For many, scones conjure visions of a proper British tea setup, with gloves and accents. But here's a secret: Part of what makes them special is how un-fussy they are to make — they don't require any fancy tools for shaping and cutting, and when it comes to handling the dough, less is more. They hold up well if you freeze a batch to toast as needed. And they're just as good with coffee as with tea (not to mention delicious with savory or sweet accompaniments or simply paired with jam or butter). Treat yourself to these easy recipes for delicious scones that are ideal for breakfast, an afternoon snack or whenever you need a pick-me-up.

The Best Scones

To achieve the best classic taste, we incorporated milk powder with the butter and cream for added richness. Pulsing the flour and butter in a food processor ensures an even crumb, and mixing the dough with a fork prevents the scones from becoming too tough or dense in texture. A sprinkle of raw sugar gives them a crunchy exterior and beautiful, sparkly finish.

Chocolate Pecan Scones

Ina Garten is our go-to expert on many things, particularly when it comes to scones. Her variation with chocolate and pecans makes enough scones to feed a large crowd or keep extra in the freezer for future snacking. Follow her advice and choose a "really good" bittersweet chocolate, and don't be scared off by the amount of salt — it "makes all the difference" when it comes to these scones.

Fennel and Orange Scones

This recipe from Valerie Bertinelli features two popular Italian ingredients — fennel and orange — that infuse tons of flavor into these scones. Using ground fennel and orange zest ensures that the dough won't be weighed down by ingredients with a lot of moisture, and the addition of cake flour is extra insurance that the scones will have a tender texture.

Lemon Poppyseed Mini Scones

These mini scones by Ree Drummond are big on bright flavors — the zest and juice of a total of four lemons get added into the dough and glaze. A sprinkling of poppy seeds at the end before the lemon glaze sets makes for a pretty presentation. It's hard to resist eating just one!

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