Rhubarb Cream Scones
When it’s summer, or spring enough that the rhubarb has begun to poke through, there should be rhubarb scones on weekend mornings, but perhaps more importantly, on Monday mornings. When the sun is out at six and the birds start their noisy rave an hour earlier, my favourite thing to do (second to sleep, of course) is go downstairs, open the kitchen windows (the storms are off!) put on the coffee and turn on the oven, and bake some scones. It’s the perfect blank canvas, really – a carbohydrate pedestal on which to present whatever happens to be in season. Tart things are the best, I think – they provide a good contrast to the sweet dough. It’s especially nice when those tart things are free.
If you’re a fan – if you, like me, believe rhubarb deserves more credit than its free-for-all back alley image, if you call on your friends with epic rhubarb plants and ask to pluck a few stalks at every opportunity, then take it home and look for any opportunity to eat it – stewed, cocktailed, wrapped in pastry or turned into pale pink vinaigrette – you’ll be happy to know that you can swap chopped rhubarb – especially the thin stalks that produce smaller bits – for the blueberries and other fruit in muffins and scones. It’s true.
This has become my fall-back-on scone, my reason for buying whipping cream on the regular, and a means of using it up when you’ve suddenly slipped by the best-before date. There’s no butter, so it requires just stirring – and it’s not a lesser scone for it.
Rhubarb Cream Scones
AuthorJulie
Preheat the oven to 425F.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Add the cream and vanilla and start to stir; add the rhubarb and stir just until the dough comes together.
Gather it up into a ball, getting any dry bits up out of the bowl with your hands. Fold it over itself a couple times as you gather it up, and pat into a 1-inch thick circle on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
If you like, brush the top with a bit of cream - I usually have enough left in the bottom of the measuring cup - and sprinkle with sugar. Cut into 6-8 wedges with a sharp knife, and pull the scones apart so that they have room to brown. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until golden.
Makes 6-8.
Ingredients
Directions
Preheat the oven to 425F.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Add the cream and vanilla and start to stir; add the rhubarb and stir just until the dough comes together.
Gather it up into a ball, getting any dry bits up out of the bowl with your hands. Fold it over itself a couple times as you gather it up, and pat into a 1-inch thick circle on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
If you like, brush the top with a bit of cream - I usually have enough left in the bottom of the measuring cup - and sprinkle with sugar. Cut into 6-8 wedges with a sharp knife, and pull the scones apart so that they have room to brown. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until golden.
Makes 6-8.
These look SO good, and I have rhubarb to make them! Would you check the circle size? Did you mean 10 inch maybe?
I think she means 1″ thick – not sure on the diameter?
Ha! yes, one inch thick…
Sorry, I meant an inch thick!
Ohhh… I was just thinking of doing something like this from your old cream drop scone recipe! I am so excited to eat this!
Hello love ur site….would self raising flour do instead of all purpose flour Nd baking powder
I’m making these for dinner tonight!
I looove rhubard, this is like rhubard custard scones! I am so up for making a batch 😀 Thanks for sharing, and yourideal Monday mornings sound perfect 🙂 x
You know… Those sound so easy, I actually think they’d come together while the coffee’s brewing. Then I could sip coffee, listen to the birds gossiping, and enjoy a fresh, warm scone after my first cup of coffee.
No egg?
Thanks for the good morning, Julie!
Nope, no egg! Enjoy your morning!
Yum, I think this will be a pre-garden-planting long weekend baking project Big fan of rhubarb, thanks for the post! Photo = drooling.
I have an epic, giant, deep, deep crimson rhubarb plant in the back yard – the size of a smart car. So beautiful. So far this year rhubarb crisp and coffee cake. A batch of rhubarb simple syrup is excellent in a rhubarb version of an Aviation cocktail. Rhubarb pie is my all time favourite dessert/breakfast. On the list – scones (obviously), pie, muffins, compote, rib glaze, pound cake, strawberry rhubarb jam, pie, rhubarb fig relish, rhubarb jasmine People’s Pops, pie. Saskatoon/Rhubarb cobbler later in the season. Stewed rhubarb and strawberries with a side of hot buttered toast & coffee.
Do you know Rhubarb is one of the flavours in Campari? Now I want a Negroni.
Rhubarb Negroni! Now you’re talking! I’m SO jealous of your rhubarb.. for some reason mine just never seems to get going. I survive off the generosity of my neighbours!
Made these scones today with blueberries – perfection! So happy since I have NEVER been able to make scones!
No sign really of the little gnarled greenish nubs poking up yet…perhaps its been too hot and dry but I will keep my eyes peeled and then make these scones. I love the fresh tang that rhubarb imparts. I’d like to know the variety name of Jake’s deep crimson plant…?
