• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Chenée Today
  • Recipes
  • Cookbook
  • Shop
  • About
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Cookbook
  • Shop
  • About
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Cookbook
    • Shop
    • About
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Breakfast and Brunch

    Earl Grey Scones with Vanilla Bean Glaze

    October 6, 2021 by Chenée Lewis

    264 shares
    pin for earl grey scones

    These vanilla Earl Grey scones with vanilla bean glaze are the perfect morning treat! Try these bergamot scones and you won’t need any other Earl Grey scones recipes! And if you like these, you'll love my Lemon Poppyseed Scones, my Cinnamon Scones with Spiced Orange Glaze, and my Earl Grey Lavender Cake with Honey-Lemon Glaze!

    Earl Grey Scones on a wire rack drizzled with vanilla bean glaze
    Earl Grey Scones Recipe
    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video
    Pin Recipe Print Recipe

    *This post contains affiliate links — as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please see my disclosure for details*.

    Earl Grey Scones with Vanilla Bean Glaze

    If you've had the petite vanilla bean scone from Starbucks, you'll love these vanilla bergamot scones! They've got a moist, buttery texture and bright Earl Grey tea flavor that is so lovely. And that amazing vanilla bean glaze brings it all together so perfectly! These scones are amazing for a tea party or weekend brunch -- or save them for a quick weekday breakfast! Anytime you want the comforting flavor of Earl Grey tea in a fluffy scone!

    earl grey scones stacked on a wire rack
    Vanilla Earl Grey Scones Recipe

    What exactly is a scone?

    Scones are a baked treat that are leavened with baking powder, are slightly sweet, and have a moist, crumbly texture. They're often made with fruit, nuts, or chocolate mixed in or topped with a glaze, and they're usually enjoyed as a breakfast or snack with tea or coffee. American scones (like these vanilla Earl Grey scones) are often a bit drier and more crumbly than English scones, whereas English-style scones are closer in texture to what we in the U.S. would call biscuits.

    Earl Grey Scones on a wire rack drizzled with vanilla bean glaze
    Easy Earl Grey Scones

    What gives earl grey tea its distinctive flavor?

    Earl Grey is a black tea with the oil of bergamot added. Bergamot is a citrus fruit that tastes like a cross between orange, lime, and grapefruit. The combination of the two creates a lovely flavor that adds so much to baked goods like these easy Earl Grey scones!

    What is the secret to a good scone?

    Many who bake scones have one main question: How do I get my scones to rise and be fluffy? There are a couple of important tips I've learned:

    First, keep everything cold. Make sure your butter is frozen and your sour cream is cold straight from the fridge. Other baking recipes call for room temperature ingredients, but keeping the dough cold for these scones helps them to bake up fluffy and have the best texture. You'll even want to pop your sheet pan in the freezer for a few minutes while your oven preheats.

    Second, let your scones stay cozy. Baking scones while they're slightly touching each other helps them to bake higher and straighter. One way to achieve this is just cut your dough into 8 wedges, and bake them without separating them from each other.

    earl grey scones ingredients
    Twinings Earl Grey Scones Ingredients

    How to Make Earl Grey Scones - What You'll Need

    Here's what you'll need to gather together for these easy Earl Grey bergamot scones:

    • all-purpose flour - be sure to use a kitchen scale to measure your flour by weight, or use the spoon-and-level method to measure by volume.
    • granulated sugar - to give our scones just the right amount of sweetness!
    • earl grey tea leaves - you can use either regular tea bags or whole leaf tea -- if you use whole leaf, just crush or chop the tea into fine bits. I usually use Twinings for these Earl Grey scones.
    • baking soda & baking powder - giving these scones a nice amount of lift!
    • salted butter - I like to use salted butter to add flavor to this earl grey scones recipes, but if you prefer to use unsalted butter, just add ¼ teaspoon of salt in with your dry ingredients. We'll be freezing our butter and using a box grater to grate our frozen butter into our dry ingredients.
    • sour cream - we'll use room temperature sour cream for these Earl Grey Scones! No buttermilk in this recipe, but sour cream gives us the same tang with a bit more moisture.
    • egg - one major difference between scones and biscuits is the addition of an egg, making these scones a bit richer and providing more structure.
    • vanilla bean paste - you can use either vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste. I just used vanilla bean paste since I was already using some for the glaze!
    Earl Grey Scones on a wire rack drizzled with vanilla bean glaze
    Bergamot Scones

    And now for my favorite part -- the vanilla bean glaze!

