Step 1

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Step 2

In a medium bowl, whisk flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.

Step 3

Cut in butter with a pastry cutter, two knives or you can rub the butter in with your fingertips, until the mixture is crumbly and you have varied size butter chunks no larger than peas.

Step 4

Stir in pecan pieces and toss to coat in the flour mixture.

Step 5

Crack an egg in a glass measuring cup then add cream until you reach 1/2 cup. Then add another 2 Tablespoons of cream. Mix with a fork until well blended. Mix in vanilla and butter flavor, if using.

Step 6

Make a well in the center of flour mixture and pour in the egg/cream mixture. Toss gently with a fork until you've distributed the liquid well and mixture begins to hold together a bit. Your mixture is going to seem to be too dry, but try to resist adding more liquid. Your scones will not hold shape with too much liquid.

Step 7

If necessary, use your hands to gently mix the mixture in the bowl until it comes together. This may take a minute, but as you work the butter and cream mixture, it will begin to come together. You don't want to melt the butter, so if you have hot hands, try using a large spoon or a spatula to fold the mixture onto itself in between using your hands.

Step 8

Once the dough comes together with no crumbs, divide dough in half. On a lightly floured surface, pat each half of dough into a circle about 1" thick.

Step 9

If you find your dough has gotten too soft from handling, you can put the bowl back in the refrigerator before you shape it so that the butter can get firm again, or roll, cut and place on the cookie sheet, then slide it into the refrigerator or freezer for 10-20 minutes.

Step 10

Using a floured sharp knife, cut each circle into 6 wedges and place on an ungreased baking sheet leaving 1-2" of space between for spreading.

Step 11

Brush with additional cream. Sprinkle with raw sugar, if you're not planning to glaze.

Step 12

Bake for 12-14 minutes or until lightly golden. Allow to cool and set up for a few minutes on the baking sheet, then remove to a rack to finish cooling.

Step 13

When the scones are cool, make the glaze. Place cooling rack over a sheet pan. In a small saucepan, mix the brown sugar and water together with a whisk and heat just until sugar is dissolved. Whisk in the butter until fully combined.

Step 14

Remove pan from heat and whisk in vanilla and powdered sugar. (Sift your powdered sugar first if it's lumpy.) Continue whisking until smooth and any remaining lumps are completely dissolved. Taste and add a pinch of salt, if needed.

Step 15

Dip the tops of each scone into the glaze then place back onto the cooling rack. Once all of the tops are glazed, go back and using a spoon or fork, drizzle each scone with additional glaze. The glaze sets quickly, you may need to stir it a couple of times during the process to keep it loose and workable.