Queen Elizabeth II's recipe for Drop Scones (2024)

ACTIVITY / CHALLENGE

This type of small pancake is made all over the world and is often known as a ‘drop scone’ or ‘Scotch pancake’ – it is very similar to American breakfast pancakes. After you make these, you can enjoy them with butter, jam or maple syrup – all are equally good!

This recipe was sent by Queen Elizabeth IIto President Eisenhower in 1960.

Children should have adult supervision when cooking

Ingredients

  • 1 free-range egg
  • 2 tablespoons unrefined caster sugar
  • 1 teaspoon unsalted butter, melted
  • 250ml full-fat milk
  • 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
  • 240g plain flour
  • 2.5 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1.5 teaspoons cream of tartar (if needed you can substitute baking powder for both the cream of tartarand the bicarbonate of soda)
  • 100g clarified unsalted butter

Equipment

Pancake griddle or non-stick frying pan

Method

  1. In a mixing bowl sieve together the dry ingredients: flour, bicarbonate of soda, cream of tartar and sugar. Add to this the milk and egg and whisk to a smooth batter, finally adding the warm melted butter.
  2. Pass through a sieve to get rid of any lumps and if necessary thin with more milk. The batter should have a dropping consistency, but remain thick enough to retain its shape on the griddle.
  3. Heat the griddle (or frying pan) over a medium heat and grease with clarified butter. Using a dessert spoon or small ladle, carefully pour spoonfuls of the batter on to the griddle. After one side has cooked, flip the scones with a palette knife to cook the other. Once you feel more confident you can cook a few scones at a time, being careful not to let them over-cook on either side.
  4. Serve warm with butter and home-made preserves.
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Queen Elizabeth II's recipe for Drop Scones (1)

Publication

Royal Teas

There is no more quintessentially British tradition than afternoon tea.

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Queen Elizabeth II's recipe for Drop Scones (2024)

FAQs

Queen Elizabeth II's recipe for Drop Scones? ›

This recipe is traditionally said to have been sent by Queen Elizabeth II to President Eisenhower around 1960.

Who got Queen Elizabeth's scone recipe? ›

This recipe is traditionally said to have been sent by Queen Elizabeth II to President Eisenhower around 1960.

What is the difference between American scones and British scones? ›

American scones use much more butter than British scones, and they usually have quite a bit more sugar. The extra butter is what makes them so much denser. This is not really a good or bad thing, as British scones pile on plenty of sugar (in the form of preserves/jam) and butter or clotted cream as toppings.

What is another name for drop scones? ›

In honor of all things Royal, we present to you a recipe for drop scones, otherwise known as "Scotch pancakes", that Queen Elizabeth made for President Dwight Eisenhower on the occasion of his visit to Balmoral castle in 1959.

Does the queen put cream on her scones first? ›

Well, according to Darren McGrady, a former chef who worked for the Royal Family for over 10 years, the Queen prefered jam first. He tweeted: “The Queen always had home-made Balmoral jam first with clotted cream on top at Buckingham Palace garden parties in the royal tea tent and all royal tea parties.”

What was Queen Elizabeth's favorite dish? ›

Game Meats and Wild-Caught Fish Dinners

The queen's preference for game meats even extended to more casual meals; she was, reportedly, a big fan of hamburgers made with ground venison. She usually skipped any potatoes, pastas or grains at her evening repast, but almost always had room for dessert.

What is the secret to making good scones? ›

Top tricks I learnt from the experts for baking perfect scones:
  • Resist the twist.
  • Use frozen butter.
  • Don't overwork the dough.
  • Freeze the dough. ...
  • Create rise and shine.
  • Follow this recipe.
  • Reduce the juice.
  • Fresh is best.
May 10, 2024

What is a scone called in England? ›

For those in Commonwealth countries — England, Scotland, Ireland, Canada, Australia, Wales, and so forth — the word biscuit signifies something most Americans would call a cookie, and a scone is, well, something similar to an American biscuit: round, bready, and only slightly sweet.

What are cookies called in England? ›

In many English-speaking countries outside North America, including the United Kingdom, the most common word for a crisp cookie is "biscuit". The term "cookie" is normally used to describe chewier ones. However, in many regions both terms are used. The container used to store cookies may be called a cookie jar.

What is Queen Elizabeth's pancake recipe? ›

Beat two eggs with 4 tablespoons of sugar and about one teacup (or 3/4 of a cup) of milk. Add 4 teacups of flour and mix in another teacup of milk "as required" Mix in 3 teaspoons of cream of tartar and 2 tablespoons of bicarbonate soda (baking soda) Fold in 2 tablespoons of melted butter.

What is the American version of a scone? ›

Biscuits and scones have the same British ancestor, but the early Southern colonists' version included butter, lard, buttermilk, and soft wheat, plentiful in the South. Over time, this fluffy and layered bread evolved into a regional commodity: the Southern biscuit.

What is an American scone called? ›

The last piece of the puzzle, an American biscuit is a crumbly leavened quick bread similar to what we call a scone in the UK.

Why was the Queen's mother called Cookie? ›

He was known to use disparaging nicknames for his family members when talking about them with friends and his wife, Wallis. Among them was "Cookie" for Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, because he thought she resembled an overweight Scottish cook, and Shirley Temple for Queen Elizabeth II.

What kind of jam did Queen Elizabeth eat? ›

The Savoy Hotel-trained chef, who worked for the Royal Family for 15 years, said: “The Queen was served jam pennies in the nursery as a little girl, she's had them for afternoon tea ever since.” “Simple, just bread and jam with a little butter – usually strawberry jam.

Did the Queen do her own dishes? ›

But, as it turns out, Her Majesty isn't quite as afraid of getting her hands dirty as we've all been lead to believe. In fact, she even does her own dishes, according to one royal source.

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