What is margarine used for in scones?

Scones are a British baked product usually made with wheat flour, baking powder, butter, sugar, eggs, and milk. Traditionally, scones are made using butter; however, margarine is commonly used as a suitable substitute for butter in making scones.

Margarine is preferred in some instances due to reasons such as vegan dietary preferences, convenience, and cost. Margarine is a plant-based butter substitute typically made from vegetable oils, water, and emulsifiers, and is often used in baking as a way to replicate the taste, texture, and browning properties of butter. In the context of scones, margarine performs a similar role to butter in providing richness, tenderness, and structure to the final product.