while it’s feeling like summer here in socal, my heart and soul is with the rest of the country who are trying to power through the last few weeks of winter. living my entire life in new york, the last month or two of winter was brutal. all i wanted was longer days, no more dirty/slushy city snow, and i lived just to see those first few sprouts of green grass shoot through the ground. so, since i can’t ship you warm temperatures, i offer you comfort in the form of food. particularly these deep, dark chocolatey scones.
whenever february and march hits i always go for something super chocolatey. there’s something about the depth of dark chocolate that can soothe just about any ailment, especially seasonal blahs. we keep these scones on the higher end of the nutritional spectrum - they’re filled with healthy fats like almond flour, and coconut milk, and the recipe on a whole (minus the chocolate chips) uses only 2 tablespoons of coconut sugar. we’re using an egg here for binding matters, but i definitely think a flax egg could stand in its’ place for a vegan option. and to keep these super low-glycemic, i use stevia-sweetened dark chocolate chips which are really good; and we add a little almond extract offering that marzipan-y almond flavor which takes these to the next level. all-in-all, sustenance and nourishment in the form of scones. i’m here for it.
fyi, these are the perfect weekend treat, and a quick but satisfying baking project, if you’re looking for one ;)
happy end-of-february! we made it! XO
almond-y dark chocolate chip scones | grain-&dairy-free
notes:
for a vegan option, you could swap the egg with a flax egg (1 tablespoon ground flax, mixed with 3 tablespoons water).
these scones (like most other scones) are best when eaten fresh, but if you’re making them ahead or have leftovers, i would suggest heating them up a bit in your toaster oven before eating.
method
in a mixing bowl, combine the milk and vinegar, give it a little whisk and let it sit for 10 minutes, until it's curdled and bubbly on top.
while the milk and vinegar are resting, whisk together the almond flour, cacao powder, cassava flour, coconut sugar, coconut flour, baking soda, and salt. set aside.
to the milk and vinegar mixture, whisk in the egg, melted butter, and almond extract.
add the wet ingredients to the dry, and use a rubber spatula to fold the ingredients together. add the chocolate chips and mix once more until thoroughly combined. place the dough in the fridge for 10 minutes to chill.
prepare a clean work surface, and dust it with cacao powder. turn the scone dough out onto it, and dust the top with a bit more cacao. use your hands to spread the dough into an even round with with about a 1-inch thickness. use a 2-inch round biscuit cutter to punch out 5 scones, reforming the dough as you go. place the scones on a parchment-lined baking sheet and place in the fridge for 15 minutes.
preheat your oven to 350°F. bake the scones in the center of your oven for 18-20 minutes, until edges and tops are set. let cool. sprinkle with sea salt, if using, and enjoy! (scones are best when eaten fresh and warm.)
| makes 5 round scones |
1/4 cup full-fat coconut milk
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
3/4 cup almond flour
1/4 cup cacao powder (or cocoa powder), plus more for dusting
1/4 cup cassava flour
2 tablespoons coconut sugar
1 tablespoon coconut flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 large egg, at room temp
2 tablespoons vegan butter, melted and cooled
1 teaspoon almond extract
1/2 cup dairy-free dark chocolate chips (i like these)
flaky salt, for topping (optional)
similar recipes:
dark chocolate kabocha squash muffins
grain-free summer berry scones
mini granola & pear scones
