Vanilla Bean Scones

I decided to make these because they are my husband's favorite breakfast treat from Starbucks!!  They are excellent right out of the oven, or re-heated for 15 seconds in the microwave the next morning...

Ingredients:

• 2 1/4 cups flour
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 8 TBS cold unsalted butter cut into cubes
• 1/2 cup heavy cream or half & half
• 1 vanilla pod, beans scraped (slice lengthwise, scrape out with edge of knife)
• 1 egg
• egg wash (1 egg beaten with 1 TBS water)
• coarse sugar

Preheat oven to 400 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.  In a small bowl with pouring spout or similar, add the half & half and vanilla seeds, let them sit 5 minutes.  

In a large bowl combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt.  

Add the cold butter cubes and mix with a pastry blender or your hands to break the butter up into smaller pieces, evenly distributed throughout dry ingredients.  

Add your egg to the half & half vanilla bean mixture and whisk to combine.  

Add to dry mixture and stir to combine. 

Lightly flour a work surface and dump dough out onto it.  Shape into a rectangle that's about 3/4 inches thick.  

Cut the scones into triangles and place on lined baking sheet.  

Brush with egg wash and sprinkle with course sugar.  

Bake 17-18 minutes or until golden brown.

Serve warm with coffee!

Nutritional facts: 275 calories, 12.5 g fat, 74 g sodium, 11 g sugar, 5.5 g protein.

recipe inspired by: www.laurainthekitchen.com