Homemade scones are a fresh and buttery breakfast treat. But sometimes, you may make or buy too many to enjoy right away before they lose their freshness. Which leads to the question, Can You Freeze Scones? The simple answer is yes! In this post, I will explain how to freeze baked and unbaked scones, how long they keep, and how to reheat them so they taste just as amazing as the day they were baked!
If you’ve just made a big batch of scones, and want to save some to enjoy for later, then no worries! You can freeze scones! In fact, you can also freeze unbaked scones, which might come in handy if you are meal prepping, or getting a head start on your baking for a weekend brunch. Baked scones will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months, while unbaked scones will keep in the freezer for up 3 weeks. Below I outline all the ins and outs of freezing, reheating, and storing scones.
If this article interests you please check out my other articles about freezing foods including:
What Are Scones?
Scones are a lightly sweetened baked good that is generally made with flour, baking powder, cold butter, and heavy whipping cream. They are often served with jam and butter or clotted cream. They come in a variety of flavors. Some have a sweet glaze on top. Scones can be made in circular rounds to look similar to an American biscuit, or cut into triangles and baked. They have a crumbly texture, and are served for breakfast, brunch, or afternoon tea. They originate from Scotland and are a popular baked good in England. However, they are also very popular in the United States because they are simple to make, require a handful of ingredients, and are super delicious! My 3 ingredient scones couldn’t be easier to make!
Can you Freeze Baked Scones?
Yes, you can freeze baked scones ! Scones freeze well because they don’t have a ton of moisture, so their overall texture is not greatly altered by the freezing process, whereas other baked goods can suffer from the freezing process becoming dried out.
How to Freeze Baked Scones
- Allow the baked scones to cool to room temperature.
- Wrap each individual scone in plastic wrap.
- Transfer the wrapped scones to a freezer safe bag, and place them in a single layer. Do not stack them on top of one another.
- Remove all of the air from the bag, and seal.
- Write the date on the front of the bag.
- Store in the freezer in a place where they will not get crushed by other items. This will keep them from crumbling while they are in the freezer.
- They will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months.
How to Defrost Baked Scones
- Remove the scones that you would like to eat from the freezer.
- Allow them to defrost at room temperature for at least one hour.
- Or transfer them to the refrigerator to defrost overnight.
- You can also defrost them in the microwave. Set the micrwave power to 50% and defrost for 45 seconds to 1 minute per scone. Time will vary depending on the size of your scone and how warm you want it.
How to Reheat Frozen Baked Scones
- If you’d like your scone to be warm, you can reheat scones in the microwave of in the oven. If reheating in the microwave, reheat at 100% power for 10-20 seconds per scone. Times may vary depending on your microwave.
- If you are reheating in the oven or toaster oven, set the temperature to 350 F. Place the defrosted scones on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Warm for 5-8 minutes.
Can you Freeze Unbaked Scones?
Yes, you can freeze unbaked scones! You’ll need to prepare your scones as you would up until the point in which you would place them in the oven. However, it is important to note that when you freeze unbaked scones they will not rise as well as they would if you were to bake them immediately.
How to Freeze Unbaked Scones
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Place the unbaked scones on the baking sheet leaving some room between each one, about 2 inches.
- Place the unbaked scones in the freezer for 1-2 hours or until the scones are hard. This step ensures that the scones won’t stick together when you transfer them to a freezer safe bag.
- Remove the scones from the freezer, and place them in a freezer safe bag or an airtight container in a single layer. Remove as much air as possible from the storage bag. If you have too many scones to place in a single layer, then use a piece of parchment paper between each layer.
- Write the date on the bag, or container. Unbaked scones will keep in the freezer for 3-4 weeks.
How to Bake Frozen Unbaked Scones
When you are ready to bake the unbaked frozen scones here’s what you need to do! You can bake the unbaked scones directly from the freezer to the oven. They do not need to thaw. It fact, it’s a bad idea to allow your unbaked scones to thaw. If you have made a scone with butter the butter needs to be cold to achieve a fluffy texture. If the butter melts during the thawing process you will have a dense texture. Here’s the way I recommend baking unbaked scones from the freezer.
- Preheat the oven to 350 F.
- Line a baking tray with parchment paper or aluminum foil. This will keep the scones from sticking.
- Place the frozen unbaked scones on the baking sheet leaving room in between each one, about 2 inches to allow the scones room to expand while baking.
- Place the baking sheet on the middle rack of the oven.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the tops are golden brown. Note: Baking time varies depending on your oven and the size of your scones. Keep an eye on them so that they don’t overbake.
FAQS
Deciding which way to freeze your scones really depends on your preference and reason for freezing. For example, if you want your scones to keep in the freezer for a longer period of time, then freezing them from baked is a better option because they will last for 3 months compared to 3 weeks for unbaked scones.
