Queen Elizabeth Pancake Recipe - Drop Scones (2024)

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Queen Elizabeth II has always been known for her elegant sense of style and her sophisticated palate. But it turns out that the British monarch also has a tasty secret up her sleeve- her very own pancake recipe– aka drop scones! The recipe, which was released to mark the monarch's 91st birthday, has been shared thousands of times on social media and hailed as “the best pancake recipe ever.” If you're looking to make a batch of royal pancakes for yourself, here's what you need to know.

Queen Elizabeth Pancake Recipe - Drop Scones (1)

What Are Drop Scones?

These Drop Scones are another name for the pancake recipe Queen Elizabeth II used when hosting at her castle in Balmoral, Scotland over the years. She is particularly known for sharing the recipe with others, as it was a favorite of hers. It's said that she served these Drop Scones at tea time. She is also known for serving them to then president Eisenhower and his wife in 1960. She later sent them the recipe, which is now in the National Archives. You can view it online here.

Queen Elizabeth Pancake Recipe - Drop Scones (2)

If you're not familiar with the customary English Tea Times, there are several. Tea may be served in the morning, around 11 am, with a light snack such as a scone or muffin. Afternoon tea is traditionally served at around 3-4pm. More of a variety of foods are served. You might enjoy small sandwiches, macrons, biscuits or other treats, and of course hot tea. These customs originated in the 1800's, and of course vary much today.

Queen Elizabeth's Pancake Recipe:

The first thing I noticed when reading this popular recipe is the presence of cream of tartar on the ingredents list. This is sure to give it a signature texture, I thought! Usually we don't see cream of tartar in traditional pancake recipes here in the US. It's often used to create a silky smooth texture in certain desserts. Some sugar cookie recipes call for cream of tartar, as well as egg-based or egg-white based confections and frostings.

Queen Elizabeth Pancake Recipe - Drop Scones (4)

The other ingredients are straightforward- eggs, milk, melted butter, and “bi-carbonate of soda”. Bicarbonate of soda is known in the US as baking soda. You will also need Caster Sugar.

Caster Sugar is type of finely ground granulated sugar. You may be able to locate it in larger grocers in the US, and may be labeled Superfine Sugar. If you cannot find Caster Sugar, you can substitute with granulated sugar, 1:1. There are several tricks you can use to help your granulated sugar act more like the finer Caster Sugar in your recipe:

  • Blend/beat in the caster sugar with your egg whites, using a hand mixer. This allows the sugar to dissolve. This is common way of adding sugar to meringue, so it allows your egg whites to “fluff” up a bit.
  • In a separate bowl, mix just the butter and egg. You will need to make sure the butter is room temperature for this method, rather than melted. Blend the granulated sugar into the butter with a hand mixer until the sugar is disolved. The butter will be “creamed” or light and fluffy in consistency. You can then fold the butter and sugar into the rest of the ingredients.

    *Please keep in mind these substitutions may change the final product! Definitely look for Caster Sugar if you want to make this recipe true to the original!

How To Make Drop Scones:

This recipe serves 16 people, so keep in mind the spoonfulls of batter for these pancakes should be very small. Typical pancakes require 2-4 Tablespoons of batter, but for these we would start with a 1-2 Tablespoon of batter to ensure they are not oversized. And, since the recipe calls for teacups of flour, this needs to be converted. In general, a teacup is equal to 6 ounces (per customary system).

Since ounces are a weight or liquid measurement, converting to 3/4 cup of flour isn't exact. You can weigh your flour, to be specific, or just use the common rough assumption that 1 dry cup measure equals 8 ounces. So you should be able to use 3/4 cup of non-packed flour for this recipe. Conversions are listed in the printable recipe below. You can also read substitution instructions for using granulated sugar instead of caster sugar. Enjoy!

Images Via Canva

Yield: 16

Queen Elizabeth Pancake Recipe - Drop Scones (5)

These Drop Scones are the famous pancake recipe from Queen Elizabeth II! She shared it many years ago, and it's currently gaining in popularity as a must try breakfast or brunch recipe.

Ingredients

  • 4 teacups All purpose flour (about 3 8-oz cups of flour)
  • 4 tablespoons Caster sugar (Substitute Granulated sugar 1:1 if needed). See note in post.
  • 2 teacups milk (1.5 cups)
  • 2 Eggs
  • 2 teaspoons Baking Soda
  • 3 teaspoons Cream of Tartar
  • 2 tablespoons Salted Butter, melted

Instructions

"Beat eggs, sugar*, and about half the milk together.

Add flour, and mix well together, adding remainder of milk as required.

Also [baking soda] and cream of tartar.

Fold in the melted butter."

Notes

*If substituting with granulated sugar for the Caster sugar, we recommend separating the egg white into a small bowl, and beat granulated sugar into the egg white with a hand mixer until sugar is desolved. Add to the other ingredients before adding the baking soda and cream of tartar.

Additoinal note- For best results, beat ingredients together until all are a smooth consistency, and do not allow batter to sit before adding spoonfuls to a hot skillet. Turn and cook on the opposite side as soon as you see bubbles in the batter. Remove and serve with powdered sugar, or maple syrup.

