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.
Lemon Rhubarb Scones with Vanilla Bean Glaze
These Lemon Rhubarb Scones with Vanilla Bean Glaze are a springtime pastry perfection! This easy scones recipe is perfect for using up fresh lemons and rhubarb.
Ingredients
for the lemon rhubarb scones:
- 2 c. all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp. baking powder
- 1/4 tsp. baking soda
- 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
- 1/3 c. sugar
- zest from 2 large lemons
- 1/2 c. cold, unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
- 1/2 c. buttermilk (do not substitute)
(do not substitute)
- 1 T. freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten
- 1 scant c. small chopped rhubarb (about 1/4" size)
for the vanilla bean glaze:
- 2 c. powdered sugar
- 3 T. half and half
- 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
- vanilla beans scraped from half of a vanilla bean
Instructions
for the lemon rhubarb scones:
- Preheat oven to 425° F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a medium bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, sugar, and lemon zest, breaking up any clumps of lemon zest. With a rigid pastry blender or two knives, cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse meal. Make a well in the center, and then add buttermilk, lemon juice, vanilla, and egg. Stir just until combined, taking care to not over mix. Gently fold in rhubarb, just until barely combined.
- Transfer dough to a lightly floured work surface and gently knead 2 or 3 times to bring it all together. Pat dough into a 7'' diameter circle and cut into 8 wedges. Transfer wedges to prepared baking sheet.
- Bake until scones are puffed and golden brown, 12 to 14 minutes. Remove pan from oven and let scones sit on baking sheet for a couple minutes before removing to a wire rack.
for the vanilla bean glaze:
- While scones are still slightly warm, prepare the glaze. In a small bowl, whisk together all glaze ingredients until smooth. If the glaze is a bit stiff, add another teaspoon of vanilla extract or half and half. Drizzle the vanilla bean glaze over the scones using a spoon. Allow icing to set completely, then serve.
- Scones are best eaten on the day they are baked. 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.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 397Total Fat: 13gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 56mgSodium: 352mgCarbohydrates: 66gFiber: 2gSugar: 39gProtein: 5g
Nutrition information is automatically calculated by Nutritionix. I am not a nutritionist and cannot guarantee accuracy. If your health depends on nutrition information, please calculate again with your own favorite calculator.
That’s so great that these scones will be featured at The Building’s coffee shop! I wish I had one to go with my coffee now!
Thanks, Jessica! :)
Look at those lofty scones! This is a must for my rhubarb crazed family!
yummy …. going to make this afternoon … do you mean the little seeds that are in the vanilla bean ????
Yes. Exactly! :)
Your photos are absolutely stunning and the scones sound so refreshing for summer!
I can see why Ree picked them! These look amazing and with butter and rhubarb at the heart they are sure to taste great too!
Thanks, Emily Marie!
These scones look perfect! I love rhubarb too and can’t get enough of it this time of year. Congrats on winning the competition!
Thank you, Annalise!
Made these last night – perfect!!
That’s awesome – thank you for coming back to let me know! :)
these look like the perfect breakfast
That is SO AWESOME that your scones will be on the menu at The Building’s coffee shop! Congrats! Now all I want to do is go to there and eat these scones all day long.
Thank you, Stephanie! :)
These are picture perfect in every way. And so excited that they will be featured in The Building!!
Thank you, Megan!
Congrats on these lovely scone being selected! They look and sound so good.
Thanks, Naomi!
Can you use frozen rhubarb in these scones by chance? My friend gave me some a while back now and I froze a big old bag of it all cut up already.
I really prefer to always use fresh rhubarb, unless it’s a coffee cake or a pan of strawberry rhubarb crisp. But if you do give it a try in these scones, please let me know how it goes for you. Thanks!
I am so jealous that you go to meet Ree!! Also, these scones are to die for. Totally pinning!
I bake for a local high end coffee shop. Rhubarb is in season and my rhubarb scones sell so quickly! But i hadn’t thought of adding lemon! I’m sure our customers today will appreciate the new addition!
Wonderful! I hope you – and your customers – like them!
We are big fans of rhubarb in this house, so I know these scones would be devoured in minutes! I’d like to snack on one, with one of your rhubarb mojitos on the side.
Rhubarb, rhubarb, rhubarb…YES! :)
Rhubarb is growing like crazy around here lately – these look perfect!!! And you know I love the lemon!
Oh I so want one of these now! They look amazing!
I’ve never had rhubarb in a scone. What a delicious idea.
It’s been a many months since I’ve made scones, which, seeing how obsessed I am with them, is kind of amazing (and very very sad). These look so wonderful and it’s so nice seeing someone use rhubarb… I feel like it scares people, but it’s so good and tangy!
I think it scares alot of people, too. But for me, I don’t know life without it. Mom is a huge rhubarb fan, it’s always been celebrated. Thanks, Brian. :)
I’m so jealous! These look amazing and I can’t find rhubarb anywhere near me!