have golden edges when done.
Remove from the oven and place on a cooling rack.
Notes
Please read all of the information above, as well as the notes below, before making this recipe.
If you are making the vegan gluten-free version, use 2 cups (296g) of Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free 1 to 1 Baking Flour (Amazon link) in the blue bag, NOT the red bag. Different gluten-free flour blends use different ingredients and ratios, so results may not be the same if you substitute. I’ve only tested with this particular brand. This recipe will not work with coconut flour or any other single gluten-free flour.
If using frozen blueberries, keep them frozen right up until they are to be added to the mixture. Don't thaw them.
Storing Leftovers: Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days, then refrigerate for another 2 to 3 days.
Freezing: Once fully cooled, individually wrap the scones tightly, place them in an airtight container or freezer bag, and freeze for up to two months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight or at room temperature before serving.
The nutrition info listed below is based on one of 8 servings made as the recipe is written. The scones made with gluten-free flour have a rough calorie count of 190 per serving. Info is only to be used as a rough guide. Click to learn how nutrition info is calculated on this website.