pear vanilla bean scones

This past weekend, we celebrated the princess’s 7th birthday. She requested high tea, of course. So, we took three of her friends (along with another mom to keep me company) to the Secret Garden Tea Company.

I was amazed at how the girls ate everything off the plates and how many cups of tea each of them drank. True princesses in the making!

Of course, no afternoon tea is complete without scones. So, I was inspired to bake some this week since I hadn’t made any in awhile. But thought I’d try something different.

Pear Vanilla Bean Scones

Ingredients

3c flour
1/2c sugar
5t baking powder
1/2t salt
3/4c cold butter in small pieces
1 egg
1c heavy cream
1 vanilla bean
1 Bosc pear peeled and chopped

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F and lightly grease a baking sheet or line with parchment paper.

2. Slice the vanilla bean in half down the length of the bean and scrape out the seeds with the back of a paring knife. Add the seeds and the whole vanilla bean pod to the heavy cream and stir to separate the seeds in a small bowl (you’ll be adding an egg, make sure the bowl is large enough to whisk in the egg later.) Let sit for about 20 minutes.

3. Meanwhile combine flour, sugar, baking soda and salt in a medium mixing bowl.

4. Cut in butter with a pastry cutter until the butter resembles pea size bits.

5. Remove the vanilla bean pod from the heavy cream and whisk in the egg.

6. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and mix with a fork until moistened.

7. Stir in chopped pear.

8. Turn dough out onto a floured surface and gently knead briefly. Divide the dough in half and form each half into round disks about 1/2 inch thick. Cut each disk into six “pie” pieces and place on prepared pan.

9. Bake at 400 degrees F for 18-20 minutes or until golden brown.

What are your favourite scone flavours?