When people think of a traditional afternoon tea in Devon or Cornwall, freshly baked scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam often come to mind first. But the Westcountry has plenty of other baking traditions worth discovering.

Cornish saffron buns bring a distinctive golden colour and delicate spiced flavour to the table, while Devonshire splits offer a softer, bread-like alternative to the familiar scone. Both have their own character, history and place in regional food culture.

Whether you are planning an afternoon tea at home, exploring traditional British baking or searching for something different to serve alongside a pot of tea, these regional favourites are well worth knowing about.

In this guide, we look at what makes Cornish saffron buns special, how Devonshire splits differ from scones, and how you can build a Westcountry-inspired tea table with a variety of traditional bakes.

Discovering the Baking Traditions of Devon and Cornwall

Devon and Cornwall share a border, a love of local food and many familiar traditions. Yet each county has its own specialities, shaped by local ingredients, family recipes and generations of home baking.

The classic cream tea remains one of the best-known examples. Devon is famous for serving scones with clotted cream and jam, and Cornwall has its own equally cherished approach to the tradition. But the region’s baking heritage extends far beyond the cream tea debate.

Cornish saffron buns are associated with the county’s historic use of saffron in baking. Devonshire splits, meanwhile, are soft, lightly sweetened bread rolls traditionally served split open and filled with jam and clotted cream.

Neither needs to replace a traditional scone. Instead, they offer a different way to enjoy familiar Westcountry flavours.

If you want to bring some of that regional atmosphere to your own table, Devon Heaven’s cream teas by post offer a convenient starting point. The collection features traditional cream tea hampers with scones, jam, clotted cream and Devonshire tea, allowing you to enjoy one of the area’s best-loved food traditions at home.

What Are Cornish Saffron Buns?

Cornish saffron buns are traditional sweet bakes known for their golden colour, fragrant aroma and gently sweet flavour. They are often associated with Cornwall’s baking heritage and are sometimes called saffron cakes, depending on the recipe and local tradition.

Their distinctive appearance comes from saffron, the delicate spice obtained from the stigmas of the saffron crocus. Even a small amount can give a bake a warm yellow colour and a subtle, floral aroma.

Traditional recipes commonly combine flour, yeast, butter, sugar and dried fruit, with saffron infused into warm liquid before being added to the dough. Exact ingredients and methods vary between households and bakeries, so there is no single recipe that represents every version.

Why saffron makes these buns distinctive

Saffron is valued for its colour and distinctive flavour. Historically, it was a prized ingredient, and its use in baking gave certain regional recipes a special quality.

In a saffron bun, the spice does not need to dominate. Its appeal lies in the gentle aroma and the golden tone it brings to the finished bake. Dried fruit adds sweetness and texture, while the enriched dough creates a soft, satisfying bite.

The result is different from an ordinary fruit bun. The flavour is more aromatic, and the colour makes the bake immediately recognisable.

How to enjoy Cornish saffron buns

Saffron buns can be enjoyed on their own, with a cup of tea or lightly warmed to bring out their aroma. Some people prefer them just as they are, while others enjoy a little butter.

Because they are already sweet and flavoured, they can be served without elaborate toppings. A simple presentation allows the saffron and fruit to remain the focus.

If you are building a traditional Westcountry tea table, saffron buns can also sit alongside plain scones, biscuits and other bakes. Offering a small selection gives guests a chance to compare different textures and flavours without making the menu feel overly complicated.

One important distinction: saffron buns are a Cornish baking tradition, but they are not the same as Devonshire splits or cream tea scones. Each has its own ingredients and character, which is part of what makes regional baking so interesting.

What Are Devonshire Splits?

Devonshire splits are soft, lightly sweetened bread rolls with a long association with Devon’s baking traditions. Unlike scones, which are usually made with a quicker dough and have a crumbly texture, splits are yeast-raised and have a softer, more bread-like consistency.

They are traditionally cut open and filled with jam and clotted cream, making them a close relative of the cream tea scone in spirit, even though the bake itself is quite different.

How Devonshire splits differ from scones

The most noticeable difference is texture. A scone is usually firm enough to break apart easily, with a tender, slightly crumbly interior. A split is softer and more elastic, rather like a small bread roll.

Their preparation differs, too. Scones generally use a raising agent such as baking powder, while traditional splits are made with yeast and need time to rise.

These differences create two distinct experiences:

• Scones: tender, crumbly and familiar as the centrepiece of a traditional cream tea.

• Devonshire splits: soft, fluffy and ideal for those who prefer a bread-like bake with cream and jam.

Both can be served with clotted cream and strawberry jam. The choice comes down to personal preference and the kind of afternoon tea you want to enjoy.

The traditional way to serve Devonshire splits

Once cooled, splits are cut horizontally and filled with jam and clotted cream. The exact order of the toppings can vary according to personal preference, and anyone who enjoys the Devon and Cornwall cream tea debate will know that topping order can inspire strong opinions.

Their soft texture makes them a particularly appealing alternative for people who find scones a little dry or crumbly. They can also make a welcome addition to a tea table where you want to offer something beyond the usual selection.

If you are interested in enjoying a traditional Devon cream tea alongside your own baking, the Devon Cream Tea by Post includes plain scones, Langage Farm clotted cream, Hogsbottom strawberry jam and Devonshire tea sachets. It is a convenient option for serving the familiar cream tea combination while experimenting with other regional recipes separately.