Nutrition Information

Yield

16

Serving Size

1

Amount Per ServingCalories 164Total Fat 3gSaturated Fat 2gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 1gCholesterol 30mgSodium 193mgCarbohydrates 29gFiber 1gSugar 5gProtein 5g

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Queen Elizabeth Pancake Recipe - Drop Scones (2024)

FAQs

What is Queen Elizabeth's pancake recipe? ›

Beat two eggs with 4 tablespoons of sugar and about one teacup (or 3/4 of a cup) of milk. Add 4 teacups of flour and mix in another teacup of milk "as required" Mix in 3 teaspoons of cream of tartar and 2 tablespoons of bicarbonate soda (baking soda) Fold in 2 tablespoons of melted butter.

What is the difference between a drop scone and an American pancake? ›

Drop scones are thicker than American pancakes, and a little smaller. If you read the Queen's recipe in the image above, note the use of "teacups" as measurements for flour and milk. Before Fanny Farmer we used teacups for measures as well.

What is the difference between a scone and a drop scone? ›

Kneaded and shaped scones are made from stiffer and drier dough resulting in a flakier texture. Drop scones are stickier and moister. This causes the scone to puff and be more tender. All scone recipes are mixed using the using the Biscuit Method, or made by first mixing together the dry ingredients in a bowl.

What's the difference between American pancakes and Scotch pancakes? ›

Also called Drop Scones, Scotch pancakes are enjoyed for breakfast and as a snack in the United Kingdom. The main difference between Scotch and American pancakes is that the Scotch version is simpler. Ingredients include self-rising flour, salt, caster sugar, and eggs. Caster sugar provides a more caramelized taste.

What was Queen Elizabeth's favorite dish? ›

Queen Elizabeth adhered to a daily teatime meal; her preference for delicate sandwiches with the crusts cut off was well-publicized. Her favorite version was reported to be smoked salmon with cream cheese. If the old adage is true, one should eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dine like a pauper.

What are British scones called in America? ›

A Biscuit (U.S.) Is a Scone (U.K.)

Both baked goodies use flour, fat, liquid and a leavening agent. The main differences are that scones tend to have less butter (because you'll add butter to it when you eating it — or else, clotted cream or jam) while American biscuits tend to have more butter and light layers.

What are American pancakes called in England? ›

What the English call a pancake is what Americans would call a crepe, and American pancakes, which are fluffier and more leavened, are called "American pancakes." (Scottish pancakes, on the other hand, are fairly close to American pancakes.)

What is the American version of a scone? ›

Scones are dryer and crumbly. They need the thick, luscious clotted cream and jam to make a delicious sweet treat. American biscuits are more fluffy, from the extra butter, and the acidity of buttermilk. So, they are similar, but not the same.

What is the Queens way of scones? ›

That jam-first method in known as the Cornish style — versus the Devonshire style, which layers cream first. I followed the queen's lead, spreading a bit of each curd on a third of the scone, then greedily scooped the clotted cream and slathered it all over.

How do the Irish pronounce scone? ›

According to the survey, afternoon teas in Scotland and Ulster would include scones as in “gone” while folks further south in England, Wales and the Republic of Ireland would be ordering scones in “bone”.

What do Southerners call pancakes? ›

Pancakes are sometimes called hoecakes in the South. Most Southerners are familiar with lacy cornbread, aka hot water cornbread. A hoecake is a rustic fried version of a pancake made with ground cornmeal.

What are johnny cakes vs pancakes? ›

Unlike pancakes, johnny cakes don't always contain sugar, which means they can be used in sweet or savory applications. They can be served for breakfast with butter and syrup—as an extra treat, my mom would melt the butter and syrup together, always using salted butter.

What do the French call American pancakes? ›

we cal them crepes.

What is Queen Elizabeth cake made of? ›

Queen Elizabeth cake is a lightly sweet, moist, and low-fat date cake, topped with a brown sugar, butter and broiled coconut mixture. "Queen Elizabeth cake" is named after the Queen of Canada, Elizabeth II, and may have first been made in 1953 for her coronation.

What was Queen Elizabeth's favorite breakfast food? ›

Breakfast. Queen Elizabeth prefered to keep it simple when it came to breakfast. A bowl of Special K with some assorted fruits was apparently her go-to meal to get the day started the right way. On special occasions, she allegedly treated herself to some scrambled eggs and smoked salmon if she felt like it!

What is the queen of England eat for breakfast? ›

For breakfast she keeps things simple. Royal biographer, Katie Nicholl, has previously said: "HRH typically starts with a simple cup of tea and biscuits, followed by a bowl of cereal." (The Guardian previously reported she likes to keep it in Tupperware to preserve its freshness.)

What are British pancakes made of? ›

Method. Put 100g plain flour, 2 large eggs, 300ml milk, 1 tbsp sunflower or vegetable oil and a pinch of salt into a bowl or large jug, then whisk to a smooth batter. This should be similar in consistency to single cream. Set aside for 30 mins to rest if you have time, or start cooking straight away.

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