These lemon scones with a sweet and tangy lemon glaze are so delicious — they melt in your mouth! This recipe came about after much trial and error as I tried to create the amazing lemon scones I used to get in a bakery back home. I think I've got it right!

Ingredients

  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • ⅓ cup white sugar
  • 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
  • ⅓ teaspoon salt
  • ¾ cup cold butter, cut into pieces
  • 9 tablespoons milk
  • 3 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 2 ½ teaspoons lemon zest
  • 1 ½ teaspoons vinegar
  • 2 cups confectioners' sugar
  • ⅓ cup butter, melted
  • 2 ½ tablespoons lemon juice
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 tablespoons water, or as needed

Directions

  1. Gather the ingredients. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
  2. To make the scones: Whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together in a large bowl. Cut in cold butter with 2 knives or a pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Whisk milk, lemon juice, lemon zest, and vinegar in a small bowl; stir into flour mixture until dough is moistened.
  3. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead briefly, 5 or 6 turns.
  4. Pat or roll dough out into a 1-inch-thick round. Cut into 10 wedge-shaped pieces; arrange 1 inch apart on a baking sheet.
  5. Bake in the preheated oven until bottom edges are golden brown, 12 to 15 minutes. Cool scones on a wire rack for 15 minutes.
  6. Meanwhile, to make the lemon glaze: Stir confectioners' sugar, melted butter, lemon juice, and vanilla together in a bowl until smooth. Stir water into sugar mixture, 1 tablespoon at a time, to make a glaze; drizzle glaze over warm scones.