Here’s the thing about scones. You can’t just go throwing in extra ingredients willy-nilly to create different flavors. You’ll throw off the proportions and end up with a dry and cakey mess. So in creating this new version of my favorite tea-time treat, I’ve carefully pureed a couple of very ripe bananas into the cream before mixing the dough, and then added extra layers of flavor by spicing up the glaze with nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves. And to top it off, the pecans have been toasted in a bit of butter, salt and brown sugar for amazing taste and texture.
Banana Scones with Spiced Pecan Glaze
Print recipe
| Serves | 8 |
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 5 tablespoons cold unsalted butter (cut into pieces)
- 2 very ripe bananas
- 3/4 cups heavy cream
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 cup pecans
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 pinch salt
- 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
- 1 cup confectioners sugar
- a couple of teaspoons milk or cream
- 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 pinch ground cloves
Directions
| 1. | Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. |
| For the scones | |
| 2. | In a Pyrex measuring cup, thoroughly mash the bananas then add cream and vanilla and stir well. This mixture should total 1 1/2 cups. Set aside. Whisk dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, salt and sugar) together in a medium bowl. Add the butter to the flour mixture and cut it in, either with a pastry fork, two table knives, or your fingers, until the butter is in small pieces (about the size of a pea) and the mixture is crumbly. Make a well in the center of the flour/butter mixture and pour in the cream/bananas. Using a fork, gradually work the wet and dry ingredients together to form a dough. This will not be a wet dough so resist the temptation to add more cream. As soon as the dough starts to come together, dump it out on a clean surface and begin to pat it out into a rectangle, about 1 1/2 inches thick. Be careful not to overwork the dough. Cut the rectangle in half width-wise, then cut each of those pieces into 4 squares, then cut each square into 2 triangles. Transfer triangles to the baking sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes or until puffed and just lightly brown around the edges. Remove to a wire rack to cool. |
| Toast the pecans | |
| 3. | Toast the pecans: In a small skillet, melt the butter and add the pecan, salt and brown sugar. Stir constantly for several minutes until pecans are warmed through and sugar is melted. Remove from skillet and let cool. |
| Make the glaze | |
| 4. | Sift the powdered sugar into a small bowl and add the milk or cream one teaspoon at a time until you get a thick glaze. Stir in spices and set aside until scones are completely cooled. When scones have cooled completely, use a table fork to drizzle glaze over each one and sprinkle generously with the pecans. Let glaze dry before serving. Makes 32 small scones. |
Robin Barnes
January 25, 2015 at 4:37 pmThese turned out beautifully. Very nice combination of flavors. For me, the dough was quite wet & I had difficulty cutting it. I’d put the bananas thru a mini-processor, so maybe they were too liquidy – or, I may have measured something incorrectly. In any case, the recipe triumphed over any mistakes – and they were delicious! I’ll be making them again.
Bridget
January 13, 2014 at 9:13 amAccording to your cutting directions, this recipe makes 16 scones, but at the end of the directions you say it makes 32. Just a heads up.
candy
November 10, 2013 at 1:27 pmno eggs?
therightrecipe
November 10, 2013 at 6:12 pmThat’s right. No eggs. These scones are light and flakey with a biscuit-like texture. No egg required.
akiasi
October 31, 2013 at 2:47 pmWow, wow, wow! I was hoping that I would get to see some of your shots from (which I missed by leaving early). OMG, just gorgeous. My mouth is watering as I type this. I’m tempted to try this recipe. I hope all is well.
Alaiyo
therightrecipe
October 31, 2013 at 4:16 pmI’m so flattered that you thought this was my “studio shot”. Nope, I did this yesterday at home without those wonderful lights. We missed you Sat. And Sun.! Loved spending time with you. Pls email me withy your contact info.
Shari Kelley
October 30, 2013 at 8:29 pmWhat a beautiful picture! Looks so yummy. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
La valise de louise
October 30, 2013 at 7:35 pmThese look amazing! Can’t get enough of pecans ^__^ Will definitely have to try this out