    • 1 cup powdered sugar
    • 2 tablespoon milk, plus more as needed
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste or one whole vanilla bean pod
    • pinch of salt

    Equipment

    There are a few great tools that I recommend to make these scones the best they can be! First of all, You'll need a box grater to grate your butter, a mixing spoon and mixing bowl, and a sheet pan to bake your scones! Here are a few more tools I love for this recipe:

    Tips and F.A.Q.

    What's the difference between a biscuit and a scone?

    American buttermilk biscuits, like those commonly found in Southern cooking, are similar to scones in some ways -- both are quick breads with high fat and not too much sugar, and both are based on English scones. But biscuits tend to have a fluffier, flaky texture thanks to the high proportion of buttermilk. Scones are denser, more crumbly, and usually made with egg for a richer texture.Earl Grey Scones on a wire rack drizzled with vanilla bean glaze

    Can I use any variety of Earl Grey tea?

    Yes you can -- if you use whole leaf tea, be sure to chop or grind the tea leaves so that they're fine. But otherwise any Earl Grey tea bags work well. I used Twinings. Earl Grey scones are a really versatile way to get that amazing tea flavor!

    Should scones be baked touching?

    Yes! This may be a tip that you're not expecting if you're used to baking cookies -- many baking recipes call for the baked goods to be places apart so that they don't touch while baking. But with scones, having them slightly touching as they bake can help them to rise higher and straighter in the oven.

    Can I make scones ahead of time?

    These Earl Grey scones can be prepped and frozen prior to baking -- just freeze them solid, then place in a freezer bag for up to 2 months. Then just bake straight from frozen and add a few more minutes to the bake time.Earl Grey Scones on a wire rack drizzled with vanilla bean glaze

    If you try this recipe, I would love it if you could leave a rating and comment below! It's so wonderful hearing your feedback! And don't forget to share your creations with me by tagging @chenee_today on Instagram!

    More Brunch Treats You'll Love

    • Air Fryer Hash Browns
    • Cinnamon Rolls with Apple Pie Filling
    • Cherry Coffee Cake
    • Mango Overnight Oats with Coconut
    • Cinnamon Scones with Spiced Orange Glaze
    • Dairy Free Banana Bread
    Earl Grey Scones on a wire rack drizzled with vanilla bean glaze

    Earl Grey Scones - Bergamot Scones with Vanilla Bean Glaze

    Print Pin Recipe Rate Recipe
    Vanilla Earl Grey scones with vanilla bean glaze! Try these bergamot scones and you won’t need any other Earl Grey scones recipes!
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 16 minutes
    Total Time: 31 minutes
    Course: Breakfast, Brunch, Dessert, Snack
    Cuisine :American, British
    Servings: 8 scones
    Calories: 395kcal
    Recipe Source: Chenée Lewis

    Equipment you may need

    • ¾ sheet baking pan
    • mixing bowls
    • whisk
    • parchment paper
    • measuring cups and spoons
    • cooling rack
    • food scale
    • silicone baking mat
    • box grater
    • bench scraper

    Ingredients

    • 2 cup (250 g) all-purpose flour - (256g)
    • ⅔ cup (133 g) granulated sugar
    • 2 teaspoon (8 g) baking powder
    • ¼ teaspoon (1 g) baking soda
    • 1 tablespoon (15 g) Earl Grey Tea - about 2-3 tea bags, crushed or chopped finely
    • ½ cup (114 g) salted butter - frozen
    • ¾ cup (173 g) full-fat sour cream
    • 1 large egg
    • 1 teaspoon (5 ml) pure vanilla extract - or vanilla bean paste

