Triple Chocolate Scones
Basically brownies pretending to be scones! Read through the recipe before beginning. You can skip the chilling for 15 minutes prior to baking, but I highly recommend it to prevent the scones from over-spreading.
Servings 8 Large Scones
Ingredients
Scones
- 1 and 2/3 cups 210g all-purpose flour (spoon & leveled)
- 1/3 cup 26g unsweetened cocoa powder (natural or dutch process)
- 1/2 cup 100g granulated sugar
- 2 and 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup 115g unsalted butter, frozen
- 1/2 cup + 1 Tablespoon 135ml heavy cream
- 1 large egg
- 1 and 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 6 ounces semi-sweet chocolate coarsely chopped*
Glaze & Topping
- 1 cup 120g confectioners’ sugar
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 Tablespoons 30ml water (black coffee works too!)
- one 4 ounce bar semi-sweet chocolate coarsely chopped*
Instructions
Scones
- Whisk flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt together in a large bowl. Grate the frozen butter using a box grater. Add it to the flour mixture and combine with a pastry cutter, two forks, or your fingers until the mixture comes together in pea-sized crumbs. Place in the refrigerator or freezer as you mix the wet ingredients together.
- Whisk heavy cream, egg, and vanilla extract together in a small bowl. Drizzle over the flour mixture, add the 6 ounces of chopped chocolate, then mix together until everything appears moistened.
- Pour onto the counter and, with floured hands, work dough into a ball as best you can. Dough will be sticky. If it’s too sticky, add a little more flour. If it seems too dry, add 1-2 more Tablespoons heavy cream. Press into an 8-inch disc and, with a sharp knife or bench scraper, cut into 8 wedges.
- Place scones on a plate or lined baking sheet (if your fridge has space!) and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, preheat oven to 400°F (204°C).
- Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or silicone baking mat. After refrigerating, arrange scones 2-3 inches apart on the prepared baking sheet(s).
- Bake for 22-25 minutes or until edges and top are set. Chocolate scones are done when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove from the oven and cool for a few minutes as you prepare the glaze.
Glaze
- Make the glaze: Whisk the confectioners’ sugar, vanilla, and water together. Dunk warm scones into the glaze and place on a wire rack with a baking sheet or paper towels underneath to catch the glaze as it drips down. The glaze will set after several minutes, but you can serve right away. Before serving, melt the 4 ounces of semi-sweet chocolate in the microwave in 15 second increments, stirring after each increment until melted. Drizzle over scones.
- Leftover glazed or un-glazed scones keep well at room temperature for 2 days or in the refrigerator for 5 days.
Notes
Special Tools: Box Grater, Pastry Cutter, Baking Sheet, Silpat Baking Mat, Pastry Brush
Freeze Before Baking: Freeze scone dough wedges on a plate or baking sheet for 1 hour. Once relatively frozen, you can layer them in a freezer-friendly bag or container. Bake from frozen, adding a few minutes to the bake time. Or thaw overnight, then bake as directed.
Freeze After Baking: Freeze the baked and cooled scones before topping with glaze and chocolate drizzle. I usually freeze in a freezer-friendly bag or container. To thaw, leave out on the counter for a few hours or overnight in the refrigerator. Warm in the microwave for 30 seconds or on a baking sheet in a 300°F (149°C) oven for 10 minutes. Before serving, top with glaze and chocolate drizzle.
Overnight Instructions: Prepare scones through step 3. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Continue with the recipe the following day.
Over-spreading: Start with very cold scone dough. Expect some spread, but if the scones are over-spreading as they bake, remove from the oven and press back into its triangle shape (or whatever shape) using a rubber spatula.
Chocolate: Use baking chocolate sold as 4 ounce bars in the baking aisle, such as Ghirardelli or Baker’s brand. 1 heaping cup semi-sweet chocolate chips may be substituted for the chopped chocolate in the scones. Chocolate chips are a little tricky to melt into a pourable consistency, so I recommend sticking with the chocolate bar for the drizzle on top. The drizzle is optional.
Freeze Before Baking: Freeze scone dough wedges on a plate or baking sheet for 1 hour. Once relatively frozen, you can layer them in a freezer-friendly bag or container. Bake from frozen, adding a few minutes to the bake time. Or thaw overnight, then bake as directed.
Freeze After Baking: Freeze the baked and cooled scones before topping with glaze and chocolate drizzle. I usually freeze in a freezer-friendly bag or container. To thaw, leave out on the counter for a few hours or overnight in the refrigerator. Warm in the microwave for 30 seconds or on a baking sheet in a 300°F (149°C) oven for 10 minutes. Before serving, top with glaze and chocolate drizzle.
Overnight Instructions: Prepare scones through step 3. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Continue with the recipe the following day.
Over-spreading: Start with very cold scone dough. Expect some spread, but if the scones are over-spreading as they bake, remove from the oven and press back into its triangle shape (or whatever shape) using a rubber spatula.
Chocolate: Use baking chocolate sold as 4 ounce bars in the baking aisle, such as Ghirardelli or Baker’s brand. 1 heaping cup semi-sweet chocolate chips may be substituted for the chopped chocolate in the scones. Chocolate chips are a little tricky to melt into a pourable consistency, so I recommend sticking with the chocolate bar for the drizzle on top. The drizzle is optional.
