Citrus and White Chocolate Scones

Inspired by...citrus

I wanted to bake something bright and flavorful this weekend.  And what could have brighter flavors than citrus? I started from a basic scone recipe and added lots of lemon and orange zest and juices.  Adding some coconut and white chocolate made these scones even more delicious! The best part is that since citruses are in season year-round, these scones can provide a taste of summer even in the coldest of months!

Recipe
Makes 8 scones​

Ingredients

• ​2 cups flour
• ​1/3 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold
• 1/2 cup sour cream at room temperature
• 1 egg at room temperature
• 1/4 teaspoon lemon extract
• 1 tablespoon each of orange and lemon zest
• 1 tablespoon each of orange and lemon juice
• 1/3 cup sweetened flake coconut
• 1/2 cup white chocolate chips

For the glaze:

• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoon each of orange and lemon juice

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or silicone baking mat.
2. ​Sift together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
3. Cut the cold butter into small cubes (about 1/4-1/2 inch size).
4. Add butter into dry ingredients and cut it into the flour mixture with a pastry cutter or with a fork.  You want continue to cut and mix the butter into the mixture until there are just pebble-sized bits of butter throughout.
5. Mix together the sour cream, egg, extract, zests, and juices.
6. Add the sour cream mixture to the flour-butter mixture and mix until combined.  You want there to still be little lumps of butter throughout. 
7. Add the coconut and white chocolate chips and mix until combined.  You may need to use your hands to mix at this point since the mixture should be thick and rather dry.
8. Dust a cutting board with flour and form the dough into a round disk on the board.  Flatten it out until it is about 1/2 inch thick.
9. Cut the disk into wedges (first in half, then in quarters, then into 8ths).and place on prepared baking sheet.
10. Sprinkle tops of scones with some sugar (optional).
11. Bake on the lower-middle rack of your oven for 15-17 minutes until the bottom edges are golden brown.

​For the glaze:

1. Mix powdered sugar and juices together until they form a pourable glaze.  You can add more sugar or juice if your mixture seems too thick or thin.
2. Using a spoon, drizzle the glaze over each (cooled) scone.
3. Sprinkle with yellow dusting sugar if desired.

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Look at that ring of sunshine coming off of the lemon! Highlights the brightness of these scones perfectly :)