Scottish bran scones recipe shows you how to make easy, delicious and healthier scones. It's a traditional recipe and uses minimal ingredients.
My Scottish bran scones recipe isn’t like many of your fancier modern day scones recipes needlessly adding extra ingredients.
I mean after all, a scone is just a scone. Isn't it?
No, this recipe is made in the traditional Scottish way, with added bran.
That differs in particular from the traditional Scottish scone recipe which tends to have a higher butter and therefore a higher fat content.
We could of course have a debate about whether scones should be plain, like these, or have fruit in them, as in my wholemeal cranberry scones recipe.
And still, we could go one step further and bring in savory scones with perhaps cheese added?
And so the great scone debate could just rage on……..
Personally I think it’s just a matter of taste and preference.
Freshly made Scottish scones like these, take me back to childhood memories of Scottish High Tea at my Gran's house in Dundee. Complete with a towering cake stand. 🙂
What's High Tea Neil? Well allow me to explain.....
Scottish Bran Scones With Scottish High Tea
So "High Tea" what's that all about then?
Well. It's kind of a traditional "afternoon tea" or early evening meal which was generally served between 4pm and 6pm.
There are many definitions of what this afternoon tea consisted of, but my memories of what a traditional Scottish High Tea was all about mainly involve a piled high, 3 tiered cake stand!
Mostly I remember having High Tea at my grans, served on a Sunday, my brother and I salivating outside the closed dining room door in anticipation of the cake "delights" soon to be had.
Scones like these, were what you ate second, after the quartered meat paste sandwiches and then EVENTUALLY being allowed to get at the cakes, demolishing each tier one by one! 😀
The cakes? Everything from home baked fairy cakes (like the cherry bakewell muffins) to Dundee cake and chocolate flapjacks!
High tea was the highlight of a Sunday afternoon. Can you imagine as a kid knowing you have this in front of you? Yep, I think I know why I've always liked cake.
Sadly, High Tea is a tradition that is mainly served in Scottish hotels and pubs now. A tradition from the past, no longer carried out by any Scottish households I know.
It's a shame, because it really was a great custom, one where most Scottish families owned a 3 tiered cake stand. And all Scottish families had their own particular recipe for Scottish scones!
Do you have any such memories like this, or of particular cakes as a kid?
Maybe you have your own Scottish scone recipe? I'd love to know!
Tips On How To Make This Scottish Scones Recipe
- Your cubed butter is best cold in this easy scone recipe. This allows for a better rise.
- When adding the milk use a round bladed knife if you have one or a normal knife, not your hands or a spoon.
- Once an elastic dough has been formed stop and don't overwork the dough.
- Scones are always best eaten fresh and whilst still warm.
- You can store your scones for 2 - 3 days in an air-tight container. After that they will go stale.
- But you can freeze scones from this healthy scone recipe too, once they have completely cooled!
- Wrap the scones individually and put them in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- Defrost thoroughly by unwrapping them and allowing them to sit at room temperature for about an hour.
- You can reheat the defrosted scones by warming them in your oven at about 150C Fan for 5 to 10 minutes or just pop them in your microwave for 20 seconds on high.
For This Traditional Scottish Recipe You May Need….
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This is the mixing bowl I use for all my recipes.
Great value for money it's high quality and made of heavy earthenware.
A perfect mixing bowl, easy to clean and with a wide, shallow shape for easy kneading. It's dishwasher safe too!
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Other Popular Home Baking Recipes You Might Also Like
- Wholemeal cranberry scones. If you love scones, you’ll love these delicious fruity ones. They’re such a delicious easy bake. Great for sharing with family and much healthier than those made just with white flour too!
- Sweet potato spinach scones are a great way of using up leftover ingredients. They’re also an excellent snack or a weekend breakfast option. Delicious with melted cheese!
- Rock cakes are a delicious and easy treat. This traditional recipe shows you how to make 12 of the classic family favourites. Perfect with a cup of tea!
Scottish Bran Scones Recipe
Scottish scones are best served with butter and home made jam!
How would you have yours?
I’d love to hear what you think of my recipe in the comments below and please do rate my recipe 5* if you like it! 🙂
Scottish Bran Scones Recipe Recipe
The following links and any links in the recipe card below are affiliate links.
This means that if you click on it and then buy that product I’ll get a small commission (at no extra cost to you of course).
If you do click through then thanks for being a part of Neil’s Healthy Meals!
Equipment
Ingredients
- 225 g self-raising flour*
- 2 teaspoon baking powder
- 20 g caster sugar
- 2 tablespoon wheat bran
- 25 g butter cut into small cubes
- 75 ml skimmed milk
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 200C fan.
