Have you ever eaten something that left a long lasting impression on you?
Right after college, I landed a job in downtown Chicago on Michigan Avenue. I was on top of the world! My dream location!! Not my dream job, but who cares! I had a 2 x 2 office and a window facing Millenium Park. Yeah baby! 
Few months into it my manager asked me to join her for lunch. Ha? What?! Me? That was a big deal. She was a bit beasty and only went out to lunch with the CEO or the VP. Not her little minions.
I of course accepted and we were on our merry way to the Four Seasons Hotel Tea Room… Double WHOA!
I opened up that menu and ordered myself some tea, a couple of scones, muffins, and some dark piece of chocolate that, according to the waitress, President Clinton had while he stayed there. Okay, I said, I’ll take it!
I don’t remember the piece of chocolate, I don’t even know if I tried the muffins, but those scones, oh my those scones… I will never forget them. It’s been 10 years since then, and I still remember the perfect taste, the texture, even the perfect shape.
This Vanilla and Orange Scones recipe is my version of that particular scone. I have made it many times, tweaking it again and again, but I think that this is pretty darn close to it.
ENJOY!
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- grated zest of 1 orange
- 3 tablespoons cold butter, cut into 1/4-inch pieces
- 1 cup of milk, plus a little extra for brushing
- 1 egg yolk, lightly beaten
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon fresh orange juice
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon melted butter
- 2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400.
- Grease a large, heavy baking sheet with cooking spray and set it aside.
- Sift the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt into a large mixing bowl.
- Stir in the orange zest.
- Rub the butter into the dry ingredients with your fingers until the mixture resembles fine crumbs.
- Make a well in the center and pour in the cream, egg yolk, and vanilla.
- Using a wooden spoon, combine all the ingredients just until the dough comes together.
- Transfer the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead the dough three or four times, then form two equal-sized dough balls.
- Flatten each ball into a disk about 3/4-inch thick, then cut each dough-ball into 8 wedges. If possible, use a pizza cutter.
- Put all the pieces on the baking sheet, leaving about 1/4-inch space between them.
- Brush the tops of each scone with milk.
- Bake the scones for 15 to 18 minutes, or until golden brown.
- Let cool for a few minutes and then transfer the scones to a wire rack.
- Combine all the ingredients in a small mixing bowl and whisk them until thoroughly combined.
- When the scones have completely cooled, drizzle each scone generously with the prepared glaze.
I made these for breakfast and they were great! I needed to use up a vanilla bean, so I substituted 1/2 a vanilla bean for 1 tsp vanilla extract. I love the combination of vanilla and orange.
The dough is very sticky, is the milk amount correct, seems like way too much
HI! Yes, it should be a bit sticky, but not too much. Add a bit more flour. Sometimes, depending on the humidity, you may need more or less flour.
Is 2 cups the right amount of flour? The dough is too sticky. We had to add another cup to make it work.
Thank you, Christy! I will make note of that. I always use 2 cups and they work out very well. Are you at a higher altitude?
What a great story! I love scones and can’t wait to try these.
Oh i have to try them plain scones dont even come close
i used to live in downtown and would walk over to see my husband’s work at lunch and sometimes we would eat our lunches while walking on michigan avenue… oh the good times! heheh. the food in downtown is the BEST!
your scones are adorable coz they are so tiny
I love that you loved scones more than a slice of chocolate cake! *bonus* These look amazing! The luscious glaze is making my eyes glaze over with hunger…
Orange glazed anything is fabulous is my book! Love that these are “petite”-perfect for an afternoon tea
So white and so beautiful!
Sounds wonderful, especially my son loves anything Vanilla these days (used to be chocolate, what happened?!). I love the story of your past. These days we’re surrounded by the kids and forget that we used to enjoy different things.
Interesting how life evolves, and it’s wonderful that you could recreate these delicious scones!
These are always the best recipes…I can imagine how amazing these must have tasted that first time! Thank you for sharing. I hope you are having a week full of good food and laughter. Happy to start my day here!
I can see why those scones left and impression. They look wonderful. That’s cool the boss picked you to have lunch with that day… sounds like a pretty nice place to have lunch too.
These beauties are simply that… beauties!! I’ve never been to Chicago, but I’ve heard of that tea room. What a memory!
Yes… I have a memory like that too. My husband had a 3 night layover in Honolulu and said, “Why don’t you come too?” Um… OK!! We went to a farmer’s market just below Diamond Head, and I of course stopped at a bakery booth. The seller gushed over the Lavender Scones. Lavender Scones? Lavender is a flower, not a food. But I didn’t want to offend her, so I got one. Oh my goodness! Like your scones, I’ve never forgotten these. I have never tried to recreate them, but years have passed and I can still taste those beauties too.
A good scone is a wonderful thing isn’t?
A good scone is never forgotten! These are so cute and look tasty! I bet you can get the recipe if you write to them…
I never made scones, but seeing such great pics makes me want to run to the kitchen!
I love scones so much too! I definitely need to try them with this glaze!
Your description and photos have me wanting to try these. I’m awfully glad I’ve still got Band Fruit Fundraiser oranges in the fridge.
Thank you!
I bet these really hit the spot for that little sugar fix for morning breakfast with a cup of coffee. Yumm! Sounds delicious.
Love these scones, too cute!