There's a secret ingredient that can make the perfect scone that tastes delicious and has a 'gorgeous' rise07:13, 10 Jun 2026Scones are a quintessential afternoon tea staple, best enjoyed with generous helpings of clotted cream and jam. At their finest, they should be light, moist, tender and crumble apart effortlessly.‌Baker and social media sensation Jane Dunn, widely known as Jane's Patisserie, has shared her beloved scone recipe that relies on a surprising ingredient to nail the perfect texture. In a recent TikTok video, she revealed just how straightforward it is to make scones from scratch — and the results are well worth the effort. Jane's secret weapon is buttermilk.‌Buttermilk helps scones rise by providing acidity that reacts with leavening agents, typically baking soda or baking powder, to generate carbon dioxide bubbles, resulting in a greater rise and a lighter, airier texture, reports the Express.‌The acid also breaks down gluten, yielding a more tender, less dense and taller scone.In the video, Jane said: "This is a delicious buttermilk based recipe, and personally, I like to make my own buttermilk because I think it's far cheaper and far easier."‌The beauty of Jane's recipe is that it can be made entirely by hand, meaning you won't need a food processor to bring the dough together. The secret to a truly great scone is to "not overwork the dough," Jane explained.She wrote in the video's caption: "So many debates when it comes to scones! Is it scone as in cone? Or scone as in gone? Jam first, or cream first?Content cannot be displayed without consent‌"No matter where you stand, these buttermilk scones taste delicious and have a gorgeous rise on them thanks to the buttermilk. Make sure you check out the full blog post for all my tips and tricks on making the perfect scone - enjoy!"Sharing the reasoning behind her use of buttermilk, Jane explained on her blog: "Buttermilk is a magical ingredient that you may have come across in different baking recipes on my blog or in the world, or even a savoury dish here and there. Buttermilk is a natural bi-product of making butter, but is also something cultured itself for production for supermarkets."If you're struggling to track down buttermilk at your local supermarket, you can easily make your own from scratch. Simply combine 250ml of milk (or one cup) with one tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar. Stir together and leave to rest for five minutes before adding to your scone mixture.‌Jane's video has clocked up over 24,700 views, picking up 726 likes and 12 comments at the time of writing. Nanny wrote: "I luv a scone! I am also jam first gal."Fiona agreed: "Jam first, they look delicious."Anneka praised: "Agree I just make my own buttermilk too."‌So if you fancy a fuss-free scone recipe that guarantees a brilliant rise and fantastic flavour, here's how to recreate Jane's recipe in your own kitchen.Buttermilk SconesIngredients475g self raising flourOne tsp baking powderA pinch salt175g unsalted butter, cold and cubed75g caster sugar175ml buttermilkOne tsp vanillaMilk or egg wash‌MethodPreheat the oven to 220℃/200℃ and preheat a large oven tray. Tip the flour, baking powder, salt, butter and sugar into a bowl. Using your fingertips, rub the ingredients together until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs.Pour in the buttermilk and vanilla, mixing as little as possible until everything just comes together. Jane uses a spatula and her hands to do this.‌Gently press the dough out onto a lightly floured surface to roughly 3-4cm thick. Stamp out using a floured cutter – be careful not to twist as you press down. Jane uses a 5-6cm cutter to make eight to 10 scones.Once all the scones are cut, arrange them on the preheated tray. Lightly brush the tops with egg wash or milk.Pop in the oven and bake for 12-15 minutes until beautifully golden.Article continues belowLeave to cool for 15-20 minutes and enjoy while still warm, or allow to cool completely. Serve with generous helpings of clotted cream and jam.