Scones as a Hostess Gift: What to Bring to Thanksgiving in Savannah

A box of scones makes a practical hostess gift for Thanksgiving and the holidays. Scones are ready to enjoy, they don't need a spot in the oven on the big day, and they cover breakfast the morning after the gathering, when the house is full and nobody wants to cook. In Savannah, you can choose scones from our weekly menu, order from our Thanksgiving menu by 1 p.m. Friday, November 20, or place a special order for a larger group. For a host in another city, we ship nationwide on Goldbelly.

We think a box of scones is one of the kindest things you can bring a host. It says you thought about the morning after, and it gives everyone a reason to linger over coffee before the leftovers come out.

Why are scones a good hostess gift?

Scones solve a problem the host already has. A holiday host plans the big meal down to the minute, but the next morning usually goes unplanned. A box of scones takes care of it before anyone has to think about it.

Scones also avoid the two traps of the usual hostess gifts. A dessert competes with the pies the host already made, and most Thanksgiving tables have more sweets than they can finish. A bottle of wine or a candle is thoughtful but gets set aside until the holiday is over. Scones arrive ready to eat, go straight to the counter, and get used within a day.

Finally, a scone gift suits any host. A box works for the grandmother who has hosted for forty years, the friend hosting a Friendsgiving for the first time, and the coworker who invited you because you were staying in town. Nobody has to find a serving dish, chill anything, or make room in a full refrigerator.

What should I bring to a Thanksgiving host?

Bring something for the morning after. Our Thanksgiving menu is a short list of seasonal scones, with sweet and savory options and two gluten-free choices. Orders placed by 1 p.m. on Friday, November 20, are picked up on Wednesday, November 25, between 8 and 11 a.m. That gives you the rest of Wednesday to get the box to your host, and it means the scones sit on their counter for Thanksgiving morning and the day after. To order, contact the shop.

If you are reading this closer to the holiday, our weekly menu changes every week, and either shop can send you home with a box the same day.

Should I bring sweet scones or savory scones?

Bring both if you can. Sweet scones go with the first pot of coffee and tend to disappear while the parade is on. Savory scones suit the people who woke up still full from dinner and want something that isn't dessert. Our weekly menu always has both, and our Thanksgiving menu does too.

If you can only choose one, think about the house. A home with kids and early risers leans sweet. A house full of adults who cook leans savory, because a savory scone with a slice of leftover turkey makes a better lunch than most sandwiches.

How many scones should I bring?

Plan for the people staying over, not the full dinner guest list. The scones are for breakfast the next day, so the houseguests are the ones who will eat them. One scone per overnight guest is a comfortable minimum, and a few extra never go to waste in a house with leftovers.

For a larger household, a mix of sweet and savory covers the coffee crowd and the people who want something more filling.

How should I present scones as a hostess gift?

Keep it simple. Our box is the presentation. Add a card, and if you know the host's coffee or tea of choice, tuck in a bag of beans or a tin of tea. Hand it over with a sentence about what it is for: "This is tomorrow's breakfast, so nobody has to cook." Hosts remember that more than the ribbon.

If the host is the type who plans everything, text them the day before and tell them breakfast is covered. It takes one thing off their list before you even arrive.

Can I send scones to a host who lives out of town?

Yes. We ship scones nationwide on Goldbelly. Goldbelly shows what's in each box and the available delivery dates at checkout, so you can time the box to arrive before the gathering. Our guide to how our scones ship nationwide covers what to expect.

A shipped box works well for the host you can't visit this year, and for the family member hosting in another state who would never buy scones for themselves.

What if I'm bringing scones for a big holiday party?

For a larger group, choose from the flavors on our weekly menu. If you want a flavor that isn't on this week's menu, order 8 or more of one flavor by 10 a.m. the day before, and we will bake a batch for you. See special orders to get started. The same approach works for office parties, Friendsgiving potlucks, and holiday open houses in December.

What goes well with a box of scones?

Scones are made for good coffee or a pot of tea. If your host loves a proper afternoon tea, our guide to what a cream tea is explains the tradition behind serving scones with tea, cream and jam, and our clotted cream post explains the cream itself. For a holiday morning, though, nobody needs a tradition. A plate of scones and a full pot of coffee is the whole plan.

Where to pick up scones in Savannah

We have two shops. Our Midtown Bakeshop at 713 E 65th St is where every scone is baked, and it is open Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Our Downtown Coffee Shop & Scone Shop at 31 W Congress St is open Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., which makes it the stop for a Saturday gathering. Both shops sell from the weekly menu, with meat items at the Midtown Bakeshop only, and the Downtown shop pours coffee and espresso alongside the scones.