However, if you want a scone that tastes warm and freshly baked, then freezing unbaked scones is the way to go. You will have a fresh, just baked flavor and texture if you freeze them unbaked.
If your goal is to have a quick and delicious breakfast in the morning, that’s easy and doesn’t take a lot of prep time, then freezing baked scones is a better option for you. You can quickly take a scone out of the freezer in the morning, pop it in the microwave and have it ready in minutes.
Yes, you can freeze any type of scone dough whether it’s a cheese scone, a buttermilk scone, a blueberry scone, or anything in between. All scone recipes can be frozen! Following the same simple steps for freezing, defrosting, and reheating will yield a delicious scone that tastes like it was freshly baked!
No, you do not need to defrost your scones before baking. Whether they are baked or unbaked it’s not necessary to defrost them before reheating or baking. Although, there are some rules to follow to ensure you get a warm and toasty scone. If you are reheating a baked scone from frozen, do so in the microwave, not the oven. This will defrost and heat the scone at the same time. If you are baking an unbaked scone from frozen, there is no need to defrost it first. Place the frozen unbaked scones directly on your baking sheet, and place in the preheated oven.
Baked scones will last for up to 3 months in the freezer.
Unbaked scones will last for up to 4 weeks in the freezer, but 3 weeks is a better bet.
Baked scones will keep at room temperature for up to 3 days when stored in an airtight container or sealable bag.
You can keep baked scones in the fridge for up to 1 week in an airtight container.
Tips for Freezing Baked Scones
- Wrap each baked scone individually in plastic cling wrap, and transfer them to an airtight freezer bag, with the date and contents labeled. This will prevent freezer burn.
- Allow your scones to defrost before putting them in the oven to reheat.
- Brush the tops with some milk or an egg wash after they’ve defrosted, and before you put them in the oven. This will give them a nice glisten on the top.
- Sprinkle the tops with crystalized sugar for added decoration and sweetness.
More helpful food storage tips!
Please comment below if you found this article helpful or have any additional questions. You can also follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook for more family-friendly vegan recipes!
Can You Freeze Scones? Yes, Here’s How!
Equipment
- Plastic Wrap
- Freezer Safe Bags
Ingredients
- 12 scones
Instructions
How to Freeze Baked Scones
- Allow the baked scones to cool to room temperature.
- Wrap each individual scone in plastic wrap.
- Transfer the wrapped scones to a freezer safe bag, and place them in such a way so that they are in a single layer and not stacked on top of one another.
- Remove all of the air from the bag, and seal.
- Write the date on the front of the bag.
- Store in the freezer in a place where they will not get crushed by other items. This will keep them from crumbling while in the freezer.
- They will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months.
How to Defrost Baked Scones
- Remove the scones that you would like to eat from the freezer. Allow them to defrost at room temperature for at least one hour. Or transfer them to the refrigerator to defrost overnight.You can also defrost them in the microwave. Set the microwave power to 50% and defrost for 45 seconds to 1 minute per scone
How to Reheat Baked Frozen Scones
- If you'd like your scone to be warm, you can reheat scones in the microwave of in the oven. If reheating in the microwave, reheat at 100% power for 10-20 seconds per scone. Times may vary depending on your microwave.If you are reheating in the oven or toaster oven, set the temperature to 350 F. Place the defrosted scones on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Warm for 5-8 minutes.
How to Freeze Unbaked Scones
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Place the unbaked scones on the baking sheet leaving some room between each one, about 2 inches.
- Place the unbaked scones in the freezer for 1-2 hours or until the scones are hard. This step ensures that the scones won't stick together when you transfer them to a freezer safe bag.
- Remove the scones from the freezer, and place them in a freezer safe bag or an airtight container in a single layer. Remove as much air as possible from the storage bag.
- If you have too many scones to place in a single layer, then use a piece of parchment paper between each layer.
- Write the date on the bag, or container. Unbaked scones will keep in the freezer for 3-4 weeks.
- How to Bake Frozen Unbaked Scones
- Preheat the oven to 350 F.
- Line a baking tray with parchment paper or aluminum foil. This will keep the scones from sticking.
- Place the frozen unbaked scones on the baking sheet leaving room in between each one, about 2 inches, to allow the scones room to expand while baking.
- Place the baking sheet on the middle rack of the oven.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the tops are golden brown. Note: Baking time varies depending on your oven and the size of your scones. Keep an eye on them so that they don't over bake.
Notes
- Wrap each baked scone individually in plastic cling wrap, and transfer them to an airtight freezer bag, with the date and contents labeled. This will prevent freezer burn.
- Allow your scones to defrost before putting them in the oven to reheat.
- Brush the tops with some milk or an egg wash after they’ve defrosted, and before you put them in the oven. This will give them a nice glisten on the top.
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