You guys, I spent at least 30 minutes trying to think of a different was to say just how excited I am about this scone recipe! I realize I say this often when it comes to my baking, but I truly mean it, every single time. You see, I find incredible joy in creating recipes, and testing them for weeks, months and even years sometimes to create the perfect bake. The effort in this case was so worth it, as this Mandarin Orange Vanilla Bean Scone is magical. Not too dry, but not too wet either. Not too sweet, but just sweet enough. Best of all, the mandarin orange and vanilla flavors, which were inspired by a certain sleuth, are balanced, without overpowering each other.
Now that you know this is the most perfect and flavorful scone I have ever made, allow me to share what inspired it! I had never been particularly fond of any teen idols, leading men or any other entertainment crushes, until 1995 that is. That is when Mr. Darcy walked onto the BBC small screen in Pride and Prejudice.
I was smitten. Wholly and utterly, head over heels besotted. Twenty years later and Collin Firth’s Mr. Darcy still reigned royally, until the Sherlock that is. Benedict Cumberbatch’s Sherlock to be more specific. Hummmmm…there seems to be a British, socially awkward, brilliant theme here. Before anyone goes running to my wonderful, amazing, handsome, loving, kind and brilliant husband, he knows very well that he’s my only true leading man.
Back to why we are here! Scones. The oh so lovely scones. These scones were inspired by the peculiar sleuth. Though he notoriously does not eat when working a case, there is an episode where Watson prepares toast and tea for Sherlock. I’d imagined the toast would be dutifully and simply prepared, perhaps with a bit of a spread of orange marmalade. Right then, I knew I had to create the perfect scone, inspired by and as an homage to my screen crush.
This recipe makes 8 scones.
Ingredients:
Scones
2 cups (250 grams) all-purpose flour, unbleached preferred
¼ cup (50 grams) sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
8 tablespoons (113 grams) unsalted butter, frozen
1/2 cup (114 grams) plain Greek yogurt, lowfat or whole milk
1 large egg
½ vanilla bean scraped, or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon mandarin orange zest (may substitute any variety of orange)
Orange Vanilla Bean Glaze
1 cup (125 grams) powdered sugar
2 tablespoons mandarin orange juice (may substitute any variety of orange juice)
½ vanilla bean scraped, or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
How to Use Them:
Preheat oven to 400ºF/205ºC degrees. Line a cookie sheet with either a silicon baking mat or parchment paper.
In a large bowl, whisk the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
In a small bowl, add the yogurt, egg, vanilla bean, and orange zest.
Whisk until the mixture is smooth.
Using the large holes of a grater, grate the frozen butter.
Using a spatula, gently toss the butter with the flour mixture.
Stir the yogurt mixture into the flour mixture.
Keep stirring until the dough begins to come to together. Then, using your hands that have been dusted with some flour, bring the dough together in the bowl to form a ball.
Place the dough on a lightly floured surface.
Gently pat down the dough until you have an 8 inch circle.
Using a sharp knife, cut the disk of dough into 8 equal slice.
Place the slices of dough on the cookie sheet.
Can you see the stunning layers of butter, vanilla bean and orange zest?
Bake the scones for 13-15 minutes. 
You know they are ready the exact moment they bake up into layers of goodness and are perfectly golden brown. 
Allow the scones to cool on a cooling rack for a few minutes while you whisk up the glaze.
Whisk the powered sugar, mandarin orange juice, and vanilla bean until the mixture is smooth.
Place the scone on parchment or wax paper and drizzle on the glaze. As much or as little, or as much, as you’d like!
Did I mention, as much as you’d like???
Allow the scones to set for about 15 minutes, and then serve.
All that is needed now is a nice cup of tea….
a bit of scone….
…..and perhaps an episode of Sherlock on the telly!
