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Soft & Fluffy Bakery-Style Lemon Scones with Tangy Glaze

Close-up of two fluffy lemon scones stacked, showing the moist interior and thick lemon glaze.
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Bake incredibly moist, buttery lemon scones from scratch. These easy scones feature bright citrus flavor and a sweet, tangy glaze, perfect for brunch or afternoon tea.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream, plus more for brushing
  • 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon zest
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • For the Glaze: 1 cup powdered sugar
  • For the Glaze: 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
  3. Cut the cold butter into the dry ingredients using a pastry blender or your fingertips until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-sized pieces of butter remaining.
  4. In a separate small bowl, whisk together the egg, 1/2 cup heavy cream, 1/4 cup lemon juice, lemon zest, and vanilla extract.
  5. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Mix gently with a fork until just combined. Do not overmix; the dough will be shaggy.
  6. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Gently knead 3 or 4 times until it comes together. Pat the dough into a 3/4-inch thick circle.
  7. Cut the circle into 8 equal wedges, like a pizza. Place the wedges onto the prepared baking sheet, leaving about 1 inch between them.
  8. Brush the tops lightly with a little extra heavy cream.
  9. Bake for 14 to 17 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden brown. Let the scones cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
  10. While the scones cool, prepare the glaze: Whisk together the powdered sugar and 2 tablespoons of lemon juice until smooth. Add more powdered sugar or lemon juice, one teaspoon at a time, to reach a thick but pourable consistency.
  11. Drizzle the tangy lemon glaze over the cooled scones. Let the glaze set before serving.

Notes

  • For the softest scones ever, make sure your butter is very cold and do not overwork the dough.
  • Use fresh lemon zest and juice for the brightest citrus flavor.
  • These are excellent served warm with clotted cream or butter.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://juliameal.com/best-lemon-scones-recipe-fluffy-moist/