- Sieve the flour, baking powder and caster sugar into mixing bowl.
- Add the wheat bran.
- Add the butter cubes to the mixing bowl and using your fingertips rub the butter into the flour mixture to form a breadcrumb mixture.
- Gradually add the milk, mixing into the flour mixture to form a light elastic dough.
- Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface to about 1cm thick and then using a round 2"-3"/5cm - 7.5cm pastry cutter, cut out the scones one by one.
- Place the scones on a lightly greased baking tray and brush the tops lightly with milk,
- Bake in the oven for approximately 10 - 15 minutes. Check they are cooked before removing by inserting a skewer / toothpick into the middle of a scone, which should come out clean if they are ready.
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy
I have never made my own scones before, but I never realised how easy they are! I am doing an afternoon tea party soon, and I think these are going to have to be made for it.
neil@neilshealthymeals.com
Oh these will go down so well for an afternoon tea party!
Thanks Dannii! 😀
Jenn - a traveling Wife
Yum!! I think these would pair perfectly with my coffee this morning. 🙂 I would definitely put butter and maybe a chia jam.
neil@neilshealthymeals.com
Definitely a great pairing with coffee Jenn! I'm with you there. THank you.
Chia Jam is still something on my list to try. 🙂
Erin@BeetsPerMinute
Oh, I do love a good scone! The UK got me into them (and Scottish ones are the best ...just saying). I'm sorry to share this little story with you, but I must. As you were talking about your memory of high tea and treats associated with this activity. I was in York a few summers ago and went to a Bettys Cafe and Tea Room, which was pretty fancy for me since I had never done "high tea" before. I was with my snooty ex-boyfriend and they had a scone on the menu called the "Fat Rascal" -- well, when the waitress came over to take our orders I said, "I'll have an Americano and a Fat Bastard, please!" she was immediate like "sorry?" and I was like "OMG, sorry, I meant the fat rascal. Rascal, rascal ...". Well, I laughed alone. My ex rolled his eyes at me. The waitress didn't even crack a smile. That was the day I officially decided I prefer Scotland and not just for the scones! True story! 🙂
neil@neilshealthymeals.com
Erin, I read that at work on my phone and cracked up. 😀
An absolutely brilliant story! I do wonder who you were thinking of when you mistakenly asked for a "Fat Bastard" 😉
Scottish scones are the best though! Agreed!
Erin@BeetsPerMinute
I'm glad it gave you a good laugh! Honestly, I think they should stop being so stuffy and change it on the menu to the "fat bastard" haha that thing was like eating a brick! 🙂
Susie @ SuzLyfe
I want to have high tea with you... but only if we both get to wear hats 😀
neil@neilshealthymeals.com
Susie, not only will we wear hats but it'll be all proper with napkins, silver crockery like little sandwich knives and everything!
I'll be in a top hat naturally and you'll be in a huge ladies hat! 😀
Shashi at RunninSrilankan
Neil - these scones look amazing - they almost look like American "biscuits" - but with the added benefit of bran! I think jam is the best accompaniment - but - bacon and eggs would be wonderful for me too! 🙂
I remember having high tea with my folks when I was a young one in Sri Lanka - but it seized to exist when we moved to Abu Dhabi - thinking back, I think I preferred high tea to dinner/supper - and if I had the option now, I'd have to pick high tea too!
neil@neilshealthymeals.com
Mmmmm bacon and eggs. I'm still thinking of food and I've just had my dinner here!
Oh that's brilliant that you got to experience the delights of high tea when you were a young one in Sri Lanka Shashi. You totally understand what a wonderful concept it was! 🙂
Together with my scones and your cinnamon vanilla apple cookies we would have a huge feast!
Thalia @ butter and brioche
Scones are my favourite baked good EVER Neil! I have to try out your recipe as I never have made "Scottish" scones before and definitely think i need too.
neil@neilshealthymeals.com
Thank you Thalia.
My scones for starters and then a selection of your delicious cakes would be such an amazing high tea wouldn't it? 🙂
GiGi Eats
Luscious baked bread. I miss that.
neil@neilshealthymeals.com
Oh, sorry GiGi. But think of all that wonderful seafood you have to eat instead.
You need to come to Scotland, to the West Coast here. Lynne and I will take you to where the catches are brought in, cooked straight away and brought to your table 😀
Vicky & Ruth- May I Have That Recipe
Wow! I have never had Sccotish bran scones before...but i think i might have to make them and try them now! They look delicious!
neil@neilshealthymeals.com
Hi! Thanks so much for taking the time to read my Scottish bran scones recipe and to comment.
I hope you enjoy them! 🙂