Vanilla Scones are a delightful baked treat characterized by their tender, crumbly texture and rich, buttery flavor. Infused with a hint of vanilla, these scones strike a perfect balance between sweetness subtlety. They’re the perfect pairing to a cozy cup of coffee or tea!
If I had to choose a pastry to live with forever, it would be a scone, hands down. They are easily a favorite of mine for several reasons. One being they’re not super sweet. I never get that “ugh I shouldn’t have eaten that” feeling after I enjoy a scone. They settle perfectly in my stomach. Another reason is the rich buttery flavor with the soft yet tender texture of a scone. They melt and crumble in your mouth at the same time…big fan of that! Scones are also so versatile. This recipe can be used to make all different types and flavors of scones. Check out my recipe for Orange Scones as an example of how easily this recipe can be adapted! Lastly, scones are actually very easy to make! They mix together quickly and bake quickly allowing these to be easily whipped up at any time! Let’s take a look at how to make them!
- All Purpose Flour:All purpose flour is the base for this recipe helping give these scones a tall rise while holding their shape.
- Baking Powder:Baking powder is the leavener that helps these scones puff up.
- Salt:Salt helps balance the sweetness in baked good and brings out the flavor of the vanilla and butter.
- Sugar: Sugar helps give the scones just enough sweetnesss without over powering the butter and vanilla.
- Milk: Milk helps keep the scones moist and rich. I prefer to use whole milk, but any fat percentage will do.
- Egg:One egg helps bind together all the ingredients.
- Cold Butter: Butter helps gives the scones richness along with flavor. It also helps create the crumbly yet soft texture that scones are known for.
- Vanilla Bean Paste:Vanilla bean paste is more concentrated than pure vanilla extract as it has the vanilla bean seeds in it. I love using it when I want the vanilla flavor to be very prominent. If you don’t have the paste, pure vanilla extract will work, too.
Now that we know the simple ingredients to make a scone, let’s take a look at exactly how to make them!
I’m going to break down how to make these vanilla scones with pictures and descriptions so you can see the process visually! I find this helpful when it comes to making a pastry as there are a few steps involved.
- Mix together flour, salt, baking powder and sugar.
- Add cold butter and mix on low-speed until pea size crumbs form.
- Pea size crumbs after mixing in the butter.
- Mix together egg, milk and vanilla bean paste.
- Pour milk mixture into the flour mixture and mix on low speed until dough comes together.
- Dough after mixed on low-speed.
- Dump dough onto a floured baking surface and knead gently, form into a ball.
- Gently roll dough into a circle and cut into eight wedges using knife or pizza cutter.
- Place scones on baking sheet and bake.
- Prepare all of your ingredients ahead of time. I find this super helpful so you don’t accidently leave anything out or start to feel overwhelmed.
- Make sure the butter is very cold. I suggest dicing it into cubes and placing back in refrigerator until you’re ready to use it.
- I use a stand-alone mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. I find this to be the easiest way as it does all the work for you. You could also use your hands to mix the dough or a pastry blender. The most important part is to not over-mix the dough. It should come together, but also be crumbly. See picture above.
- Gently knead the dough just until it comes together to form a mound or a ball before rolling it out. Over-mixing will prevent the scones from being crumbly and tender.
Now onto the vanilla glaze!
I love to add a glaze on top of my scones. I love the added sweetness, but I also believe it helps keep the scones moist. Glazes are incredibly easy to make. Simply mix all the ingredients together until smooth.
- Powdered sugar:The base for all glazes! It soaks up liquid to create a smooth frosting.
- Melted butter:The butter helps give the glaze structure, allowing it to stay thick as it cools.
- Vanilla bean paste:The paste gives the glaze flavor. I love the specks in there!
- Water:Water helps thin out the glaze.
- Whisk powdered sugar, melted butter, water and vanilla until smooth.
- Runny enough to glaze, but thick enough that it sticks to the scone.
- Use room temperature water or slightly warm water to help prevent clumping.
- If the glaze is too thick, add 1 teaspoon more water and whisk again.
- If glaze is too thin, add a few tablespoons more powdered sugar and whisk until you reach the consistency you want.
- You can always test the glaze onto a cooled scone to make sure it’s right. It should run down the sides, but also be thick enough that it coats the top of the scone.
A beautifully baked vanilla scone! They should rise nicely and be slightly golden around the edges. After they have cooled, they can be glazed.
As you can see, the glaze is nice and thick yet runs down the sides. Since this recipe has no additional ingredients that provide sweetness like a berry or dried fruit, I highly suggest doing a thick layer of glaze on top!
Vanilla scones are a versatile pastry, suitable for breakfast, brunch or a cozy afternoon snack! Bake a batch of these for your friends, neighbors, family or just for yourself…you won’t be disappointed!
Yield: 8
Vanilla Scones are a delightful baked treat characterized by their tender, crumbly texture, and rich buttery flavor, Infused with a hint of vanilla, these scones strike the perfect balance between ssweetness and subtletly.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time13 minutes
Total Time28 minutes
Ingredients
- Scones:
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup milk (prefer whole, but any kind will do)
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract (I used vanilla bean paste)
- 3/4 cup cold unsalted butter, cubed
- Vanilla Glaze:
- 1 3/4 cups confectioners sugar
- 3 tablespoons room temp water (may need more)
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract (I used vanilla bean paste)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a non-stick baking mat; set aside.
- In a stand-alone mixer fitted with a paddle attachment mix together the flour, salt, baking powder, and granulated sugar. Add cold cubed butter and mix on low-speed until course crumbs forms - careful not to over-mix. (see picture above for a visual)
- In a small bowl, whisk together the egg, milk, and vanilla then add it to the mixer and mix until dough comes together. It will be crumbly.
- Sprinle a light dusting of flour onto a clean service and kneed dough just a bit until it comes together. Form it into a circle about 1 inch in thickness. You can use a roller or use your hands to form a circle.
- Next, use a knife or pizza cutter to cut scones into 8 wedges. Place on baking sheet. Bake for 10-14 minutes (mine baked for 13) or until edges are slightly golden. Remove from oven and place on a cooling rack to cool.
- While scones are cooling, add all the glaze ingredients into a bowl and whisk - glaze will be slightly thick but should drizzle off a spoon. If it's too thick, add 1 teaspoon of water and whisk until you reach the consisteny you want. If it's too thin, add a few tablespoons more powdered sugar and whisk until desired consistency. Use a spoon to spread glaze over cooled scones. Let stand until glaze is set. Enjoy!
Notes
Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Can be frozen for up to 30 months with glaze!
