Easy Gluten Free Scones Recipe with Lemon Cardamom Glaze

You aren't going to believe how easy this gluten free scone recipe is to make (trust me, anybody can master this recipe), and nobody will have a clue that they're gluten free! The buttery, flaky scones are studded with blueberries and have a sweet almond flavor. A lemon cardamom glaze takes them over the top. [Step-by-step VIDEO below!]

The best gluten free scone recipe

These gluten free blueberry almond scones are moist and tender, not dry and stodgy like other gluten free versions. The technique is really simple (adapted from these almond shortcakes) and requires no special equipment aside from a cheese grater (for the butter—more on that in a minute!). You don’t even need to pull out your rolling pin.

Ingredients

These GF scones are made using a store-bought gluten-free flour blend. I’ve tested this recipe with both Cup 4 Cup Gluten Free Flour and Bob’s Red Mill 1-to-1 Gluten-Free Baking Flour, and had fantastic results with both. If you use another gluten free flour, make sure that it contains xanthan gum, which is important for the texture (otherwise the scones will be too crumbly). If you're not GF you can make this recipe using regular all-purpose white flour!

Almond flour scones

In addition to the all-purpose flour, these scones are also made with almond flour, which gives them a wonderfully moist and tender texture. I boost the almond flavor further by adding a splash of almond extract.

The recipe uses frozen wild blueberries, meaning you can make the scones year-round. I prefer wild blueberries to regular blueberries, as their smaller size incorporates better into the dough. (Plus, we always have frozen blueberries on hand, which we use in these oatmeal bars and over these pancakes.)

How to make gluten free scones

1. Mix together the dry ingredients, including all-purpose flour (regular or gluten free), almond flour, baking powder and salt. 
2. Using a cheese grater, grate cold butter directly over the flour mixture (if you have a box grater you can grate the cheese onto a piece of parchment then scatter it over the flour). Put the bowl in the freezer while you whisk together the wet ingredients. 
3. Toss the cold butter with the flour until evenly distributed.
4. Make a well in the flour then pour in the wet ingredients.
5. Add the frozen blueberries.
6. Gently incorporate all the ingredients until you get a shaggy, floury dough. 
7. Scrape the dough onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.
8. Use your hands to form it into an 8-inch round.

Cut the round into 8 wedges (no need to separate them), then brush the top with an egg wash. Sprinkle with sliced almonds. Bake the scones until golden. Let them cool on the pan for 5 minutes, then cut them again into wedges.

Easy lemon glaze

After the scones come out of the oven they're drizzled with a quick and easy lemon glaze, made with just powdered sugar and lemon juice. I also add ground cardamom, which beautifully complements the lemon flavor (but it’s optional). The glaze will harden as it sets over the scones, giving them a slight crunch.  

What makes a great scone?

There are two easy tricks to ensure that your scones turn out perfectly tender and flaky.

1. Use cold butter: Cold butter is key! Grating butter on a cheese grater creates perfect little strands that incorporate easily into the flour mixture (no pastry cutter needed!). The cold butter will create steam as the scones bake, resulting in a flaky texture.
2. Use a gentle touch: It’s important to use a gentle touch when forming the scones, as overworking the dough can result in a tough texture. Use your hands to gently press the dough into a ½-inch thick round. It should hold together, but you don’t need to do any kneading or rolling. 

How to make cherry almond scones

You can swap out the frozen blueberries in this gluten free scone recipe for dried cherries to make cherry almond scones. Feel free to also try dried apricots, cranberries and/or dates instead. For another variation, try these Cranberry Walnut Scones! 

Tips for making this recipe:

• I’ve tested these scones with Cup 4 Cup Gluten Free Four and Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free 1-to-1 Baking Flour and had fantastic results with both. If you use another gluten-free flour blend, make sure that it contains xanthan gum, which is important for the texture (otherwise the scones will be too crumbly). If you're not GF you can use regular all-purpose white flour.
• Using almond flour in addition to the regular flour helps keep the scones moist and tender. 
• I highly recommend investing in an inexpensive kitchen scale, not only because it makes baking so much easier (no measuring cups needed!), but also because it’s much more accurate, especially when using gluten-free flours.
• If you don’t have buttermilk you can use a mix of half plain yogurt and half milk (whisk them together), OR you can squeeze about 1 tablespoon of lemon juice into whole milk. 
• You can swap out the frozen blueberries in this recipe for dried cherries to make cherry almond scones.
• For another variation, try these Cranberry Walnut Scones or these Savory Cheese Scones!

FAQs

*This post contains Amazon and other affiliate links to products I use and love (from which I earn income, at no cost to you). Thank you for supporting From Scratch Fast!

