These mini vanilla bean scones are a healthy keto version of the famous Starbucks treat. Rich and delicious, but totally sugar-free so you can indulge healthfully. I’ve created a new video to show you just how easy they are to make!
These almond flour scones are a copycat of one of my favorite coffee shop treats. I have such a love of all things coffee and I have a particular love of scones. I am well known for my keto maple pecan scones, as well as my keto blueberry scones. And the lemon ricotta scones are also a reader favorite.
I also have a healthy love of all things Starbucks. I don’t actually go there very often anymore, because I prefer to make my coffee at home. But I love the Starbucks culture, and the way you can order coffee almost any way you want. And when I’m traveling, Starbucks is a known quantity. I can get a decent cup of coffee if there’s a Starbucks.
I used to have quite a thing for the baked goods too. I used to stand there, eyeing them lovingly, trying to decide what I might like to eat. But now I look to them more for inspiration than anything else. Starbucks treats lend themselves very well to keto makeovers. I already have quite a few Starbucks copycat recipes.
And now here is another one.
Using Vanilla Powder for Vanilla Bean Scones
Those cute little mini vanilla bean scones are just an ideal subject for a keto makeover. Here’s why:
I already know I can make a rocking good low carb scone and I can make a rocking good vanilla glaze. It was only a matter of time before I put it all together.
And part of the inspiration was the discovery of vanilla bean powder, which is really just ground up vanilla beans. It sure beats trying to scrape this infinitesimally small seeds out of a vanilla bean pod. They have a tendency to stick to your fingers and the knife. You’re lucky if you can get half of them in the dough!
Admittedly, the vanilla bean powder is quite expensive. But no more so than actual vanilla beans. You only use 1/2 to 1 teaspoon per recipe so a bag would last for about 25 recipes. Whereas a package of 25 vanilla beans can cost seventy dollars!
Do be forewarned if you choose to order some yourself. There is “vanilla powder” out there that is actually a mix of ground vanilla beans and sugar. Make sure you are looking for ground vanilla beans.
You can also just use regular vanilla extract. I’ve provided instructions on how to do so in the recipe. This is my favorite brand of vanilla.
Tips for Making Almond Flour Scones
I’ve made a lot of low carb scones with almond flour, sometimes with a little coconut flour added in as well. But these vanilla bean scones are made entirely with almond flour.
I really feel that almond flour provides the best texture for scones. Coconut flour is too absorbent and requires too many eggs, so your scones turn out overly moist and rather spongy. Scones should be on the dry side and a little bit crumbly but still very tender.
However, unlike traditional scones, almond flour scones do require some eggs to hold them together properly and allow them to rise. Gluten free scones like this require more structure and a strong binding agent.
Beyond that, the process is very similar to most scone recipes. You pat your dough out into a circle or rectangle and cut it into wedges, then bake as directed. These mini scones only take 15 to 20 minutes to bake.
Then you can dip them into a lovely vanilla bean glaze and you have yourself a fantastic keto breakfast treat. Ready to make your own homemade vanilla bean scones?
Love Starbucks? Here are more Keto Copycat Recipes
Mini Vanilla Bean Scones
Ingredients
Scones:
- 3 cups (336 g) almond flour
- 1/3 cup (60.67 g) Swerve Sweetener
- 1 tbsp baking powder
- 1 tsp vanilla powder, ground vanilla beans OR seeds scraped out of 1 vanilla bean OR 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 2 large eggs
- 1/4 cup (56.75 g) melted butter
- 2 tbsp heavy cream
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Glaze:
- 1/2 cup (91 g) powdered Swerve Sweetener
- 1/2 tsp vanilla powder OR seeds of 1/2 a vanilla bean OR 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup (59.5 g) heavy cream
- Water , if your glaze is too thick
Instructions
Scones:
- Preheat oven to 325F and line a large baking sheet with parchment or a silicone liner.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the almond flour, sweetener, baking powder, vanilla powder, and salt.
- Stir in eggs, melted butter, cream and vanilla extract until dough comes together.
- Split dough into 3 equal portions and form into disks, each about 1 inch thick and 5 to 6 inches in diameter. Cut each disk into 8 equal pieces.
