Can You Freeze Scones?

Whether you like your scones sweet with jam and cream, or savory and cheese flavored, scones are a great afternoon treat or perfect for those mornings when you’re running short on time and need a quick, convenient option that will take minutes to prepare. 

If you bake your own scones, you’ll know that nothing quite beats that soft, crumbly texture when they’re fresh from the oven. 

 On the other hand, these baked goods do have a short shelf life and tend to go stale after a couple of days, which can be frustrating when you’ve baked a big batch. 

 If you keep your scones refrigerated, you might get them to last up to 4 days, but this still leaves you with a pretty short space of time to consume a lot of scones. 

One way around this is to freeze your scones. This way they’ll keep for 3-4 months, so you can make batches of these delicious doughy treats and have a stash on hand whenever your scone-craving kicks in. 

How to freeze scones 

Freezing scones is a little tricky to do, but the good thing is there are multiple ways to freeze them, and you can freeze both baked and unbaked scones. 

Want to find out how? Follow our guides below to get the best results… 

How to freeze unbaked scones 

1. Whip up your scone mixture as usual, and cut the dough into your scone shape before putting them on a baking tray or sheet.
2. Next, place the baking tray in the freezer, and leave the dough to freeze. This should take about an hour. This process means the dough won’t clump together in one big mass in the freezer. 
3. Once the scones have frozen solid, you’ll need to get a large, airtight container and place each scone inside. You can layer them on top of each other to allow them to fit. 
4. Add the storage date and pop the container in the freezer, ensuring the lid is on tightly to avoid freezer burn. 

How to freeze baked scones 

1. If your scones are freshly baked, allow them to cool down first. 
2. Wrap each one tightly in either cling wrap or aluminum foil. 
3. Next, place all the scones in a freezer bag and squeeze out as much air as possible. 
4. Write the date on the bag and pop it in the freezer. 

How to defrost scones

How to defrost your scones depends on whether you freeze them baked or unbaked.

How to defrost baked scones  

Defrosting baked scones is super easy. 

1. Simply transfer your scones to the refrigerator to thaw overnight or for several hours. 
2. Once the scones have softened, you can preheat your oven to 350 degrees ready to heat the scones. You can also heat your scones in the microwave on high for 10-15 second intervals. 
3. If heating in the oven, line a baking tray with parchment paper and warm the scones for 8-10 minutes, or until warmed through. 

How to defrost unbaked scones 

Unbaked scones do not require thawing. 

1. Preheat the oven to 350 to 375 degrees. 
2. Line a baking tray with parchment paper and spread out your frozen scones on it. Ensure they are evenly spaced so they don’t stick together when they expand in the heat. 
3. Pop them in the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. 

Factors to consider before freezing scones 

Defrosting and reheating time 

If you intend to use your scones as a quick breakfast treat or a convenient snack, it’s probably best to bake them beforehand and then freeze them. 

This way, you won’t have to cook them in the oven when it comes to thawing them, which should save you 10-15 minutes. 

As we mentioned above, you can also easily defrost your scones in the microwave, which is perfect for those mornings when you’re rushing around. 

Texture and taste  

Because scones are naturally drier than other cakes and hold less moisture, freezing them won’t have a dramatic impact on their taste or texture. 

That said, baked goods will always taste better the fresher they are, so it’s best to freeze your scones while they’re as fresh as possible, as opposed to a few days after you baked or bought them.

 Better still, if you can spare those few extra minutes to bake your scones later on, it’s a good idea to freeze them unbaked, as this way you still experience that great freshly-baked taste whilst also enjoying the convenience of freezing the scones. 

Enhancing your scones 

If you want to elevate your unbaked, frozen scones and revive them so they taste freshly-baked, there are a few easy ways to do this. 

Before popping your scones in the oven, brush them with egg wash, cream or milk, and sprinkle with sugar for added sweetness. 

If you’re an extra-sweet tooth, you can make an easy vanilla glaze to coat your scones with.

Simply whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract and drizzle on your scones once you’ve baked them and they’ve fully cooled. 

Summary 

Scones are delicious and are loved for their simplicity and diversity – they taste great plain, loaded with jam and cream, or can even be made as a savory treat with flavorings such as cheese and chive. 

Freezing your scones is a great way to save yourself time later on, or to have a convenient batch on hand for whenever you need a quick sugar-fix or an easy breakfast option. 

The great thing about freezing scones is that they can be frozen baked or unbaked, depending on how much time you have to reheat them later on. This means it can take minutes to whip up your favorite scone recipe and pop them in the freezer so you can bake them at a more convenient time. 

Scones have a notoriously short shelf life and can turn stale pretty quickly, even when refrigerated, so freezing is a great way of prolonging your scones and enjoying them for weeks on end without having to worry about them turning bad.