Other gluten free baked goods to try:

• Gluten Free Baked Donuts with Maple Glaze
• Easy Almond Shortcakes
• Carrot Cake Muffins 
• Healthy Almond Coconut Cake
• Blueberry Blender Muffins
• Paleo Shortcakes

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Blueberry Almond Scones with Lemon Cardamom Glaze (Gluten Free)

These blueberry almond scones are ultra moist with an irresistible almond flavor. A lemon cardamom glaze takes them over the top, lending crunch and sweetness. This is a really easy scone recipe and requires no special equipment aside from a cheese grater (to grate in the butter). Freezing the flour and butter mixture for a couple of minutes while you whisk together the wet ingredients ensures it stays cold (the cold butter is key for flaky scones!). If you're not gluten free you can swap out the GF flour for regular all-purpose white flour (but keep the almond flour).

Prep Time20 mins

Cook Time15 mins

Total Time35 mins

Course: Breakfast

Cuisine: American

Keyword: blueberry almond scones, easy scone recipe, gluten free scone recipe

Servings: 8 scones

Author: Nicki Sizemore

Ingredients

Scones

• 2 cups (296 g) gluten-free all-purpose flour (such as Cup4Cup or Bob’s Red Mill 1-to-1 Baking Flour)
• ¼ cup (28 g) almond flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
• 6 tablespoons cold unsalted butter
• 2 large eggs, divided
• ⅓ cup sugar
• ⅔ cup buttermilk (*see hack below)
• ½ teaspoon almond extract
• 1 cup frozen wild blueberries
• 2 tablespoons sliced almonds

Lemon Glaze

• ½ cup (60g) confectioners’ sugar
• ⅛ teaspoon ground cardamom (optional)
• 1 ½ tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Instructions

Make the scones

• Preheat the oven to 400˚F (200˚C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, almond flour, baking powder and salt. Using the large holes of a cheese grater, grate the butter over the top of the dry mixture (alternatively, use a box grater to grate the butter onto a piece of wax or parchment paper, then transfer the butter to the bowl). Place the bowl in the freezer for 10 minutes to chill.
• In a small bowl, whisk one of the eggs with 1 teaspoon of water. Set aside (this will be the egg wash for later).
• In a separate bowl, whisk the remaining egg with the sugar, buttermilk and almond extract until smooth.
• Take the bowl out of the freezer, and toss the butter with the flour mixture until evenly incorporated. Make a well in the center of the bowl. Pour in the wet ingredients and add the blueberries. Slowly work the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until mostly incorporated but still shaggy and floury (you’ll finish bringing it together in a minute).
• Scrape the dough out onto the parchment lined baking sheet. Using your hands, gently bring the dough together and press it into a ½-inch-thick round (it should be 8-inches in diameter). You want the dough to hold together, but you don’t want to overwork it. Using a sharp knife or bench scraper, cut the dough into 8 triangles (make sure you cut all the way through, but you don’t need to separate the triangles).
• Brush the top of the scones lightly with the egg wash (you won’t need it all). Sprinkle with the sliced almonds. Bake until golden brown, about 22-25 minutes. Transfer the pan to a rack and let cool 5 minutes. Using a sharp knife or bench scraper, separate the triangles into individual scones.

Make the glaze

• In a small bowl, whisk together the confectioners’ sugar, cardamom (if using) and lemon juice. Drizzle the glaze over the scones (they can be warm or cooled). The glaze will harden as it cools.

Serve

• Serve the scones warm or at room temperature. SWOON!

Notes

Do Ahead: The scones can be stored at room temperature for up to 2 days, or they can be frozen for up to 2 months. To freeze, wrap the scones individually in wax paper or parchment, then store them in an airtight container or zip-top freezer bag. Defrost the scones at room temperature or in a microwave. We like to heat them slightly in a toaster oven before serving.

Tips:

• I’ve tested these scones with Cup 4 Cup Gluten Free Four and Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free 1-to-1 Baking Flour and had fantastic results with both. If you use another gluten-free flour blend, make sure that it contains xanthan gum, which is important for the texture (otherwise the scones will be too crumbly). If you're not GF you can use regular all-purpose white flour.
• Using almond flour in addition to the regular flour helps keep the scones moist and tender. 
• I highly recommend investing in an inexpensive kitchen scale, not only because it makes baking so much easier (no measuring cups needed!), but also because it’s much more accurate, especially when using gluten-free flours.
• If you don’t have buttermilk you can use a mix of half plain yogurt and half milk (whisk them together), OR you can squeeze about 1 tablespoon of lemon juice into whole milk. 
• You can swap out the frozen blueberries in this recipe for dried cherries to make cherry almond scones. 
• For another variation, try these Cranberry Walnut Scones or these Savory Cheese Scones!