Queen Elizabeth Ii S Drop Scones Scotch Pancakes

Published Jan 24, 2023 Updated Aug 18, 2024

Drop Scones Recipe

This drop scones recipe is initially found in the letter that Queen Elizabeth II’s sent to President Eisenhower back in 1960. It’s also how it was named and soon became a popular recipe worldwide. Drop scones are also called Scotch pancakes. The name may trick you, but the recipe will tell the truth. These drop scones are actually pancakes, and they’re not baked but cooked on a griddle or nonstick pan just like any other pancakes.

Why This Recipe Works

If you love sweet and fluffy pancakes, this recipe will never do you wrong. These small, round drop scones are softer, thicker and richer in taste with extra eggs, whole milk and butter. It’s also a quick and easy recipe that will bring a delicious breakfast to the table in less than 30 minutes. The pancakes are served perfectly for a classic afternoon tea dessert with butter, maple syrup, fruit jam and fresh fruit on top.

Drop Scones Ingredients

This classic Queen Elizabeth II’s drop scones recipe only calls for a few ingredients from your pantry:

Room temperature eggs Caster sugar, the superfine granulated sugar Whole milk All-purpose flour Baking soda Cream of tartar Butter

According to Queen’s notes, caster sugar can also be substituted as sugar syrup. Plus, adding baking soda and cream of tartar to the batter helps scones rise high and fluffy. See the recipe card for full information on ingredients.

How To Make Queen Elizabeth II’s Drop Scones

First, bring eggs to room temperature before combining all ingredients in a bowl. Beat eggs, sugar and half of the whole milk in a bowl until well combined. Next, add all dry ingredients to the same bowl and mix well with a whisk. Then, slowly add the rest of the whole milk little by little while mixing the batter. Once the batter becomes smooth and slowly drips off while lifting the spoon, stop adding the milk. Then, fold in melted butter. Finally, cook drop scones with a preheated griddle or a pan over medium or medium-low heat. Drop the batter into the pan, and space each pancake for 1 to 2 inches apart. Let pancakes cook for 1 to 2 minutes on each side until golden brown. Dish out and serve immediately.

Tips

When combining the wet and dry ingredients, slowly add the rest of the whole milk a bit at a time while whisking. The batter should be smooth and slowly drip off while lifting the spoon. Discard any remaining milk to avoid a watery batter. Do Not sit the batter for too long or overnight. For the most fluffy drop scones, prepare the batter right before cooking. To make the perfect golden brown drop scones, keep the griddle on medium or medium-low heat and cook the pancakes patiently.

What To Serve With Scotch Pancakes

For a delightful afternoon tea, I recommend the following recipes: I hope you enjoy this post as much as I do. If you try my recipe, please leave a comment and consider giving it a 5-star rating. For more easy and delicious recipes, explore my Recipe Index, and stay updated by subscribing to my newsletter and following me on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram for new updates.