A chef has revealed a surprising three-ingredient scone recipe that swaps butter and eggs for a £1 bottle of fizzy lemonade, producing remarkably light and fluffy results.
The Secret Ingredient
Chef Carina of Recipes by Carina shared that the key to these easy scones is carbonated lemonade, such as Sprite or 7UP, rather than traditional cloudy lemonade. Despite the ingredient, the scones do not taste of lemon.
Carina explained: "It might seem like magic, but mixed with just self-rising flour and cream, these three ingredients create the most delicious light and fluffy scones and also the easiest scones you will ever make."
How It Works
The cream replaces butter by coating the flour, while the carbonation in the lemonade makes the mixture light and airy. If lemonade is unavailable, sparkling water with a few tablespoons of sugar can be used, but still liquids will not work as the fizz is essential for rising.
For a lighter version, the cream can be swapped for full-fat Greek yoghurt or buttermilk, though the scones will be less rich.
Recipe and Method
To make 12 scones, you need 500g self-raising flour, 300ml double cream, and 300ml carbonated lemonade. If you lack self-raising flour, plain flour with baking powder can be substituted.
Preheat the oven to 220°C (200°C fan or Gas 7). Line a baking tray with non-stick paper. Mix the flour, cream, and lemonade in a large bowl with a wooden spoon until just combined, forming a soft, shaggy dough. Turn out onto a floured surface and pat into a rectangle about 4cm thick.
The dough may be sticky; adding extra flour helps form a firmer mixture. Cut into scones, reshape offcuts, brush with milk, and bake for 20–25 minutes until golden.
Tester's Verdict
The scones were indeed deliciously fluffy and soft. However, the tester found the dough too wet and would add about 200g more flour next time. The scones also came out thinner than expected, so adding baking powder is recommended. For extra flavour, sugar, salt, and vanilla extract could be added.
Overall, these scones were yummy, easy to make, and a crowd-pleaser at home.
