Easy Miso Scones

Taking a little break from my smorgasbord of sweets, I decided to go savory with flaky, buttery, and deliciously layered easy miso scones.

The recipe is courtesy 600acres, but of course it has a few Tasha Twists.

I upped the amount of miso paste, opting for 1 and a half spoons instead of one. You can go up to 2 tablespoons to really make the pleasant savory taste speak volumes. I also used cream instead of beaten egg whites to brush the scones, and lastly, I sprinkled chopped cilantro in the dough. 

How did the miso scones taste? Like heaven. They pack a rich umami punch with an underlying sweet earthiness all packed in buttery goodness. 

What is miso?

Originating from Japan, miso is a very, very popular condiment. You’ve likely heard of miso soup, but it’s used to season a whole slew of dishes – salads, stews, spreads, etc. 

It looks like a paste and is made by fermenting water, salt, soybeans, and kōji, a fungus. Occasionally, miso may have a grain like barley or rice.

In culinary terms, it’s extremely versatile. The combination of sweet-salty-savory-nutty flavors find uses for the paste in any corner of the kitchen. 

It’s an enlivener of stir-fries. It’s the savior of baked goods. And it’s even scrumptious in ice creams - so I've heard, never tasted!

Essentially, miso can imbue any dish with an enormous amount of taste and savor.

It’s fairly easily available online or in gourmet food stores. And because a recipe will always need only a small amount of miso paste, a single bottle of it goes a long way.

How to make miso scones?

On the face of it, miso scones look rather simple. It’s after the first bite that you feel the layers of flavor followed by the thought, “My god! what is it?”

The little man of the house kept repeating “so buttery” in-between gorging bites of the scones. And that’s precisely what the scones are – indulgent treats perfect for December.

• Start with sifting all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl. 
• Add the chilled cubes of butter and miso paste.
• Rub the butter in the dry ingredients using your fingertips till you have a coarse breadcrumb-like texture. Miso will get incorporated into the mixture along the way.
• Add in fresh cilantro and some milk. Then using a fork, combine everything in a moistened clump.
• Turn out on a floured surface and just fold the dough over itself a few times.
• The dough comes together on its own in under 10 minutes. You will not need to knead it. 

• Once the dough is formed, pat it into a rough square or rectangle and use a knife to cut the scone shape you prefer – square or triangles.
• Brush each portion with cream. 
• Top off with a dusting of black and white sesame seeds.
• Finally, bake for 12 to 15 minutes.

Variations of miso scones

I’ve used all-purpose flour for the recipe because that’s what gives the tenderest crumb. The flour always imparts a pillowy softness and buttery golden crunch to scones. 

• You can make them with whole wheat flour as I did for my Strawberry Orange Scones. 
• For gluten-free scones, buckwheat flour is a great choice. I’ve made lavender buckwheat jam scones and lemon buckwheat scones with it. 

How to make vegan miso scones?

Instead of regular butter, use a plant-based butter. Or try chilled, solid coconut oil. I’ve baked blueberry coconut scones with it, and they were just as good as with butter. 

Coconut cream will be an excellent substitute for milk. See my banana bread scones for the recipe. 

What add-ins to use in miso scones?

I wanted the scones to have specks of green to brighten them up. That’s why I added fresh cilantro. You can always switch it for some parsley. 

Cheese, green onions, scallions, and any fresh herbs that float your boat will go just as well.

Serving the miso scones

Miso scones are best served warm and are exceptional with soup – that’s how we guzzled them down (barring the little man, who just kept tearing into the kitchen and eating them as-is).

I recommend splitting the scone in half, buttering it, or slathering it with cream cheese. These make for an excellent side with any dish for really any meal!

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