Saffron Buns vs Devonshire Splits: Which Should You Try?

Although both bakes belong to the wider Westcountry food story, they offer different flavours and textures.

There is no need to choose one as the winner. Saffron buns are appealing when you want a distinctive, fragrant bake, while splits are ideal when you want a softer base for cream and jam.

If you are hosting friends, serving both could be a lovely way to celebrate the variety of regional baking. Add a plate of plain scones, and guests can decide which combination they enjoy most.

How to Create a Westcountry Afternoon Tea at Home

You do not need a formal occasion to enjoy traditional regional bakes. A simple afternoon tea at home can be a wonderful way to discover different flavours, share food with friends or spend a relaxed weekend afternoon with family.

The trick is to keep the menu balanced. Instead of filling the table with too many similar sweet treats, select a few items with different textures and flavours.

Start with a traditional cream tea

Scones, clotted cream, strawberry jam and a pot of tea provide a familiar foundation. You can then add saffron buns or splits to introduce something different.

The Fruit & Plain Scone Hamper includes both fruit and plain scones, clotted cream and strawberry jam, making it a useful option for a small gathering or a relaxed treat for two.

Add a selection of cakes and biscuits

Saffron buns and splits are enjoyable in their own right, but a few smaller treats can add variety to the table. Shortbread, fruitcake, brownies and fudge each bring a different texture and flavour.

The Cake, Tea & Biscuits Hamper includes Devonshire tea sachets alongside cakes, biscuits, fudge and other sweet treats. It can be a convenient choice if you want a varied tea-time selection without preparing everything yourself.

For an afternoon tea centred on scones, cream, jam and extra cakes, consider the Afternoon Tea & Cake Hamper. You can add your own homemade saffron buns or splits to create a more personal spread.

Offer something savoury, too

A table made entirely of sweet bakes can be delicious, but a savoury option can help balance the menu. Cheese, chutney and savoury biscuits offer a contrast to the sweetness of fruit buns, jam and cakes.

The Afternoon Tea Hamper with Cheese & Biscuits combines cream tea essentials with cheddar, chutney and savoury biscuits. It can work well when you want to offer guests a mixture of sweet and savoury flavours.

If you are planning a larger gathering, the Westcountry Afternoon Tea Hamper offers another option for a more substantial spread.

Tips for Baking Traditional Buns at Home

If you enjoy baking, making saffron buns or Devonshire splits can be a rewarding way to explore regional food traditions. Both benefit from a little patience, particularly when working with enriched or yeast-raised dough.

Infuse saffron carefully

For saffron buns, the spice is commonly infused in warm liquid before being added to the dough. This helps distribute its colour and aroma more evenly.

Avoid using liquid that is too hot when working with yeast, as excessive heat can damage the yeast and affect how the dough rises. Follow the temperature guidance in your chosen recipe.

Give yeast dough enough time

Devonshire splits rely on yeast to develop their soft texture. Allowing the dough to rise for the time specified in the recipe helps create a lighter result.

Room temperature, yeast activity and the ingredients used can all affect rising time, so look for the dough to reach the stage described in your recipe rather than relying only on the clock.

Avoid adding too much flour

It can be tempting to keep adding flour if a dough feels sticky, but too much can make the finished bake dry or heavy. Follow the recipe measurements and use a light touch when shaping the dough.

Serve the bakes at their best

Saffron buns can be enjoyed plain or lightly warmed, while Devonshire splits are often served once they have cooled sufficiently to cut and fill. For a cream tea-style presentation, prepare the clotted cream and jam separately so people can add their preferred amount.

If you are making these bakes for guests, check the recipe’s storage advice and consider how far ahead you can prepare them without compromising their texture.

Finding More Westcountry Food Inspiration

Traditional baking is one part of the region’s wider food culture. The Westcountry is also associated with cream teas, locally produced preserves, cakes, biscuits, cheeses and other foods that can make a simple afternoon feel special.

If you want to explore more of these flavours, the Devon Food Hampers collection brings together a variety of food gifts and regional treats.

For a relaxed outdoor gathering, the Picnic Cream Tea Hamper combines scones, cream, jam, Devonshire tea, snacks and drinks. You could serve it alongside homemade regional bakes for a garden afternoon or a picnic-inspired spread.

If you are buying a gift for someone who enjoys baking or traditional British food, consider what they like to eat and whether they prefer sweet or savoury flavours. A cream tea hamper can be a thoughtful choice for someone who loves the classics, while a more varied selection may suit someone who enjoys trying different treats.

You can browse the full Devon Heaven website to compare available hampers and check each product’s contents before ordering. Product ranges can change, so check the current listing rather than assuming a particular traditional bake is included.

Celebrating the Best of Regional Baking

Cornish saffron buns and Devonshire splits show just how much variety exists beyond the familiar scone. One brings a golden colour, fragrant flavour and fruity sweetness; the other offers a soft, bread-like texture that works beautifully with jam and clotted cream.

Both deserve a place in conversations about Westcountry baking. They reflect the character of regional food traditions and remind us that even simple recipes can carry a strong sense of place.

Whether you bake them at home, discover them at a local bakery or serve them alongside a traditional cream tea, they are a lovely way to explore the flavours of Devon and Cornwall.

And if you are planning an afternoon tea, there is no reason to stop at one bake. Set out a few favourites, brew a pot of tea, invite someone to join you and enjoy the pleasure of sharing good food.