This is the Best Scone Recipe around! These easy vanilla scones are buttery, moist, and perfectly balanced with vanilla flavors. Topped with a sweet and sticky vanilla bean glaze, these make the perfect dessert companion for hot tea. The best scones I’ve ever had! This post contains affiliate links.
Today, I am featuring these Vanilla Scones that are mighty tasty, and surprisingly easy to make.
Many people forget how tasty scones are because they are not as popular of a dessert as compared to cookies, or cake. Sometimes, people even are under the misconception that they are doughy, bland, or dry. With this Vanilla Bean Scones recipe, I hope to change that!
This scone recipe is made similar to a biscuit with bits of butter baked throughout the dough. It creates a fluffy, moist and buttery scone that’s anything but dry or bland!
Tips
Here are a few tips for making the perfect scones:
Mixing
I used our KitchenAid stand mixer with the paddle attachment to mix the dough. It’s faster than mixing by hand. However, if you don’t own a stand mixer, you can combine all the ingredients with a mixing spoon and kneed by hand.
Vanilla Bean Paste
I used a high quality vanilla bean paste in this recipe. You could get away with vanilla extract in the dough, but the paste takes the glaze to a whole new level of flavor! Therefore, I recommend Nielsen Massey Pure Vanilla Bean Paste. It’s the best vanilla bean paste available and worth the investment.
Recipe
Follow the recipe below to make these amazingly moist and delicious vanilla scones. This recipe makes 8 scones, but you can adjust the servings in the recipe card if you want to change it.
Easy Scone Recipe (With Vanilla Bean Glaze)!
Ingredients
Scones
- 2 ½ cups white unbleached flour +1 tablespoon to flour your hands, work area, and pastry cutter
- ¼ cup sugar + 1 tablespoon reserved from sprinkling over the top of the scones before baking
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 large egg
- 12 tablespoons butter cubed
- ½ cup milk
- 1 tablespoon vanilla bean paste
Glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons whole milk * adjust slightly if glaze is too thick
- 1/2 tsp vanilla bean paste
Instructions
Scones
- Pre-heat to 425° F.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Prepare a lightly floured work area. Coat your pastry cutter with flour as well.
- Using the paddle attachment, in a stand mixer, add the flour, salt, baking powder, and sugar to the mixing bowl. Beat at a medium-low speed.
- Add the cubed butter, and mix until the dough forms tiny balls.
- In a separate bowl, whisk the egg, vanilla, milk, and then add it to the mixer.
- The dough should come together and form a ball.
- Remove dough and transfer to your floured work area.
- Shape the dough into a 1" thick circle.
- Using your pastry cutter, divide dough into 8 pieces, and slightly separate them to give them space to bake.
- Bake for 12-14 mins or until golden brown edges form
Glaze
- Whisk the powdered sugar, whole milk, and vanilla bean paste together until thick and creamy. (similar to a honey consistency)
- Pour the glaze over the warm scones, and enjoy!
Nutrition
If you like these Vanilla Bean Scones, you might like these Pumpkin Spice Scones too! We also have wildly popular Blueberry Scones.
I followed the recipe exactly as stated and the scones turned out tasty and moist. I even bought the Nielsen Massey Pure Vanilla Bean Paste. When I formed and cut the scones they seemed a bit ‘skimpy’ but they rose and puffed nicely as they baked. Next time I think I’ll increase the sugar from the 1/4 cup to 1/3 cup. Be sure t use the glaze.
Absolutely incredible! I have never made scones before but saw this recipe and thought I would give it a try. I have a wheat allergy so I swapped out the flour and used Namaste gluten free flour instead. They are melt in your mouth delicious! I also substituted vanilla extract since I don’t have vanilla bean paste on hand. Thank you so much for this amazing recipe!
Aww, I am so happy you enjoyed them! Thank you, and take care!
Amy, thank you for the quick response. I did make these with extract and they were delicious. Definitely a keeper. I will try the vanilla paste as soon as I can get some. Thanks you for posting this recipe. Mary
Hello, You can add 1 tablespoon of Vanilla Extract to the dough. For the glaze, you could keep it simple with just the confectionery sugar and water or milk.
I do not have vanilla paste available , can I use vanilla extract? If so, how much would I use and do I need to adjust the recipe? Thank you, Mary
Hands down the best scones I’ve ever made, they are SOOOO delicious – I absolutely love vanilla! Bought the paste online and glad I did. I couldn’t believe how easy they were to make! Will be making again this weekend as everyone loved them and they disappeared instantly! Thanks for sharing this!
Hello! Dip & Sweep and yes, cold butter and milk only! :)
These look great! Do you dip and sweep your flour or spoon and level? And I assume you use cold butter and milk? Can’t wait to make these! Thanks!
Tried the recipe and they turned out great! Super easy to follow and yummy!
Only thing is I noticed you said to keep some extra sugar to put in top but don’t mention it in the instructions, I went ahead and did it anyway!
Oh, thank you so much for stopping by! I enjoy them un-glazed too!
This is my go-to scone recipe.
Thank you!
When I make them in the morning (before school) I don’t make the glaze
& they lovely without it, as well.
Update: Delish!! Thanks for sharing!
In the oven now!! Easy to make, I got 6 1/2 from my recipe. Am I right in assuming that I cool completely before glazing? I’m a pretty novice cook….but think it would all run off if hot. I can’t wait to taste. First time using my vanilla bean paste!
Thank you so much for sharing that! Glad you enjoyed the recipe!
These were absolutely sensational, and super easy to make! The scone itself is great, but the combination of scone and glaze really elevates it. Thank you!
Yes, that works or almond extract!
Cannot get vanilla bean paste local. Can I substitute vanilla extract?
It’s item 5 of instructions
So glad you liked them, and darn it did not save my changes. thanks for the heads up!
Figured out the butter on my own, but I still can’t find the “fixed” recipe. They are delicious First time I used vanilla bean paste, and I love it.
I’m not finding the “fixed” recipe. Where is it?
Hi, so sorry, I fixed the instructions.
Hi, so sorry, I fixed the instructions.
So sorry! I updated the recipe!
Amy
These look absolutely delicious! At what point is the cubed butter added? With the dry ingredients? Is the butter to be cut into the dry before the wet? Or all together?
in the instructions, you never mention the butter but 12 tablespoons is listed in the ingredients?
Your recipe skips adding the 12 T butter.
I am a tea lover and am always looking for a sweet treat to pair with a yummy cup of tea. Can’t wait to try your recipe for vanilla bean scones!
I absolutely love scones! These sounds like they would be absolutely delicious.
Mmm, this looks heavenly. I could go for this right now.
I can’t wait to try this recipe. I love a tasty scone. I’m going to see if I can find Bigelow tea here.
OH these look DELICIOUS! I have never made scones before! I have been drinking tea a lot lately!
My kids play XBox with kids from the UK so they had to try scones and they love them. This recipe sounds fantastic.
That looks absolutely delicious! I love scones and vanilla Bean would be very very top of my list. I will have to make these.
Mmmm! these sound yummy! I love having scones as a breakfast treat :)
Oh my goodness, your scones look divine. I started to love scones when I worked for Starbucks as a teenager, but have never had a homemade one. I NEED to make this at home. It looks so easy and just delicious. I pinned this so on a cold day I can enjoy them with my tea. :) Thanks for sharing! #client
Vanilla bean has quickly become one of my favorite flavors of anything. I would love these scones I am sure. Bring on the vanilla bean!