    Vanila Bean Glaze

    • 1 cup (120 g) powdered sugar
    • 2 tablespoon (30 ml) milk - plus more as needed
    • 1 teaspoon (5 ml) vanilla bean paste - or one whole vanilla bean pod
    • pinch salt

    Instructions

    • At least one hour before preparing dough (or the night before), place butter in freezer.
    • In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and tea leaves and mix well.
    • Grate in frozen butter and combine with dry ingredients.
    • In another bowl, whisk together sour cream, egg, and vanilla. Set aside in fridge to keep cool.
    • Fold sour cream mixture into dry ingredients with a rubber spatula until just combined. Use floured hands to continue to lightly knead dough into a ball.
    • Place dough on a lightly floured surface and dust top of dough ball with a little more flour. Gently shape into a 7-inch round and cut into 8 wedges. Place wedges, slightly touching, on a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone baking liner.
    • Preheat oven to 400°F and place baking sheet with scones in the freezer to chill while it heats up.
    • Bake for 16-17 minutes or until scones are lightly golden on top and golden brown on bottom. Let cool before adding glaze.

    Vanilla Bean Glaze

    • Whisk glaze ingredients together until smooth.
    • Place scones on cooling rack over parchment paper or paper towels to catch drips. Drizzle glaze over cooled scones and allow to set.

    Video

    Notes

    Make Ahead: These Earl Grey scones can be frozen prior to baking -- just freeze them solid, then place in a freezer bag for up to 2 months. Then just bake straight from frozen and add a few more minutes to the bake time.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1 scone | Calories: 395 kcal | Carbohydrates: 57 g | Protein: 5 g | Fat: 17 g | Saturated Fat: 10 g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1 g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4 g | Trans Fat: 1 g | Cholesterol: 65 mg | Sodium: 270 mg | Potassium: 84 mg | Fiber: 1 g | Sugar: 33 g | Vitamin A: 530 IU | Vitamin C: 1 mg | Calcium: 99 mg | Iron: 2 mg
    Nutrition Disclaimer
    Tags: bergamot scones, earl grey scones, Earl grey scones no buttermilk, earl grey scones recipes, easy earl grey scones, twinings earl grey scones, vanilla earl grey scones
    Did you try this recipe? Rate it below!I can't wait to see (and share) your results! Follow me on Instagram at @chenee_today and tag #cheneetoday!

    PIN these bergamot scones for later!

    pin for earl grey scones
    PIN this easy Earl Grey Scones recipe for later!

    Last Updated on August 17, 2022 by Chenée Lewis

    More Breakfast Recipes and Brunch Ideas

    • Almond Flour Peanut Butter Cookies
    • Air Fryer Hash Browns
    • Instant Pot Apple Butter
    • Sour Cream Pumpkin Bread with Maple Brown Butter Glaze
    264 shares

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Let Me Know What You Think! Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    1. Keer

      August 13, 2022 at 1:57 pm

      The ingredient list includes sugar but the directions never mention when to add the sugar. I unfortunately followed the directions and did not add the sugar until it was too late, compromising the recipe.

      It's interesting that no one in the comments that claims to have made these has mentioned it.

      Reply
      • Chenée Lewis

        August 17, 2022 at 1:42 pm

        Thanks so much for pointing that out! I imagine that the step-by-step video included in the recipe card has been helpful for some folks, but I have definitely corrected the error in the written instructions! Hope the scones worked out for you despite the confusion.

        Reply
    2. Farrukh Aziz

      October 18, 2021 at 10:26 am

      5 stars
      These are such an awesome recipe for our family dinner, thank you so much for sharing this!

      Reply
      • Chenée Lewis

        October 18, 2021 at 2:50 pm

        So glad you enjoyed!

        Reply
    3. LaKita

      October 17, 2021 at 10:20 pm

      5 stars
      These scones are so perfect and delicious! They came together in no time and I'm sure I will be making them often!!

      Reply
      • Chenée Lewis

        October 18, 2021 at 12:33 am

        So glad you liked them! I love making these for weekend brunch!

        Reply
    4. Enriqueta E Lemoine

      October 17, 2021 at 8:50 pm

      5 stars
      Best scones ever! I made these for my mom who's is am¡n Earl Grey lover and we all fell in love with your recipe. Thanks for sharing.

