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Scottish Potato Scones and British Breakfasts: a Tutorial

Scottish potato scones (tattie scones) are a quintessential part of a full Scottish breakfast. You’ll see how easy they are to make, and learn all about British Breakfasts, too.

potato scones on tartan

If you’ve gone to Britain, you will surely have experienced “the full British breakfast.” Depending on which part of the UK you’ve visited will determine what you see on your plate.

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Text box with paraphrase: I grew up in Scotland... I found your recipe a few years ago and have used it ever since. -Peter

full Scottish breakfast
A full Scottish breakfast.

What is a British Breakfast?

It’s often called a “fry-up” because of the fact that almost everything is fried. It may also be called “heart attack on a plate,” but as long as you are not having this on a regular basis, it’s just too delicious to pass up once in a while!

Sometimes, you may hear the term, “a full English”, which refers to a full English breakfast. This means that all the options will be on your plate. Read on…

Potato scones on cloth

In Great Britain, breakfast will consist of several common items, such as eggs, bacon, tomato, toast and beans. The rest of the plate will be filled with different items, depending on the part of the country in which you are located.

English Breakfast

England offers their regional sausages and usually adds mushrooms to the plate. Sometimes, black pudding is included in the options (usually more in the north of England, although the photo below is from London).

Full English Breakfast at the Bull and Hide
Full English breakfast at the Bull and Hide, London
sheep and llamas in England
Sheep and llamas in the Lake District, England

Irish Breakfast

Northern Ireland has their Ulster Fry with local sausages and soda scones. My dad was stationed in Ballymena when he was in the army (as a cook, no less) and has always raved about the soda scones. Ireland’s breakfasts are much the same and can include “potato farls” much like potato scones, and white and black pudding.

Breakfast in Northern Ireland
Breakfast in Northern Ireland
a sheep in the Irish countryside
Sheep in the Irish countryside.

Welsh Breakfast

Although I’ve been to Wales, I’ve never had a typical Welsh breakfast (I do love Welsh cakes, though!) In addition to the basics of a British breakfast, the Welsh add laverbread (made from seaweed) and cockles on their breakfast plates. Have you tried this breakfast?

Another type of Scottish scone made on a griddle: girdle scones

Cream girdle griddle scones Scottish

Scottish Breakfast

And last, but certainly not least, Scotland serves potato scones (also known as tattie scones), local sausages, and black and/or white puddings. I’m showing my bias here and saying that I think Scottish breakfasts are the best in Britain. This photo was taken at Rufflet’s, just outside St. Andrews.

Full Scottish breakfast with potato scones at Rufflets in St Andrews, Scotland

a Highland Cow, or a Heilan' Coo, near Balmaha
a Highland Cow, or a Heilan’ Coo, near Balmaha

So now that we’ve decided on a Scottish breakfast (and that the Highland cow is the cutest!) I’m going to show you how to make delicious potato scones. Like so many of the recipes I make, they are quite simple to make and freeze well, so I usually make a double batch and freeze* most of them, so I can cook some whenever we want them.

As far as the black and white puddings go, I’ll leave that for you to decide if you want to try it (if you can find it where you live) as I ABSOLUTELY adore black pudding, but I understand if someone has not grown up with it, why they might have a less than positive feeling about it.

I was going to link to Wikipedia’s page on black pudding, but the first photo of black pudding isn’t the most appealing image that would encourage someone to try this tasty food!

potato scones, sausages, black pudding and bacon
ready for a Scottish breakfast

Are Potato Scones the Same as Potato Cakes?

The answer to this question is yes, they are the same: potato scones are the Scottish name and potato cakes are the Irish name, but they are BOTH served as part of a savory meal, like breakfast. In addition, potato scones can also be eaten with butter (even jam) and served with a cup of tea.

How are Tattie Scones Made?

Potato scones are made from mixing boiled, riced (or mashed) potatoes, a little butter, salt, and flour.  These ingredients are combined to form a dough, then rolled out, and cooked on a griddle. You may hear them called “tattie scones” in Scotland, but they are one and the same, and here’s how to make them.

*NOTE: you can use leftover mashed potatoes as long as they’re quite dry. It won’t work if you’ve added too much liquid. 

You may also ask~

How do I Cook Potato Scones?

After being cooked on the griddle (no oil, butter or grease is added, so they are not fried), they can be eaten as is. However, as you’ve seen in the photos here, the best way to serve them is to fry them with the rest of your breakfast items (preferably after you’ve fried the bacon!) This way, they are crispy on the outside and soft in the middle.

