Vanilla Bean Scones

Good Morning, Vanilla Bean. Good Morning, Vanilla Sugar.

Another Saturday morning, another craving for scones... and I didn't want to go to the store. As I'm stirring in a scoop of vanilla sugar into my coffee, inspiration struck:

Vanilla Bean Scones

But would they be too boring? Too plain without the tart cranberries and sweet orange glaze? Would just the vanilla bean be enough?

Silly girl. Did I forget that the simplicity of the vanilla bean is exactly what the vanilla bean is all about? Apparently I had. But only briefly.

Vanilla Bean Scones
simple

2 cups plus 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup vanilla sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
12 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, diced
2 extra-large eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 cup cold heavy cream
1 tablespoon of vanilla bean paste

1 tablespoon of vanilla bean paste1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
2 tablespoons of cream or milk

In a mixer, combine flour, vanilla sugar, baking powder and salt using the paddle attachment. Cut the cold butter into 1/2 inch pieces. Add the butter to the dry ingredients and mix on low until the butter is mixed in and is the size of peas. In a separate bowl, mix together eggs, whipping cream and vanilla bean paste with a fork. Turn the mixer on low and slowly add the cream and egg mixture. Turn off the mixer once added.

Put some flour on the counter. Turn the dough out onto the floured surface. Add some flour onto the top of the dough, then pat it out into a disk - about 8-9 inches in diameter. Cut the disk into 6 pieces like a pie.