Earl Grey Scones with Vanilla Glaze (Keto, Low-Carb)

These Earl Grey scones are a low-carb, keto-friendly, and grain-free treat with a bakery-style texture and flavor. The floral and citrus notes of bergamot, paired with buttery, tender scones and a silky vanilla glaze, create a subtle "London Fog" flavor that's sweet and comforting. 

Grated frozen butter and the perfect balance of almond flour and coconut flour create a soft, bakery-style crumb that's not too dense or heavy.

Instead, they're rich and buttery, and lightly sweetened with monkfruit and allulose.

Pair them with a hot coffee or a cup of tea for a delicious treat any time of day!

why you'll love them

There's something about Earl Grey that instantly elevates a baked good into an extra elegant treat.

I've shared a couple of low-carb scone recipes here on the blog (Keto Lemon Blueberry Scones and Savory Almond Flour Scones- both are reader favorites!) but these Earl Grey scones have a taste and texture that's even closer to the rich and buttery flavor of traditional scones. 

Many low-carb scones end up tasting more like dense muffins than classic bakery scones.

One way to achieve a good scone with a lighter texture is to keep the butter frozen and grate it.

Small pieces of frozen butter mixed directly into the dry ingredients create little pockets of steam while baking, which helps mimic the flaky tenderness of traditional scones.

These Earl Grey scones are: 

• Low-carb and blood sugar friendly, grain-free and naturally gluten-free
• Tender and buttery with a distinctive flavor of Earl Grey and a sweet vanilla glaze
• Easy to make in one bowl
• Perfect for breakfast, brunch, snacks, and even dessert.

the ingredients

Here's a look at the main ingredients you'll need for this simple recipe:

• Almond flour and coconut flour: The combination of these low-carb flours stands in for your traditional wheat all-purpose flour. They make a low-glycemic flour mixture that keeps the scones moist and tender. 
• Low-carb sweetener:  I like granulated monkfruit sweetener with allulose, as it gives these scones a clean flavor without added sugar. 
• Earl Grey tea bags: You'll open up the tea bags and pour the loose tea directly into your dry ingredients. Keep in mind that Earl Grey is a black tea with caffeine, but we're only using two tea bags here so the amount of caffeine is minimal. 
• Oat fiber: This is an optional ingredient, but a small amount will create a more tender crumb and a slight earthy flavor. Oat fiber is an insoluble fiber that is gluten-free and very low-carb, made from the outer husk of oats. It is not the same as oat flour or ground oats. 
• Baking powder: For a little bit of lift in these scones. Choose a paleo and aluminum-free baking powder. 
• Xanthan gum: This is another optional ingredient, but it works as a binder in gluten-free baked goods. It will help your scones hold together without crumbling. 
• Frozen butter: Frozen butter (not just cold butter) is crucial here, as it allows us to grate the butter into the dry ingredients. It will keep cold even as you work the dough with your hands to incorporate everything. I like using salted butter, but unsalted butter is fine too (add a pinch more of salt).
• Wet ingredients: A large egg, a splash of apple cider vinegar, and vanilla extract  mix in after the butter. The egg helps bind the dough while the vinegar reacts with the baking powder to give it a little lift and a light buttermilk flavor.
• Glaze ingredients: If you'd like to drizzle a sweet vanilla glaze on top, you'll need a powdered monkfruit sweetener with allulose, a tablespoon of heavy cream, and a splash of vanilla extract.

how to make earl grey scones

Here's a look at this incredibly easy process, but be sure to check out the printable recipe card below for the specific ingredient amounts and every detail in this Earl Grey scones recipe. 

Tip: If you do not have a cookie cutter, you can also cut the disc into triangles.

To top with glaze: Mix the glaze ingredients together in a small bowl. Drizzle the glaze on top using a spoon, then sprinkle each scone with a tiny bit of crushed earl grey tea leaves, if desired. Chilling the scones will set the glaze.

recipe tips for earl grey scones

• The baking time will vary based on your oven and the thickness of your scones. Low-carb sweeteners like monkfruit/allulose and flours like coconut and almond flour are more prone to burning, which is why it's recommended to cover the scones during the first half of the bake time. This will keep the tops from overbrowning. 
• Sweetener substitutions: It's necessary to use a powdered sweetener for the glaze. If blood sugar balance is a priority, I recommend using granulated monkfruit sweetener with allulose for the scones and a powdered version for the glaze (or another low-carb sweetener that's a 1:1 swap for sugar). If blood sugar balance is not a priority, you can substitute with regular powdered sugar (you may need more than ⅓ cup) and use coconut sugar for the scones. 

storage

Store these Earl Grey scones in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days for the best results, especially if they are topped with the glaze, which contains cream.

If they do not have a glaze, they also keep well at room temperature. 

you might also love

• Keto Cinnamon Muffins
• Low-Carb Truffle and Brie Egg Bites
• Keto Cinnamon Rolls
• Rooibos Tea Latte