Can I Freeze Potato Scones?

Absolutely yes, tattie scones are perfect for the freezer! I usually make a large batch and freeze all of them. They’re perfect to have on hand anytime you want a quick meal, just add eggs, if you like. To freeze: place them individually separated on a floured tray in the freezer until frozen, then place in a freezer bag. This way they won’t stick to each other. Alternately, you can put them in a container with pieces of wax/parchment paper in between them.

To cook frozen potato scones, there’s no need to defrost them, you can just fry them straight away. However, I usually take them out of the freezer about for about 10 minutes though, so they cook more quickly.

potato scones on tartan

Scottish Potato Scones Recipe
(Tattie Scones)

From the Scottish Lofty Peak Recipe Book                         Serves 10 (2 each)

FULL PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW

Ingredients

  • russet potatoes
  • flour
  • butter
  • sea salt

Special equipment: a potato ricer

Directions

First, peel the boiled potatoes.

If you absolutely refuse to peel boiled potatoes, you can make your children do it peel them before boiling. Use a potato ricer, if you have one. If not, just mash them, but what makes better potato scones is having light, dry potatoes, and ricing them gives them more air.

ricing potatoes for potato scones

Add the butter and salt. Taste the potatoes at this point, add more salt if needed, then very lightly mix in the sifted flour.

adding flour to make potato scones

It will come together into a dough very quickly and easily. Turn out onto a floured workspace…

dough for potato scones

and gently fold over until smooth. Divide into 4 or 5 equal portions and form each into a ball. Roll one ball out to about 1/4″ thick, then prick with a fork and cut into quarters or sixths, whichever you prefer, with a large knife. Repeat with the rest of the balls of dough.

rolling and pricking potato scones

Heat a pan or griddle to (almost) high heat (between med. high and high.) I love my scraper for
picking up the scones to put into the pan.

ready to put potato scones on the griddle

When the pan is hot, cook the scones until brown on each side. (You can cut them into round shapes with a cookie cutter, but this takes more time to rework the scraps of dough.)

Potato Scones in a pan

 Place on a clean dish towel, then cover with the other half  to cool.

Potato scones

These are fully cooked and may be eaten as is, but traditionally, they are fried in the same pan as the bacon was fried in, for a Scottish breakfast.

Potato scones

You can also toast them to heat them up, or even fry them with a tiny bit of light olive oil for a crispy, yet less artery-clogging breakfast :) You can also just have eggs, bacon and toast with potato scones, as I’ve done in the photo below.

Scottish breakfast with potato scones

Or you can do it “right” and serve the potato scones with eggs, bacon, toast, black pudding (this one is really good), grilled tomato halves, sausages, Heinz Beans, HP Sauce a piping hot cup of tea. You can add any of the other delicious items you see in the photos above: delicious beyond words!

Oh, and did I mention you won’t be eating lunch or dinner that day? 😂

potato scones and HP Sauce

Leave a comment below if you agree that Scottish breakfasts are the BEST!!

egg, bacon, black pudding and potato scone sandwich
This is the very first photo I ever uploaded to share on Facebook! What does this say about me? Yikes!

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potato scones on tartan

Scottish Potato Scones and British Breakfasts: a Tutorial

Servings: 20
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
A traditional part of a full Scottish breakfast. Mostly made with mashed potatoes, these scones are a potato lover's dream come true.
4.9 from 113 votes

Ingredients

  • 1 lb Russet potatoes boiled, see notes
  • ½ cup flour sifted
  • 2 tbsp butter softened, good quality
  • ½ tsp Kosher salt or sea salt

Instructions

  • First, peel the boiled potatoes. If you have a ricer, use it to rice the potatoes, if not, just mash them, but what makes better potato scones is light, dry potatoes, and ricing them gives them more air.
  • Add the butter and salt. Taste the potatoes at this point, add more salt if needed, then very lightly mix in the sifted flour. It will come together into a dough very quickly and easily.
  • Turn out onto a floured workspace and gently fold over until smooth. Divide into 4 or 5 equal portions and form each into a ball.
  • Roll one ball out to about 1/4″ thick, then prick with a fork and cut into quarters or sixths, whichever you prefer, with a large knife. Repeat with the rest of the balls of dough.
  • Heat a pan or griddle to (almost) high heat (between med. high and high.) When the pan is hot, cook the scones until brown on each side. Place on a clean dish towel, then cover with the other half to cool.
  • These are fully cooked and may be eaten as is, but traditionally, they are fried in the same pan as the bacon was fried in, for a Scottish breakfast. I

