My husband was in the mood for some scones.  I decided to make these Orange Basil Scones again.  I had made some before the holidays hit, as a trial run and they were a hit, so I made some more.  The combination of orange and basil gives a refreshing flavor to these scones.  The tangy flavor of the citrus goes well with the sweetness of the fresh basil.  They came out with the perfect amount of moistness, but still crumbly.  Oh, I do so love a good scone.

There are really not many ingredients needed.  It’s a pretty basic recipe.  The orange zest and fresh basil are what make the recipe special.

 I love the smell of fresh basil.  Can’t you just smell it through your screen right now?

You get little bits of orange zest and basil in every bite.  The glaze gives them a bit more sweetness without overdoing it.  You can add more or less as you wish.  I just did a little drizzle.  Even my daughter loved these.  Of course, she is the one that always picked fresh leaves off my basil plants and ate them straight up.  She knows good flavor when she tastes it and so will you when you make these Orange Basil Scones.

Here are some other great flavors I have made:

Cranberry Ginger Scones

Lemon Cranberry Scones

Biscoff Chocolate Chip Scones

Lemon Blueberry Scones

Maple Pecan Scones

Orange Basil Scones

by The Sweet Chick

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Keywords: bake bread breakfast dessert snack orange extract orange zest basil scones American

Ingredients (8 scones)

For the scones

• 2 cups flour
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 6 tablespoons cold butter
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon orange extract
• 1 teaspoon chopped orange rind
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil

For the topping

• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1-2 teaspoons sugar

For the glaze

• 3/4 cup powdered sugar
• 1- 1 1/2 tablespoons milk
• 1/4 teaspoon orange extract

Instructions

For the scones

Preheat oven to 425° F.

In a stand mixer, mix flour, sugar, and baking powder.

Cut up butter and add to flour mixture, mixing on low speed for 1 minute.

In a small bowl mix egg, milk, and orange extract until blended and add to the flour mixture. The batter will be a dough like consistency.

Next add in the basil and orange zest and mix until well distributed.

With a large scoop, place dough onto a greased or parchment lined cookie sheet. Do not flatten.

For the topping

Brush the tops and sides of each scone with milk and sprinkle with about 1/4 teaspoon or less of sugar.

Bake at 425°F for 13-15 minutes or until toothpick inserted in middle comes out clean and tops are a golden color.

Remove from oven and carefully place scones on cooling rack with wax paper underneath. (Scones will be extra hot due to the sugar.)

For the glaze

In a small bowl whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and orange extract until smooth.

Using the whisk, drizzle the scones with as much or as little glaze as you prefer.

You can wait for the glaze to set or go ahead and eat one!