Starbucks Vanilla Scone Recipe

Want more Starbucks Vanilla Scones without the drive and the price tag? Then you’ve come to the right place! This copycat Starbucks Vanilla Scone Recipe uses two secret ingredients to make the BEST scones that taste just like the ones you’ve come to love!

 

You Won’t Believe How Good This Vanilla Bean Scone Starbucks Copycat Recipe Is!

Prepare to be amazed at how deliciously amazing these copycat vanilla scones are! And don’t worry, they don’t come at the expense of a long baking process or even a lengthy ingredients list.

To make this the very best Starbucks scones copycat recipe I made them with two secret ingredients that really make these the BEST! Without them, they’d just be an ordinary vanilla scone.

Ready for the secret ingredients? Cake flour and vanilla bean paste! Simple yet incredibly effective in baking up lightly crisp, tender scones with a standout vanilla flavor!

Vanilla Bean Scones Ingredients

• cake flour (use my homemade cake flour substitute recipe if you don’t have any on hand)
• granulated sugar
• baking powder
• salt
• unsalted butter
• heavy cream
• large egg
• vanilla bean paste
• powdered sugar
• heavy cream
• vanilla bean paste

This recipe trades all-purpose flour in for cake flour to deliver the best tasting and textured scones out there! Cake flour has a lower protein content than all-purpose which results in the scones having a soft, tender crumb, just like you’d get at Starbucks!

If you don’t have cake flour on hand, you can actually make it right at home in just 5 minutes by combining all-purpose flour and cornstarch. Check out my recipe for Cake Flour Substitute to easily whip it up!

The second ingredient that’s traded in is vanilla extract. Instead of using extract I opted to use vanilla bean taste since it has a more intense flavor that brings vanilla bean specks to the scones.

How To Make Starbucks Scones

Step 1: Combine cake flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt to a large food processor and pulse.

Step 2: Cut the cold unsalted butter into cubes and then add it to the flour mixture in the food processor. Pulse until the mixture becomes sandy.

Step 3: Add the heavy cream, large egg, and vanilla bean paste to the food processor. Pulse the mixture together until dough forms and begins to pull completely away from the sides when mixing.

Step 4: Divide the vanilla scone dough into three even portions.

Step 5: Run your hands under cold water and then pat dry. Then, use your hands to shape the portions of dough into balls. Try to handle the dough as little as possible to keep it as cold as possible.

Cold dough and ingredients prevent spreading while baking and ensure tender, fluffy scones.

Step 6: Place one ball of dough onto a piece of parchment paper and then place another piece of parchment paper on top of the dough ball. Roll the ball into a circular disc using a rolling pin.

Gently reinforce the edges of the disc with your palms to thicken and even them up.

Step 7: Slice the disc of dough into triangles using a bench scraper or large chef knife.

Step 8: Transfer the scones onto a baking sheet that’s lined with parchment paper. Then, repeat the rolling and cutting process on the remaining two balls of dough.

Step 9: Bake the vanilla scones until the bottom edges are golden brown and the tops are firm to the touch.

Step 10: Cool the scones on the baking sheet for a few minutes and then transfer them to a cooling rack to finish cooling completely.

Step 11: Prepare the vanilla glaze by whisking powdered sugar, heavy cream, and vanilla bean paste together. The icing will be thick, just how we want it!

Step 12: Dip or drizzle the scones with the icing and then place them on parchment paper to allow the icing to set.

How To Serve Vanilla Scones

Serve these vanilla scones once the vanilla icing has had a chance to set up. Then place them on a large serving platter and pair them with a warm cup of coffee or tea!

Enjoy them as a snack, dessert, or when friends or family pop over for a visit!

What To Serve Them With

Scones taste best when you’re cozied up with one with your favorite cup of coffee or tea! Specifically, this London Fog Latte which is another phenomenal Starbucks copycat recipe.

You can also serve up a batch of these vanilla scones with… more scones! After all, you can never have too many flavor options, especially when you have guests over. Pair them with Strawberry Scones or Cranberry Orange Scones for a fruity option!

If you’re hosting brunch then I’d suggest also enjoying them alongside gooey Easy Overnight Cinnamon Rolls, Jumbo Blueberry Muffins, and even a batch of Strawberry Danish With Cream Cheese!

To balance out the sweetness grab a savory breakfast recipe or two! I’d recommend my hearty Biscuits and Gravy Casserole or this Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole!

Starbucks Scones FAQs

Is it better to make scones with butter or oil?

I find that this scone recipe is best when using butter; the cold butter helps the dough keep its shape while creating a delicious buttery taste. The benefit of using butter can also be found in the flaky, light texture of these vanilla scones!

Are scones supposed to be hard or soft?

Scones should have a lightly crisp outside and a soft, fluffy inside. If your scones have come out hard, dry, and crumbly then chances are they baked for too long.

What makes scones different from biscuits?

Scones have a dough that are lightly sweetened and are often topped with icing. Whereas biscuits have more of a savory, bread-like flavor.

What is the secret to making good scones?

The secret to making good scones is not to overmix the dough OR handle the dough so much that it becomes warm. The colder the dough the better the scones will rise when they’re baked.

It’s also important to measure your ingredients accurately to ensure the scones don’t turn out dry and crumbly from accidentally over-adding dry ingredients. For this reason, I find it’s best to measure dry ingredients using a kitchen scale.