Notes

  • To freeze: place them individually separated on a floured tray in the freezer until frozen, then place in a freezer bag. This way they won't stick to each other. Alternately, you can put them in a container with pieces of wax/parchment paper in between them.
  • Potatoes should be weighed after cooking - about 4 large potatoes, cooked in salted water -preferably cooked with the skin.
  • To cook frozen potato scones, there's no need to defrost them, you can just fry them straight away. However, I usually take them out of the freezer about for about 10 minutes though, so they cook more quickly.
  • If you absolutely refuse to peel boiled potatoes, you can peel them before boiling.

Nutrition

Serving: 2 | Calories: 39kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Trans Fat: 0.05g | Cholesterol: 3mg | Sodium: 68mg | Potassium: 98mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 0.1g | Vitamin A: 35IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 4mg | Iron: 0.3mg

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4.86 from 113 votes (113 ratings without comment)

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197 Comments

  1. You don’t have true Scottish blood if you don’t eat them buttered hot or cold a true delight! My Granny always made a point of saying not to handle the dough more than you have to especially if you have hot hands! Always a welcome addition under a fried egg or bit o bacon and they freeze well.

    1. You didn’t read my bio :) I’m Italian, born in Scotland so zero Scottish blood. However, I will say that there’s nothing like a potato scone fried in bacon fat, and I will stand by that. If I’m eating a potato scone, that is how I want it, preferably with loads of black pudding and the works. I try to keep some in the freezer at all times, they do freeze well. :)

  2. My mom always made tattie scones with left over mashed potatoes. She made them thinner and we would just roll them up and eat them buttered. So much so that I remember butter running out of them downour wrists! She would often tell the stories of after being at the dance hall all night, they would get off the bus and get their warm tattie scones and walk the rest of the way home.

  3. Here in the South, we make the same recipe but we call them “tater cakes”. Ours are usually round like a small pancake. A great way to use up left over potatoes. Sometimes we add shredded cheese or diced onions if we are serving for dinner.

  4. Wonderful Scottish food. All too often underrated. Tattie Scones are a staple on Sunday breakfast plate and loved by all. Your recipe is the same one my grandmother gave me many years ago and now my children use and love it as much as we did. Here is to Scotland and its many wonderful food traditions.

  5. Scottish breakfasts are the best, from the simple roll and sausage to the full on fry up breakfast. I love your recipes and commentaries (and your dad, God bless him!). As a born and bred Scot, now living in Canada, I love trying out Scottish recipes and trying to keep the traditions alive. My mum was a fabulous self taught baker so we grew up with ‘home baking’ all the time and thought this was just normal. I appreciate it more now that it’s not so easy to get some of our faves! Great job Christina, keep up the good work!

  6. I’ve just read a book for my book club that takes place in Scotland. I’d love to serve these Potato Scones at my meeting. I’m wondering if they can be served room temperature, and if there might be a sauce or something that is served with them? I’m thinking more like a traditional scone. Thanks!

  7. I was stationed in Italy and Scotland in the late 70’s while in the Navy. At La Maddalena, Sardinia, Italy there was a small ristorante ran by this little short, fat cook who was as nice as she could be. She made the best lasagna I’ve ever stuck in my mouth and I was a regular at her place until transferred to Scotland. I haven’t been able to find her rival yet.
    While in Scotland I met and married a lass who fed me full Scottish breakfasts almost every morning. When I got transferred back to the states I could no longer get black pudding or tatty scones so now that I’m retired and she’s gone I need to learn to make them.

    1. How wonderful that you were able to experience my two favorite countries so deeply, Michael. I’m so sorry about your wife. I’m sure she’d be happy that you learn to make tattie scones. And you CAN get black pudding here (affiliate link). I like Donnelly’s the best. Good luck with both, and let me know if you have any questions. :)

    2. If you can find a good sausage shop or butcher, black pudding is also called blood pudding. I am 62 YO. Today is the first time I’ve ever heard it called black sausage. I haven’t had it in some time, so if I can’t find any, I will learn to make it.

      1. The trick in making them yourself will be to find the blood. It’s quite perishable, and in many places, it can’t be sold legally. Here in Toronto, where we have a very diverse population, blood sausage is available on many supermarkets. Clearly the meat packers can source it, but it’s not easy for a consumer to find it.