Chocolate Chip Scones
Discover the ultimate Chocolate Chip Scones recipe that’s tender, buttery, and loaded with gooey chocolate chips for a perfect treat! These delightful scones bring together the comforting richness of butter with pockets of melting chocolate, making every bite a heavenly experience. Whether you’re enjoying them fresh from the oven or paired with your favorite morning coffee, these scones elevate any time of day.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Buttery Perfection: Each scone is tender and flaky thanks to the generous amount of high-quality butter, creating that perfect texture you crave.
- Loaded with Chocolate: Gooey chocolate chips scatter throughout, offering bursts of sweetness in every bite.
- Quick and Easy: Minimal ingredients and straightforward steps make this scone recipe beginner-friendly and hassle-free.
- Versatile Treat: Perfect for breakfast, brunch, or an afternoon snack, these scones fit any occasion.
- Customizable: Simple to adapt with add-ins or toppings to suit your personal taste or dietary needs.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Each ingredient in this Chocolate Chip Scones recipe plays a vital role, from creating the tender crumb to adding sweet bursts of flavor or a golden-brown finish. These simple pantry staples come together beautifully to deliver an irresistible result.
- All-purpose flour: The foundation for structure and the perfect crumb texture.
- Baking powder: Helps the scones rise and become delightfully fluffy.
- Granulated sugar: Adds subtle sweetness balancing the richness.
- Salt: Enhances flavor and balances the sweetness.
- Cold unsalted butter: Key for creating flaky layers and a tender texture.
- Heavy cream: Adds moisture and richness for soft scones.
- Vanilla extract: Infuses a warm, aromatic note to the batter.
- Egg: Helps bind the dough and adds richness.
- Semi-sweet chocolate chips: The star ingredient that melts into dreamy pockets of chocolate.
Variations for Chocolate Chip Scones
This Chocolate Chip Scones recipe is easy to tweak so you can customize it based on what you have in your pantry or to better fit your cravings. Feel free to get creative and make it your own!
- White chocolate and macadamia: Swap semi-sweet chips for white chocolate and add chopped macadamia nuts for a sweeter, nutty twist.
- Orange zest and dark chocolate: Add fresh orange zest to the batter for a bright citrus aroma paired with rich dark chocolate.
- Gluten-free version: Use a gluten-free flour blend instead of all-purpose flour to accommodate dietary needs.
- Maple glaze: Drizzle with a simple maple syrup glaze instead of or in addition to the vanilla for a cozy flavor boost.
- Vegan adaptation: Replace butter with coconut oil, use plant-based milk, and a flax egg to make vegan scones.
How to Make Chocolate Chip Scones
Step 1: Prepare the dry ingredients
Start by whisking the all-purpose flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt together in a large bowl to ensure even distribution of leavening and flavor.
Step 2: Cut in the butter
Add cold, cubed unsalted butter to the flour mixture. Use a pastry cutter or your fingers to quickly blend until it resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-sized pieces for flakiness.
Step 3: Mix wet ingredients
In a separate bowl, whisk together heavy cream, vanilla extract, and the egg until smooth and combined.
Step 4: Combine wet and dry
Pour the wet ingredients into the dry mixture and gently fold with a spatula until just combined. Be careful not to overmix to keep the scones tender.
Step 5: Fold in chocolate chips
Gently fold the semi-sweet chocolate chips into the dough, evenly distributing them without breaking the chips.
Step 6: Shape and chill
Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and pat it into a circle about 1-inch thick. Wrap in plastic and chill for at least 30 minutes to help firm up the dough for easier cutting.
Step 7: Cut and bake
Slice the chilled dough into 8 wedges and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake at 400°F (200°C) for 15-18 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through.
Pro Tips for Making Chocolate Chip Scones
- Keep butter cold: Cold butter is essential for flaky layers, so don’t let it soften too much before mixing.
- Don’t overwork the dough: Mixing too much can lead to dense, tough scones, so fold ingredients just until combined.
- Use quality chocolate chips: Good-quality chocolate chips improve flavor and melt beautifully.
- Chill the dough: Refrigeration helps scones hold their shape and boosts flakiness.
