We’re co-blogging this week, showcasing a bit of friendly rivalry between the US and Britain, and the perspectives of a dashing Brit, Tom, and one lovable American, Martinique.
In this first edition, we bring to you: American biscuits vs. British scones.
M: Let’s first start off by defining what an American biscuit is. It’s a small bread with a firm crust and soft interior. Biscuits, along with cornbread and soda bread, are known as “quick bread,” because you use baking soda instead of yeast to make them. Biscuits in the UK are what we Americans call cookies. Confused yet? I am…
T:The Queen likes her sweet scones just as much as your regular Brit, and probably eats them together with lashings of clotted cream, marmalade or jam, just like the rest of us. You make scones by rubbing sugar, butter and flour together into a breadcrumb-y state, then binding it all together with some milk.
M:Biscuits are usually found in the south of USA. For breakfast, you add honey, jam or molasses (anything sweet really). Or, you can enjoy them with sausages. For lunch or dinner, they’re a side dish that you usually eat with butter or gravy. Or, enjoy an amazing dish known as “Grits & Biscuits.” Nothing says “yum” like cooked pork sausage, white flour, milk and bits of sausage, bacon, or ground beef.
T: Our “High Tea” tradition always calls for a scone or two (or three). Yanks can keep their sugary brunch and processed meat nonsense: you won’t find any maple syrup with bacon on a British dining table before noon. Ours is a sophisticated affair, where the squish of the cream is complemented by the clink of fine china and the gentle bubbling of a steaming pot of tea. Fun fact: the order in which you put the jam and cream onto your halved scone depends on which region of the UK you hail from.
M: Biscuits are such a staple in America that you now find them in many fast food chains as well. Although plenty of chicken joints like Popeyes and Chicken Express serve biscuits these days, my all-time favorite place for a fast food biscuit is Kentucky Fried Chicken aka KFC. McDonald’s hopped on the biscuit band-wagon by bringing us the English McMuffin, a delicious breakfast snack that is actually made with a biscuit and not a muffin. Anyway, it’s amazing (and much more satisfying than the sophistication of British “High Tea”)!
T: We Brits refuse to buckle to the pressure of making every good thing a fast food served at places like KFC. You can, of course, buy a multipack of mass-produced scones in a supermarket – but the best ones come chunky and slightly lop-sided, twice the size of a store-bought scone and a million times as delicious.
We have British High Tea with scones on the one side, and America’s fast food version on the other. Which one tickles your fancy?
Enjoy this post? Check out a previous edition of our US vs. UK series.
Photos by Michelle Tribe and Yasuhiro Chatani/ Flickr, Creative Commons.
FAQs
But what, exactly, is the difference between a biscuit and a scone? If you're in the U.S., a biscuit is a round, flaky, buttery piece of leavened bread. In the U.K. a biscuit is a crisp cookie often enjoyed at tea time. A scone is a quick bread that is denser than a biscuit and can be either savory or sweet.
What is the difference between biscuits in the UK and the US? ›
Biscuits, along with cornbread and soda bread, are known as “quick bread,” because you use baking soda instead of yeast to make them. Biscuits in the UK are what we Americans call cookies.
What is the UK equivalent of American biscuits? ›
What is an American biscuit in the UK? The last piece of the puzzle, an American biscuit is a crumbly leavened quick bread similar to what we call a scone in the UK.
What is a scone in the USA? ›
United States
American scones are sweet, heavy, dry and crumbly, similar to British rock cakes. They are usually triangular, and often contain fruit such as blueberries or sultanas, or such flavorings as pumpkin, cinnamon or chocolate chips. They may also be topped with icing.
What do British call scones? ›
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.
Is the word biscuit in British English cookie in American English? ›
A cookie (American English) or biscuit (British English) is a baked snack or dessert that is typically small, flat, and sweet. It usually contains flour, sugar, egg, and some type of oil, fat, or butter.
What do Brits call a biscuit? ›
In Britain, what Americans refer to as “biscuits” are known as “scones.” British biscuits are actually what Americans call “cookies.” The term “biscuits” in the United Kingdom typically refers to sweet, crumbly, and sometimes buttery bakes treats, distinct from the soft, bread-like biscuits found in the United States.
What do British call gravy? ›
Onion Gravy or Traditional British Gravy is what British people call gravy. Americans call it Brown Gravy, White Gravy (sawmill gravy or Breakfast Gravy), which is topped on biscuits. Brits don't put gravy on biscuits.
What are biscuits called in USA? ›
In most of North America, nearly all hard sweet biscuits are called "cookies" and savoury biscuits are called "crackers", while the term "biscuit" is used for a soft, leavened quick bread similar to a savoury version of a scone.
Do Americans say scone? ›
According to the Cambridge Dictionary, the word 'scone' is pronounced 'skon' in the UK. Whereas across the pond in America, the popular baked good should be said as 'skown'.
scone in British English
noun. 1. ( skɒn , skəʊn ) a light plain doughy cake made from flour with very little fat, cooked in an oven or (esp originally) on a griddle, usually split open and buttered.
Are scones British or Irish? ›
Scones are traditionally Irish, Scottish, and English foods. However, nobody knows which of these countries invented the baked food. As far as history can trace back, Scones probably originate from Scotland. Yes, the first print reference dates back to 1513 and is from a Scottish poet.
What is the English word for an American biscuit? ›
In most of North America, nearly all hard sweet biscuits are called "cookies" and savoury biscuits are called "crackers", while the term "biscuit" is used for a soft, leavened quick bread similar to a savoury version of a scone.
What are cookies called in England? ›
Hard or crisp cookies are called biscuits in the U.K. while the chewier dessert can be identified as a cookie.
Are Australian scones the same as American biscuits? ›
American biscuits are different to Australian biscuits because they are more like Australian and British Scones. American Scones are also different again. Aussies refer to cookies and biscuits the same. My version may not be the authentic 'Southern American' Biscuit, whatever that is.
What is the difference between Scottish and English scones? ›
British scones are usually lightly sweetned and contain fruit like currants or berries. Scottish scones are often closer to a biscuit and are made with buttermilk, though some Scottish grandmothers will swear you should only use sour milk.