      Reply
      • Chenée Lewis

        October 18, 2021 at 12:34 am

        Thank you for trying it out! Glad you all liked it!

        Reply
    5. Jenny

      October 17, 2021 at 10:25 am

      5 stars
      These earl grey scones are awesome! The vanilla bean glaze is heaven! Such an easy and flavorful recipe. Fantastic – thank you!

      Reply
      • Chenée Lewis

        October 18, 2021 at 12:39 am

        Thank you so much! Glad you liked them!

        Reply
    6. Marisa Franca

      October 17, 2021 at 8:45 am

      5 stars
      I'd never made scones before but when I saw this recipe with my favorite tea, well I just had to try it out. I wanted to make something special for the ladies in my book club and they loved the scones. They went perfectly with the English based novel we were critiquing. Thank you so much for such a lovely recipe. I'll definitely be making it again.

      Reply
      • Chenée Lewis

        October 18, 2021 at 12:38 am

        So glad you liked them and that they fit the theme!

        Reply
    7. Linda

      October 17, 2021 at 12:22 am

      5 stars
      These scones are so good especially when combined with vanilla bean glaze. So smooth and comforting for breakfast

      Reply
      • Chenée Lewis

        October 18, 2021 at 2:51 pm

        Thank you! I love this combination too!

        Reply
    8. veenaazmanov

      October 16, 2021 at 9:12 am

      5 stars
      Delicious and tempting and a perfect treat to my family. Looks yummy.

      Reply
      • Chenée Lewis

        October 31, 2021 at 12:10 pm

        Thanks so much! I'm so glad you like them!

        Reply
    9. Jessica l Tao of Spice

      October 15, 2021 at 9:01 pm

      I have fond memories of eating my grandmas scones as a child. I honestly have not had them since as I’m afraid they would disappoint in comparison to hers. These, however, look so amazing I can’t resist trying them. The vanilla bean glaze looks like the perfect finishing touch.

      Reply
      • Chenée Lewis

        October 18, 2021 at 12:35 am

        I hope you enjoy these! The vanilla bean glaze really is perfect!

        Reply
    10. Susan Pridmore

      October 14, 2021 at 12:09 am

      5 stars
      I've used Earl Grey in some things, but never thought to use them in a scone. What a delicious idea! I'd love to try these!

      Reply
      • Chenée Lewis

        October 18, 2021 at 12:35 am

        I hope you enjoy them!!

        Reply
    11. Marie

      October 13, 2021 at 7:06 pm

      5 stars
      Fall has me wanting to bake scones again and I'd just been looking for new flavor ideas! Infusing them with tea sounds so delicious and that vanilla bean glaze--yum!! I'd be glad to drizzle that on anything and everything!

      Reply
      • Chenée Lewis

        October 18, 2021 at 12:36 am

        It's the perfect topping for these scones!

        Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    About Chenée

    I’m Chenée (kinda rhymes with “today”) and I love all types of baking! But my favorite recipes are ones that are quick and easy, and still yield impressive results. The ones you can't help but make again and again! That's what I share here, and I hope I can make your baking life a little easier along the way. MORE ABOUT CHENÉE >>

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
    • Twitter

    Trending Recipes

    • Southern Baked Mac and Cheese
    • Mistletoe Margarita Recipe
    • Boursin Pasta - Tiktok Viral Recipe

    Top Holiday Recipes

    • Sweet Potato Pie with Graham Cracker Crust
    • Brown Butter Sweet Potato Pie Recipe
    • Peach Cobbler Pound Cake
    • Oat Milk Eggnog

    Get my Cookbook!

    Sweet Summertime Cookbook - recipe book of summer desserts and summer recipes!

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    About Chenée
    Shop my Favorite Tools
    Disclosure Policy
    Privacy Policy
    Nutrition Disclaimer
    Contact

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

    Subscribe

    As Seen In

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2021 Chenée Today, LLC. All rights reserved.

    264 shares
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Pinterest
    • Yummly
    • Email
    • WhatsApp