I was recently asked by one of you (my readers) to try to recreate a scone similar to the strawberry and cream scone found at Panera Bread. I agreed to the challenge, but have yet to go purchase a scone from Panera. I have however, tried several attempts at making my own version of a strawberry and cream scone. I have learned quite a bit from my first attempt. Regardless of whether or not this scone is similar to the one found at Panera I am quite pleased with my creation. I still have every intention of stopping in someday soon and buying one of theirs to see how they compare. Who knows? Maybe I will need to make even another scone with strawberries though for now I am quite pleased with this one.
I have learned a lot from my first scone recipe I tried. I am learning more about how I prefer my scones and am having lots of fun trying different flavors. My favorite recipe to use as my base is still my chocolate chip scone recipe. It is so easy and come together in a matter of minutes. I am finding these a nice alternative to muffins. Now that I have a great base I just change the flavors by changing what I mix in to the scone…chocolate chip, blueberry-lemon, cinnamon, and now strawberries and cream. (I also bought some freeze dried raspberries that will be fun to experiment with as well.)
Strawberry and Cream Scones
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/4 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
Pinch of salt
1 cup freeze dried strawberries, coarsely broken
1/2 cup coarsely chopped white chocolate chips
1 cup heavy cream
1-2 tablespoons butter, melted
Additional sugar for sprinkling (optional) (I used sugar in the raw.)
Glaze:
2 teaspoons strawberry jam
1/2 cup powdered sugar
2 teaspoons milk (may need more but add gradually until you get the consistency you want)
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 375˚ F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Combine the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl; stir to combine. Toss in the freeze dried strawberry pieces and white chocolate chips and stir to blend. Add the heavy cream to the flour mixture, stirring just until a dough forms and the dry ingredients are incorporated. Knead the dough very briefly with well floured hands to ensure even mixing.
Shape the dough into approximately an 8 X 4 inch rectangle on a surface sprinkled with flour. Cut the rectangle into 8 equal pieces. (I cut my dough in half and then each half in half then down the center lenghtwise so that I have 2 rows of 4.) Once I have 8 pieces I then cut them diagonally. Separate the pieces and space them out on the baking sheet. Brush the melted butter on top, and sprinkle with sugar. Bake for 15-20 minutes. Let them rest on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes while you prepare the glaze.
For the glaze combine the strawberry jam, milk, and powdered sugar whisking together until well combined. Add additional milk as necessary.
Gently dip the top of each scone in the glaze. Let set for a few minutes and enjoy.
Freeze dried strawberries added to the flour mixture.
My initial cuts to make 8 pieces.
After the diagonal cuts and spaced out on the baking sheet.
Glazed and ready to eat!
These look divine!! My mouth is watering! I love anything strawberry and will attempt making these very soon!!
I just made them and I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this recipe. Just like Panera only MUCH BETTER WARM!!! My husband inhaled 2 as well. My only modifications to the recipe were that I used dried strawberries (because my store didn’t have freeze dried ones) and I ground the chocolate chips in a food processor turning them into powder because I wanted the white chocolate flavor throughout, not in chunks (it’s a personal preference). EXCELLENT–couldn’t tell the difference. Panera may not thank you because I won’t be there as much but I certainly do!!!
I am in the midst of making these scones. My store did not have freeze dried strawberries so I bought frozen. My dough is VERY moist probably because of the strawberries. I suppose I will have to drop them by spoonful instead of forming them. I am practicing to see if I think I can make about 100 of these for a tea. I really wanted them formed. Do you think it’s impossible to do with frozen strawberries or is there something I could do? I don’t think I can afford to buy dried, the frozen are much cheaper. I can add flour but am afraid that will ruin them.
Thanks for any help!
If you can’t find the freeze dried you could try just dried strawberries. They are with raisins and craisins. The other option is to use the frozen strawberries without thawing them. (You will want to coarsely chop them.) If you end up having to drop them by spoonful you could use a smaller scoop and they would still be fun for a tea. Hope this helps.
Dinah
These are so delicious! I omitted the strawberry jam in the glaze since I didn’t have any on hand. But followed the recipe exactly otherwise. These are so delicious. My husband is hooked on these and requests that I make them often. It’s one of our favorites, and I love that they are so easy to make. Thanks for sharing this awesome recipe!