Clementine Buttermilk Scones
Tender and flaky buttermilk scones scented with clementine zest and covered with clementine icing.
I was supposed to share this recipe with you days ago, but I’ve been a little distracted. I’ve spent the last several nights up late completely engrossed in The Girl Who Played with Fire, the second book in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series. I couldn’t put it down! And so instead of blogging, I was curled up in bed reading.
It’s the beginning of the year and one unofficial goal of mine was to blog more regularly. Well we’re only on day five and I’m not off to a great start. Still, I can make it up to you right?
How about if I share these Clementine Buttermilk Scones with you?
This time of year I always have a surplus of citrus. Whether they’re leftover from my Christmas stocking or I couldn’t resist the large display at the grocery store, I typically have oranges, clementines, or other such fruit laying around. They’re a delicious snack of course, but often some go bad before I have a chance to eat them up.
That’s why this year I was determined to not let my bag of clementines go to waste.
What exactly is the difference between tangerines, clementines, and mandarin oranges? I’m not exactly sure. But I am confident that whatever you happen to have on hand will work beautifully for these scones. I just happened to have clementines to spare.
These scones may appear to be regular run-of-the-mill scones, but don’t be fooled by their plain appearance. They’re full of fresh citrus flavor and topped with a sweet citrus glaze. The scones are not overly sweet, and although I did consider upping the sugar in the recipe here, I decided against it. I like their simplicity and the fact that they don’t taste like they belong in the dessert category.
It helps me feel less guilty when I have them for breakfast. Which I did, with coffee, and it was delicious.
Admittedly, it may be a while before you hear from me again. I’ll be starting The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest soon (there’s a cliffhanger I’ve got to see resolved) and who knows when I’ll resurface. Make yourself some of these scones, and please forgive me.
Clementine Buttermilk Scones
Ingredients
- ½ cup butter , cold and cubed
- ½ cup buttermilk
- 1 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon clementine zest
- 3 tablespoons clementine juice , freshly squeezed, divided
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- 2 ½ teaspoon baking powder
- Egg wash
- 1 cup powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F and line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, combine the all purpose flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder. Add the citrus zest. Add the cubed butter and cut into the dry ingredients with a pastry cutter or fork until the butter is the size of peas.
- In another bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, egg, and 1 tablespoon of citrus juice. Add to the dry ingredients and stir with a spoon just until the mixture comes together and all the dry bits are incorporated.
- Pat out on a lightly floured surface to about 1 ½ inches thick. Cut out rounds and place on the prepared sheet pan about 2 inches apart. Brush the tops with eggwash. Bake until golden, about 12 to 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, combine the powdered sugar and remaining citrus juice to make a glaze. Cool the baked scones on a wire rack and spoon glaze over the tops while they're still warm.
I have been on a Cutie kick. I can't get enough:) The scones are gorgeous!
I'm with you on that surplus of citrus at this time of year… we've got clementines and mandarins and oranges and lemons and grapfruits galore right now. Good thing I'm a total citrus-zest addict! I'm totally bookmarking these suckers.
Gorgeous photos, BTW. I just want to reach through the screen and dunk my finger in one of those yummy little icing puddles in the first pic. 🙂
Ooh, these look wonderful Annalise! I'm with you on the reading obsession lately. I've never read the series you're reading but I have been tearing through "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett – A great read, I highly recommend it! Thanks for sharing these lovely scones. Next time I have a surplus of citrus I'll be sure to try them! 🙂
Mmm, these clementine scones sound amazing! I haven't had a scone with a citrus kick to it before but I imagine it to be over the top delicious.
Your scones look so perfect! Mine are always pathetically flat 😛
Yum!
That book series is addictive! I found myself hating my train stop because it meant that I had to take a break from reading. Your scones look awesome–great way to use up some of the citrus I have laying around the house.
Oh my!! I just made these with lemom and ate one. Can I hid them from my man?? I want them all to myself! Amazing, easy, and a perfect treat to wake up to tomorrow! Thanks!!
Now THAT, my dear, is a scone 😉 You've done me proud, girl! Great job! Now go on, go back to your book, I know what it's like!
Jax x
These look delicious. I can't wait to try out this recipe! Thanks for sharing a great way to use leftover citrus.
I also like when scones aren't too sweet. Gives you the option of eating it as is, or adding a jam, sweetened cream, etc. Nice rise they've got, too!
Cheers,
*Heather*
Yes! Finally! I found a recipe to use the rest of my buttermilk. Thanks for posting. Now I feel like I also need to read those "Girl Who" books. 🙂
Beautiful scones! I have leftover buttermilk from my last scone adventure and I think these are calling my name 🙂 Love your blog name, so cute.
Yum! What a refreshing idea of a scone…I must try this recipe as I too have a surplus of clemintines. 🙂
Annalise – I made these two weeks ago but finally got around to posting it today. They were so good! I made mini versions: http://lifestooshorttoskipdessert.blogspot.com/2011/02/clementine-weekend-mini-clementine.html
these sound so devine… i work at a guest house in DR CONGO and i really think my guests are going to love these as much as i am going to love making them.
Great scones. I’m a first timer and I loved them. Took lemon though because I was out of clementines.
Why oh why do readers think it is necessary to comment on how food looks or sounds . I read comments to find out how the recipe tastes or ways that it was tweaked. Arrrrrrrrghhh…