On the days that I can manage to get myself up early enough to have some time before the kids wake up, I often choose to spend the quiet of the morning baking some sort of treat for breakfast. I enjoy the peacefulness of being alone in the kitchen and the opportunity to temporarily set aside some of the more pressing tasks of the day. It calms my spirit and is one of my best ways to begin the morning.
These orange cinnamon scones with dark chocolate are exactly what the title suggests- infused with hints of orange, warmly spiced with cinnamon, and studded throughout with chunks of dark chocolate. They are completely whole-grain, but the texture is still remarkably light and tender thanks to the combination of the white whole wheat flour and the whole wheat pastry flour. It’s a lovely way to take advantage of the bountiful citrus season upon us.
- 1 cup white whole wheat flour
- 1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
- ¼ cup coconut sugar
- 2½ teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, chilled
- 2 ounces chopped dark chocolate, about ⅓ cup
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon finely grated orange zest, from 1 large orange
- ¼ cup freshly squeezed orange juice
- ½ cup chilled heavy whipping cream
- 1 egg yolk plus 1 tablespoon water
- Preheat oven to 400. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flours, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Cut butter into small cubes and scatter over the dry ingredients. Use a pastry blender to cut the butter cubes into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in the chocolate.
- In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the egg, orange zest, orange juice, and cream. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir with a wooden spoon until just combined.
- Transfer dough to a well-floured surface and form two circles ¾" thick. Use a floured knife to cut each circle into 6 wedges. Transfer scones to the baking sheet, leaving at least 1" between each.
- Whisk together the egg yolk and water. Use a pastry brush to brush scones with the egg wash. Bake 13-16 minutes, until golden brown around the edges.
Lu @ Super Nummy Yo! says
Orange and dark chocolate yum! Top notch flavor combination
Thalia @ butter and brioche says
I was thinking about making a batch of scones today.. and after seeing this beautiful post I am motivated to make the recipe! These orange, cinnamon and dark chocolate scones just look so divine.
Renee says
They look amazing! And I love those quiet mornings in the kitchen when everybody’s still asleep, too. So peaceful, so calming and so comforting. And I really want some scones now (: