Recipe: Banana Bread Scones with Brown Sugar Glaze
I adore banana bread. It’s just as welcome on my breakfast table as it is on the dessert table, and it seems universally loved by kids and adults alike. This scone version of the classic quick bread won’t leave crumbs in the bottom of your bag and makes for a very satisfying mid-day snack.
These scones have a mild, not-too-sweet banana flavor and a soft biscuity interior. I love breaking off large pieces and giving them quick dunk in my cup of coffee. I served these to house guests recently and we had great fun splitting the scones open to spread them with peanut butter, jam, and leftover brown sugar glaze.
A bit of whole wheat flour in place of some of the all-purpose would give these a nice earthy depth, something that I plan on trying soon. I also toned down my love of cinnamon in this recipe to make them a bit more universally palatable. If you’re a fellow spice-fiend, feel free to add an extra teaspoon or two of cinnamon along with a good grating of fresh nutmeg.
Banana Bread Scones with Brown Sugar Glaze
Makes 8 scones
Nutritional Info
Ingredients
- 2
very ripe bananas (about 8 ounces or 1 cup once mashed)
- 2 to 4 tablespoons
milk, whole or 2%
- 1/2 cup
(4 ounces) plain yogurt, whole or 2%
- 2 1/2 cups
(12 1/2 ounces) all-purpose flour
- 4 tablespoons
(1 1/2 ounces) granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons
baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoons
salt
- 1 teaspoon
cinnamon
- 4 tablespoons
(2 ounces) unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup
chopped walnuts (optional)
For the glaze:
- 1 tablespoon
(1 ounce) salted butter
- 2 tablespoons
(1 ounce) milk, whole or 2%
- 1/4 cup
(2 ounces) packed brown sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon
vanilla extract
- 1/4 to 1/2 cup
(2 to 4 ounces) confectioner's sugar
Instructions
Mash the bananas and then add enough milk to make one total cup (if necessary). Stir in the yogurt and set aside.
Whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon in a large bowl. Cut the butter into several pieces. Work it into the dry ingredients using a fork, pastry cutter, or your finger tips until there are no pieces of butter larger than a pea.
Pour the banana-yogurt mixture into the bowl with the flour and stir just enough to incorporate all of the flour. Fold in the walnuts, if using. This will make a fairly wet dough.
Line a dinner plate with a piece of wax paper and turn the dough out on top. Pat it into a disk about 1-inch thick and cover with another piece of wax paper. Freeze the scone dough for 30 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 400°F.
Peel off the top layer of wax paper and invert the scones onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. Peel off the second layer of wax paper. Slice the scones into eight wedges and pull them apart a little to give them some room to expand. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until the scones are firm to the touch and turning golden-brown on the edges. Cool completely and cut apart any scones that baked together with a sharp knife.
To make the glaze, melt the butter and the milk in the microwave for 30 seconds. Add the brown sugar and vanilla, and stir until the sugar has melted (heat for an additional 30 seconds in the microwave if necessary). Whisk in the confectioner's sugar, starting with 1/4 cup. Add more confectioner's sugar if desired to make a thicker glaze.
Just before serving, drizzle the glaze over the scones. The glaze will harden after setting for a minute or two, and can be served right away or packed for a later snack. The glaze can make the scones a bit sticky if kept for longer than a few hours, so store any scones to be eaten later un-glazed. Extra un-glazed scones can also be frozen and re-heated in a microwave or toaster oven.
Related: Lemon Rolls to Kugelhopf: 5 Sweet Morning Buns
(Images: Emma Christensen)