- Brush with cream or egg wash: A light brush before baking gives scones a lovely golden shine.
How to Serve Chocolate Chip Scones
Garnishes
For an elegant touch, dust warm scones with a bit of powdered sugar or drizzle lightly with a vanilla glaze. Fresh berries or a spread of clotted cream also add lovely texture contrasts.
Side Dishes
Chocolate Chip Scones pair wonderfully with hot beverages like coffee, tea, or hot chocolate. Serve alongside fresh fruit or a dollop of whipped cream for a delightful brunch setup.
Creative Ways to Present
Serve scones on a rustic wooden board or a vintage tiered plate with small bowls of jams and spreads to turn your chocolate chip scones into a charming gathering centerpiece.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Store leftover chocolate chip scones in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days to keep them soft and fresh.
Freezing
You can freeze unbaked scone dough shaped into wedges wrapped tightly in plastic wrap for up to 3 months; just bake from frozen adding a few extra minutes to the cooking time.
Reheating
Warm scones in a 350°F oven for about 5-7 minutes to refresh their crisp exterior and soft interior; microwaving may toughen them.
FAQs
Can I use chocolate chunks instead of chips?
Absolutely! Chocolate chunks give larger, gooier pockets of chocolate, making the scones even more indulgent.
What is the best flour for scones?
All-purpose flour is perfect for this recipe, providing the right balance of tenderness and structure, but pastry flour can be used for a more delicate crumb.
Can I make these scones vegan?
Yes, by substituting butter with coconut oil, using a flax egg, and swapping heavy cream for a plant-based milk like almond or oat, you can create delicious vegan scones.
How do I keep scones moist?
Using heavy cream and not overbaking will keep the scones moist; also, avoid overmixing the dough to prevent dryness.
Can these scones be made gluten-free?
Swap all-purpose flour for a gluten-free baking blend that includes xanthan gum to maintain texture, for a gluten-free version that’s just as tasty.
Final Thoughts
Nothing beats freshly baked Chocolate Chip Scones that are buttery, tender, and sweetened with melty chocolate chips. This recipe delivers that comforting feeling with every bite, perfect for sharing or indulging solo. Give it a try—you might just discover your new favorite treat to brighten mornings and snacks alike!
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PrintChocolate Chip Scones
Tender, buttery Chocolate Chip Scones loaded with gooey semi-sweet chocolate chips create a perfect flaky treat. Easy to make with simple pantry staples, these scones are ideal for breakfast, brunch, or snacks, and can be customized to suit various dietary needs and flavor preferences.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15-18 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 8 scones 1x
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Baking
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1/2 cup cold unsalted butter, cubed
- 3/4 cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 large egg
- 3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Prepare the dry ingredients: Whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, granulated sugar, and salt in a large bowl to ensure even distribution of leavening and flavor.
- Cut in the butter: Add cold, cubed unsalted butter to the flour mixture. Use a pastry cutter or your fingers to blend until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-sized butter pieces remaining for flakiness.
- Mix wet ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the heavy cream, vanilla extract, and egg until smooth and fully combined.
- Combine wet and dry: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry mixture and gently fold with a spatula until just combined. Avoid overmixing to keep the scones tender.
- Fold in chocolate chips: Gently fold the semi-sweet chocolate chips into the dough, distributing them evenly without breaking the chips.
- Shape and chill: Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and pat it into a circle about 1 inch thick. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to firm up for easier cutting.
- Cut and bake: Slice the chilled dough into 8 wedges and place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake in a preheated oven at 400°F (200°C) for 15-18 minutes until golden brown and cooked through.
Notes
- Keep butter cold to ensure flaky layers in the scones.
- Do not overwork the dough to prevent dense, tough scones.
- Use high-quality chocolate chips for best flavor and melting.
- Chilling the dough helps scones maintain shape and enhances flakiness.
- Brush scones with cream or egg wash before baking for a golden sheen.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 scone
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 220mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 26g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 65mg
Keywords: chocolate chip scones, buttery scones, easy scones, breakfast scones, brunch scones, chocolate chip bake, flaky scones