Lemon Scones Recipe | The Recipe Critic

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These homemade lemon scones are the perfect balance of tangy and sweet, with a crumbly texture that’ll melt in your mouth. And let’s not forget about the delicious sweet lemon icing, which is the cherry on top to make them simply irresistible. Having one of these for breakfast is the perfect way to start your day!

Is there anything better than a sweet, buttery scone fresh out of the oven? If you’re a pastry-lover like me, you’ll have to try these other recipes out next: blueberry scones, glazed orange scones, and maple pecan scones!

Lemon Scone Recipe

Lemon scones with a drizzle of zesty lemon icing are the ultimate indulgence for any citrus lover! These scones are bursting with fresh lemon flavor and have a crumbly yet soft texture that will leave your taste buds in heaven. Whether you make these for breakfast, brunch, or just a sweet treat to have with coffee, I know you will love this recipe as much as I do.

But the best part? Lemon scones are super easy to make and take only 40 minutes from start to finish! Simply mix the dry ingredients, cut in the butter, add the wet ingredients, shape the dough into triangles, and bake. In no time, you’ll have a batch of freshly baked scones that are sure to impress. So, whether you’re looking for a delicious breakfast treat or a snack to enjoy with your afternoon tea, these lemon scones are the perfect choice!

Ingredients Needed

Let’s break down the ingredients that make these lemon scones so scrumptious! Check out the recipe card below to find exact measurements.

• All-Purpose Flour: First up, we have 2 cups of all-purpose flour – the backbone of any good scone recipe. This flour gives the lemon scones their structure and stability, ensuring they bake up light and fluffy. You’ll want to avoid using a flour that has too high of a protein content so your scones don’t end up dense.
• Granulated Sugar: Sugar provides the sweetness that balances out the tangy lemon flavor. Sugar also helps to create a golden brown crust on the outside of the scones. Yum!
• Baking Powder: Acts as a leavening agent and helps the scones puff up in the oven.
• Salt: Don’t forget about the salt – this ingredient is essential for bringing out all the flavors in the recipe.
• Lemon Zest: Adds a burst of citrusy flavor to the scones.
• Unsalted Butter: Butter adds richness and helps create the flaky texture that we all love in homemade scones.
• Heavy Cream: The high fat content in heavy cream helps to make the scones nice and tender.
• Large Egg: To bind everything together and give the scones structure.
• Vanilla Extract: Adds warm, sweet flavor to each bite.
• Coarse Sugar: Because no pastry is complete without a sprinkling of coarse sugar! It’s a bakery-worthy finishing touch.

For the Lemon Icing:

The icing on the cake, or in this case, the icing on the scone! This lemon glaze is the perfect finishing touch to make your lemon scones even more delicious.

• Powdered Sugar: Gives the icing a smooth texture and sweet flavor.
• Lemon Juice: Lemon juice is a must-add so your scones have a pop of zesty flavor. Fresh is best! The acidity of the lemon juice also helps to break down the powdered sugar and create a smooth consistency.
• Heavy Cream: Helps to thin out the icing and make it easy to drizzle over the scones. Plus, the cream adds a touch of richness and creaminess that makes the icing absolutely irresistible. By all means, taste test, but be sure to save some for the actual scones!

How to Make Lemon Scones

It’s super easy and takes less than an hour! Once you get a taste of these homemade lemon scones, you’ll want them all the time. You just can’t go wrong with their bright, zesty flavor and crumbly, buttery flavor! It’s so delicious!

1. Preheat Oven, Prep Baking Sheet: Preheat the oven to 375° and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
2. Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and lemon zest together.
3. Add Butter: Use a box grater to grate the cold butter into the dry ingredients. Use your hands to lightly toss the butter into the flour.
4. Wet Ingredients: In a medium bowl, combine the cream, egg, and vanilla extract. Pour over the butter and flour mixture and stir to combine. Trying to work the dough as little as possible, turn out onto a lightly floured surface and work into a ball. Flatten into an 8-9 inch disc. Use a sharp knife to cut into 6-8 equal pieces.
5. Bake: Arrange the pieces on the prepared baking sheet, leaving about 2 inches between each one. Bake for 22-25 minutes, or until nice and golden brown. If you find the scones are browning too quickly, lay a sheet of foil over the top of them to prevent them from burning while they finish baking. Allow your lemon scones to cool for at least 5-10 minutes before drizzling the icing over the top.

Making the Icing

1. Combine Ingredients: In a small bowl whisk together the powdered sugar, lemon juice and heavy cream.
2. Adjust Consistency: If needed, thin with more lemon juice 1 teaspoon at a time.