- Separate the scones and place on prepared baking sheet and bake 15 to 18 minutes, or until just golden and firm to the touch.
- Remove and let cool completely.
Glaze:
- In a medium bowl, whisk together Swerve, vanilla powder, and cream until well combined. If your glaze is very thick, add water 1 teaspoon at a time until a dippable consistency is achieved.
- Dip the top of each scone into glaze and place on a baking rack until set.
Video
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer
Please note that I am not a medical or nutritional professional. I am simply recounting and sharing my own experiences on this blog. Nothing I express here should be taken as medical advice and you should consult with your doctor before starting any diet or exercise program. I provide nutritional information for my recipes simply as a courtesy to my readers. It is calculated using MacGourmet software and I remove erythritol from the final carb count and net carb count, as it does not affect my own blood glucose levels. I do my best to be as accurate as possible but you should independently calculate nutritional information on your own before relying on them. I expressly disclaim any and all liability of any kind with respect to any act or omission wholly or in part in reliance on anything contained in this website.
Free Bonus: Secrets to Keto Baking!
Sign up for your favorite recipes delivered straight to your inbox plus get our FREE bonus: Secrets to Keto Baking!
Love this recipe! I also use it as my cookie recipe. Instead of doing a scone shape I use my cookie Or biscuit cutters. For Christmas I used a variety of sizes of the cutters and I even colored the icing to make them extra pretty. It made a wonderful display to give out to friends and family. I would have posted a picture but don’t think I can as a comment.
Carolyn, I love your site and frequently look here for recipes. Would the Monkfruit Sweetner do well as a replacement? Thanks so much for all of your help.
Do you mean an erythritol based sweetener that has some monk fruit in it, like Lakanto? If so, then yes.
yes exactly. I went ahead and tried. I am taking the out of the oven now, and they smell wonderful! Will get back after I taste, but I see success!! Thanks for answering so quickly!
Carolyn, these are delicious! I used 1/4 tsp of Fiori Di Sicilia flavoring from King Arthur. I will make these again! Thank you for all of your help, you make this journey so much easier.
I’d love to make these! My challenge is there is a severe tree nut/legume allergy in the household who is also wheat sensitive. I can’t use almond or coconut flours. What can I do instead?
You can try sunflower seed flour but it will have a distinct green-grey appearance.
Hi there, quick question. When I put the glaze on, it kind of sunk into the scones instead of nicely sitting on top. Was it too liquidy? Does anyone else have this? They are totally yum regardless!
What sweetener were you using?
That happened with mine as well. I think it may be because they were a bit undercooked. They taste amazing though. Just not quite as pretty.
What is the net carb count per serving please?
You should be able to do the math yourself there. Total – fibre.
These are delicious. Just wondering if there is a way to make the glaze harden.
It will firm up within a few hours, unless you used a different sweetener?
Made a batch today, delicious and easy!! Thanks!
Should have added the 5 stars!
This was my first attempt at Keto baking. They’re awesome!! Thank you for your great recipes! I’ll be trying more of them. I appreciate the fact that you personally work through these recipes, taste test them, and offer options. I’ve bookmarked your site, definitely a fan!
So glad you liked them!
These turned out perfect and were absolutely delicious! I will definitely want to get the vanilla bean powder for the next time since I only had extract. They were still good though 🙂
very very good! i love baking scones and these were my first keto version. mine were a little on the dry side without icing. one question tho; i measure my almond flour since ive had such bad luck with keto baking recipes. my dough was a lot more sticky than your, hard to deal withs do u measure out your flour or do you weigh?
I usually do volume but when I weigh it, which I sometimes do, I find that my brand (Bob’s Red mill) comes to about 100g per cup.
My T1D 12 yr old was in a breakfast rut, but this recipe snapped him right out of it…thank you!! We decided to skip the glaze and topped instead with your whipping cream recipe and fresh berries…so delicious and steady blood sugars all morning long!
These so awesome! And so delicious!
So brilliant- these are delicious!
The keto diet is always so hard for me, but these scones surely made it easier! So delicious, and guilt-free!
Looking forward to making these for breakfast tomorrow! Will pair perfectly with my morning cup of coffee!