Hi Vivian,
It may be a variety called ‘Valentine’? Seems to ring a bell. It’s been in its spot in the corner of the garden for years and years. I bought the family home after my mom passed, so it’s kind of inherited rhubarb. I have a couple of friends who ask for some every year.
I also have a couple of green stalked (sticked) plants the back yard from a work colleague of my father from about 30 years ago . I still remember this red haired guy named Lucky bringing them by. My father is gone, I don’t know what became of Lucky, and his backyard is now buried under a gas bar in Okotoks. The rhubarb is still trucking along, tho’. I seldom use it, but don’t have the heart to dig it up.
Cheers,
Jake
I am just waiting for these to come out of the oven! I added a few diced strawberries as well 🙂 My dough was rather sticky so when I pulled them apart they lost their shape. Is there something I did wrong? I don’t usually bake these types of things so I am not sure if there are any tricks or if I just need to keep practicing.
It’s likely just the flour – everyone measures it different! the ratio should turn out perfectly sliceable dough, but there are always fluctuations! How did they turn out??
I made these again this morning Julie, adding in some fresh diced cherries this time. They turned out just as delicious as the first time I made them! The dough (to me) still seemed a bit sticky but maybe that’s just how it’s supposed to be and I am not used to it. I used a scale to measure out the flour since I have heard using measuring cups can be less accurate than the weight of an item. Thanks again for the great recipe!
So great to hear it! Cherry scones sound fab!
Made these with raspberries and added some chocolate chips too! They were divine, and oh so easy to make since there’s no butter. Absolute perfection, I’ll be using this as my go to scone recipe from now on! My hubby even said they didn’t need glaze (they always need glaze in his opinion), because they were so tender and moist. Thank you! I love your recipes!
Ooh, raspberries and chocolate! A perfect combo! Next time I’m going to use raspberries and white chocolate!
why no butter
why no butter in recipe?
There’s no butter in cream scones – just heavy cream! 🙂
Hi Julie,
A good friend from Vancouver blowed me away with his scones when I visited him last . Today, he was in Calgary, and I decided to try these for the first time.. Julie.. these are beautiful! I knew I couldn’t lose with a recipe from you! He loved them, so do I and they disappeared instantly! Crusty on the outside, I love the cream and sugar in the top, it’s lovely.
You are a true talent!
I did find that I had to add more flour , as my dough was too wet to handle, but they still turned out amazing!! Thank you!!
Maria
Any ideas for substitutions for whipping cream
These kind of rely on the whipping cream, since there’s no butter rubbed into the dry ingredients.
Buttermilk or a non-milk alternative vs. Heavy cream?
You could try buttermilk or another alternative, but I doubt they’d turn out the same – since there’s no butter in the dough, it relies on the heavy cream. (Sounds heavier than it actually is!)
A good scone only it would be more flavorful with more rhubarb. Next time 1cup at least!!!?
Whatever you like!
I was thinking of trying with full fat coconut milk. They sound delicious.
Ooh, good idea!
I am so glad I came across this recipe! It is so easy and delicious! I’ve used it for rhubarb, strawberry rhubarb, and cherry chocolate chip scones and all of them have turned out simply divine. Thank you for sharing such an easy and wonderful recipe!
Got these in the oven right now! I have made all kinds of scones- my dad is famous for his yogurt/sour cream scones in strawberry season, but I have never made cream scones before. As I am reluctantly forced to bake gluten free by my allergies, this seems to be perfect. Many gf recipes get crumbly with butter but these came together like silk! Perfect for rhubarb from my neighbour here in Ramsay!
These were soooo delicious! I’m also going to make a batch up for my MIL as a thank-you for all the rhubarb she gave me. Thank you so much!
I made these the other day and used buttermilk as a substitute for cream( the powdered buttermilk with water) the best scones I’ve ever made! Great recipe!
Yay!
Can one prepare the dough the day before and cook in the morning?
Sure. I find the baking powder gets slightly worn out after contact with the liquid, but will still get some lift from the heat of the oven. I find them so quick to stir together that there isn’t much need to prep in advance.
My dough was very sticky. The scones did not turn out well. I used canned evaporated milk as a replacement for the whipping cream – saw that idea on the net. Perhaps my problem was the evaporated milk.
Yes, evaporated milk is much thinner, and much lower in fat, so wouldn’t be a suitable replacement.
This was the perfect scone recipe. The taste, texture and ease of making them was perfect. Thank you for publishing it.
I made these scones with 1 cup rhubarb as I always want a more rhubarb in baked goods. A little longer to bake but came out delicious! Thank you!
I just made these scones and they were fabulous! I added a little more sugar to the mix because I like a sweeter scone. The use of cream instead of cutting in butter made this recipe so easy and quick, and the scones were nice and moist. I plan on using this recipe as a base for further adventures in scone-making. Thanks for keeping it simple and delicious!