Scones: compare the 3 variations
Time, effort, key ingredients, diets, nutrition and cleanup side by side, so you can pick the one that fits tonight.
Which should I make?
- Lightest Cheddar ChiveAbout 240 calories a serving, against 300 calories or more for the others (an estimate).
- Kid helper Cheddar ChiveA child can do 7 of the 12 steps: no knife, no heat.
Side by side
| Cheddar Chive | Classic Cream | Blueberry Lemon Glazed | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total time | 1 hr 2 min | 1 hr 5 min | 1 hr 30 min |
| Prep | 20 min | 20 min | 20 min |
| Level | Easy | Easy | Medium |
| Steps | 12 | 12 | 14 |
| Serves | 9 square scones | 8 scones | 8 scones |
| Key ingredients | all-purpose flour, sharp cheddar cheese and buttermilk | all-purpose flour, unsalted butter and heavy cream | all-purpose flour, blueberries and powdered sugar |
| Only in this one | baking soda, sharp cheddar cheese, chives and buttermilk | coarse sugar | lemon zest, blueberries, powdered sugar and lemon juice |
| Dietary | |||
| Calories | 240 | 300 | 380 |
| Protein | 7 g | 5 g | 5 g |
| Carbs | 24 g | 31 g | 51 g |
| Fat | 13 g | 18 g | 18 g |
| Cleanup | 4/5 2 things to wash | 4/5 2 things to wash | 3/5 3 things to wash |
| Kid helper | Yes, 7 of 12 steps | Yes, 7 of 12 steps | Yes, 8 of 14 steps |
Nutrition is per serving. Estimate from USDA FoodData Central; not medical or dietary advice. Dietary: Based on the ingredient list and estimated nutrition; check labels; not medical advice. Cleanup score: 5 means one thing to wash, 1 means six or more. We count pots, pans, bowls and appliances, not the knife, board and spoons.
How we pick
- Fastest: the shortest total time, at least 10 minutes ahead of the next.
- Easiest: the lowest level (easy, medium, hard), then at least 2 fewer steps.
- Lightest: the fewest estimated calories a serving, at least 15% and 40 calories under the next (only when two or more have an estimate).
- Kid helper: the variation where a child can do the biggest share of the steps (no knife, no heat), when that's not all of them equally.
- Least cleanup: the best cleanup score, a point ahead of the next.
- Make it ahead: the only variation whose notes say how to make it ahead.
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free or dairy-free: the variation that fits a diet the others don't, from the ingredient lines.
A pick needs a clear winner; close calls are left out.