Scone vs. Crumpet — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on May 9, 2024
A scone is a baked, lightly sweetened dough, often enjoyed with clotted cream and jam, while a crumpet is a griddled bread with a spongy texture, famous for its surface holes that absorb butter and spreads.
Difference Between Scone and Crumpet
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Scones are a traditional component of British tea time, made from wheat flour, butter, and milk or buttermilk, and typically leavened with baking powder. Crumpets, on the other hand, are made from a yeast-based batter including flour and water, and are cooked on a griddle.
The texture of scones is dense and crumbly, and they can be either sweet or savory, incorporating fruits or cheeses. Crumpets feature a chewy and porous texture, ideal for holding melted butter and other toppings due to their characteristic holes.
Scones are often served split open and topped with jam and clotted cream, especially in Devon and Cornwall. Crumpets are usually served whole, toasted, and slathered with butter, sometimes with sweet or savory toppings.
When it comes to preparation, scones are quick to bake in an oven and are best served warm, shortly after baking. Crumpets require a slow cook on a stovetop griddle, allowing the batter to bubble and form the distinct holes on the top surface.
Scones are typically part of a more formal tea service or enjoyed as a quick snack, while crumpets are often associated with a comforting, homely treat, commonly enjoyed during breakfast or as a warm snack on a cold day.
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Comparison Chart
Main Ingredients
Wheat flour, butter, milk or buttermilk, baking powder
Wheat flour, water, milk, yeast
Texture
Dense and crumbly
Chewy and porous
Typical Toppings
Jam, clotted cream, butter
Butter, jams, honey, sometimes cheese
Cooking Method
Baked in oven
Cooked on griddle
Serving Occasion
Tea time, breakfast, snacks
Breakfast, tea time, cold weather treat
Compare with Definitions
Scone
Typically baked and served warm.
Freshly baked scones filled the kitchen with a delightful aroma.
Crumpet
Commonly eaten with butter, and sometimes with sweet or savory toppings.
She topped the crumpet with cream cheese and salmon.
Scone
A small, lightly sweetened pastry often made with fruit and served with tea.
She enjoyed a warm scone with strawberry jam.
Crumpet
A beloved warm treat in the United Kingdom.
Nothing beats a warm crumpet on a rainy British morning.
Scone
Originating from Scotland, now a staple in British teatime.
Traditional Scottish scones include raisins and nuts.
Crumpet
Recognizable by its surface full of small holes.
The holes in the crumpet soaked up all the melted butter.
Scone
Often made using baking powder as a rising agent.
The scones rose beautifully, thanks to the baking powder.
Crumpet
Cooked slowly on a griddle, allowing the batter to form holes.
Watching the crumpet batter bubble on the griddle was mesmerizing.
Scone
A quick bread that can be either sweet or savory.
He made garlic scones to accompany the dinner.
Crumpet
A type of flatbread made with yeast and known for its spongy texture.
He toasted the crumpet until it was golden brown.
Scone
A scone ( or ) is a baked good, usually made of either wheat or oatmeal with baking powder as a leavening agent, and baked on sheet pans. A scone is often slightly sweetened and occasionally glazed with egg wash.
Crumpet
A crumpet ( (listen)) is a small griddle bread made from an unsweetened batter of water or milk, flour, and yeast, eaten in the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia. Crumpets are regionally known as pikelets, a name also applied to a thinner, more pancake-like griddle bread: a type of the latter is referred to as a crumpet in Scotland.
Scone
A small, rich, biscuitlike pastry or quick bread, sometimes baked on a griddle.
Crumpet
A small flat round of bread, baked on a griddle and usually served toasted.
Scone
(Utah) Yeast bread dough, deep-fried and served with honey and butter or with a savory filling.
Crumpet
A type of savoury cake, typically flat and round, made from batter and yeast, containing many small holes and served toasted, usually with butter.
Scone
A small, rich, pastry or quick bread, sometimes baked on a griddle.
Crumpet
A kind of large, thin, unsweetened muffin or cake, light and spongy, and cooked on a griddle or spider, or sometimes toasted.
Scone
Frybread served with honey butter spread on it.
Crumpet
Raised muffin cooked on a griddle
Scone
The head.
Scone
To hit on the head.
Scone
A cake, thinner than a bannock, made of wheat or barley or oat meal.
Scone
Small biscuit (rich with cream and eggs) cut into diamonds or sticks and baked in an oven or (especially originally) on a griddle
Common Curiosities
How is a crumpet different from a scone?
A crumpet is a yeast-leavened bread cooked on a griddle with a porous texture, unlike the crumbly, baked texture of a scone.
What makes crumpets unique?
Crumpets are unique due to their chewy texture and the holes on their surface, which are perfect for absorbing toppings like butter.
What are common toppings for a crumpet?
Common toppings include butter, jams, honey, and sometimes savory options like cheese.
Where did scones originate?
Scones originated in Scotland and have become a significant part of British culinary tradition.
Can scones be savory?
Yes, scones can be made savory with the addition of ingredients like cheese and herbs.
How are crumpets cooked?
Crumpets are cooked on a stovetop griddle, which allows the batter to form its characteristic holes.
What is a scone?
A scone is a baked good typically made from wheat flour, butter, and milk, often enjoyed with tea.
Are scones served warm?
Yes, scones are typically served warm, often split and topped with butter, jam, or clotted cream.
How does the taste of a scone differ from that of a crumpet?
Scones have a mildly sweet or savory flavor and a biscuit-like texture, while crumpets are slightly tangy due to the yeast and have a softer texture.
Is baking powder used in scones?
Yes, baking powder is commonly used as a leavening agent in scones to help them rise.
What is the best way to enjoy a crumpet?
The best way to enjoy a crumpet is toasted with butter, allowing the butter to melt into the holes, though many also enjoy adding sweet or savory toppings.
Are scones part of a traditional English tea?
Yes, scones are a staple in traditional English afternoon tea, typically served with clotted cream and jam.
Can crumpets be eaten for breakfast?
Yes, crumpets are popular as a breakfast item, often enjoyed with a warm drink.
Why do crumpets have holes?
The holes in crumpets are formed by the air bubbles in the yeast batter during the cooking process, which also help to hold toppings.
Are there different varieties of scones?
Yes, there are many varieties of scones, including fruit scones, cheese scones, and plain scones.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
