Lemon Rhubarb Scones with Vanilla Bean Glaze

Perfectly moist with a delicate, crispy outside, these Lemon Rhubarb Scones with Vanilla Bean Glaze are a springtime pastry perfection!

If you love making homemade scone recipes you should also try my Cranberry Orange Scones with Orange Nutmeg Glaze and my Strawberry Shortcake Scones!

Easy & Addictive Rhubarb Scones

This lemon rhubarb scones concept has been on my mind for a few months and I’m excited to share these award-worthy rhubarb scones with you!

Rhubarb season is starting to wane here in the Midwest and I’m grabbing every opportunity I can find to celebrate it, in all its tart glory. This past weekend, when my sister’s family stayed with us, I mixed up rhubarb mojitos for us to sip alongside the fire in the back yard. Those ice cold bevvies were a hit with us adults, for sure. And watching the kids’ water gun war, full of sneaky tactic and laughter, was the finest summer entertainment.

We’re also loving the baking that goes along with the rhubarb of springtime. I still have on my agenda, when I can get my hands on some fresh local strawberries, to bake a strawberry rhubarb crisp. When served warm, with scoops of cold vanilla ice cream, it’s extremely hard to resist. Just like these beautiful Lemon Rhubarb Scones with Vanilla Bean Glaze. Until the rhubarb runs out, we can’t stop. We won’t stop!

These rhubarb scones are moist on the inside, with a delicate, crispy exterior. No dry, hockey puck scones are allowed out of our kitchen!

Though the rhubarb gives these a tart flavor, they are sweetened with the loveliest vanilla glaze. If there’s ever a way to punch up the flavor and beauty of vanilla’s subtlety, scraping some fresh vanilla beans into the recipe is a sure bet. The combination of bright lemon, tart rhubarb and sweet vanilla makes these rhubarb scones utterly addictive!

What You’ll Need

These lemon rhubarb scones are made with pantry staples and a few ingredients key to infusing these scones with just the right balance of sweet and tart flavor.

For the Rhubarb Scones

• All-purpose flour – The base of the scones.
• Baking powder & baking soda – The combination of both allow the scones to rise just enough and create the moist, delicate texture.
• Salt – A pinch for taste.
• Sugar – Adds just enough sweetness.
• Lemon zest – Adds the lemon flavor.
• Unsalted butter – Must be cold, not room temperature or softened.
• Buttermilk – It is important that you do not try to substitute the buttermilk in the recipe.
• Lemon juice – This should be freshly squeezed, not from a bottle.
• Pure vanilla extract – Adds a light flavor.
• Egg – Helps to hold it all together.
• Chopped rhubarb – The star ingredient of these scones!

For the Vanilla Bean Glaze

• Powdered sugar – Creates the sweet and creamy texture.
• Half and half – For more sweet flavor and to create the consistency of the glaze.
• Pure vanilla extract – A splash of warm flavor.
• Vanilla bean – Half of the vanilla gets scraped out to provide the flavor for the glaze.

How to Make Lemon Rhubarb Scones with Vanilla Bean Glaze

Both the lemon rhubarb scones and vanilla bean glaze come together in just a few steps. Be sure to follow the directions closely and be gentle with the dough.

• Preheat the oven. Set the oven to 425F and line the baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Prepare the scone mixture. Stir together the dry ingredients and lemon zest, then cut in the cold butter until the mixture resembles a coarse meal. Add buttermilk, lemon juice, vanilla and egg to a well in the center. Stir to combine, then gently fold in rhubarb.
• Form the scones. Gently knead the dough 2 or 3 times on a lightly floured surface. Pat into a circle and cut 8 wedges. Transfer to baking sheet.
• Bake. Bake the rhubarb scones until they are puffed and golden brown, about 12 to 14 minutes. Let the scones sit on the baking sheet for a few minutes before moving to a wire rack.
• Prepare the glaze. Whisk all glaze ingredients until smooth. Drizzle over warm scones with a spoon. Allow to set before serving.

Tips for Success

While easy to make, there are several things you should be aware of when makes scones for the first time – particularly if you want moist, delicate scones.

• Don’t substitute buttermilk. Trust me, it is worth buying buttermilk just to make these rhubarb scones! You won’t regret it.
• Avoid over-mixing. The number one mistake when making scones is to over-mix the batter. Doing so will result in a tough, dense dough that won’t give you the light and moist texture you’re ideally looking for.
• Thin the glaze. If the glaze is a bit stiff, add another teaspoon of vanilla extract or half and half.
• Allow the scones to cool before glazing. While the scones don’t need to be completely room temperature, they should be given time to cool before adding the vanilla bean glaze. Otherwise, the glaze will melt a little too much.
• Eat them quickly. For the best scone-eating experience, enjoy these as soon as they cool! They’ll be the most moist and decadent when still warm from the oven.

How To Make A Perfectly Shaped Scone

There are many ways to shape a scone. But the method I return to most often is the pie-shaped one. I simply pat out the finished dough into a smallish-sized circle, cut it into wedges, and transfer the triangular shapes to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

Serving Suggestions

Enjoy these rhubarb scones warm, with a cup of coffee in the morning. They’re one of my excuses for having dessert for breakfast – after all, these do have a vegetable in them! If you offer these at brunch, be prepared for them to disappear quickly.

Of course, if you’re not a sweets for breakfast person, you can also enjoy these in the evening as dessert!

How to Store

Rhubarb scones are best enjoyed the day they’re baked but that doesn’t mean you should throw leftovers away! Just store them in an airtight container for another day or two.

To revive leftover scones’ flaky texture the following day, preheat a cooking stone to 300° in the oven. Place any number of scones on the stone and warm for 5 minutes.

Can I Freeze These?

Yes, you can freeze these scones – baked or unbaked. Just freeze them in a single layer on a baking sheet then transferred to a freezer bag. To prevent freezer burn, you may want to individually wrap them with plastic wrap.

Baked scones will last for up to 3 months and should be defrosted on the counter before popping them into the microwave. Unbaked scones will stay fresh for 3 weeks and can go straight into the oven.