Dark Chocolate Cranberry Scones

These delicious dark chocolate cranberry scones should be on your holiday baking list! I mean, cranberries and dark chocolate are a match made in heaven. Try these easy holiday scones recipe and serve them for breakfast or for an afternoon snack!

Holiday baking is almost here! I’ve got the perfect recipe for you using cranberries! My blogger friends and I dedicated this week to bringing you cranberry recipes for inspiration and lots of fun. This week I made these ultra delicious and easy dark chocolate cranberry scones that you’ll love.

These dark chocolate cranberry scones are made with dried cranberries, dark chocolate chunks, and are then drizzled with more chocolate. Yes you heard me. The chocolate glaze hardens, so it won’t smear all over you mouth. I don’t know about you, but I think the chocolate glaze that hardens is super awesome. And it will save you embarrassment…unless you want chocolate smeared all over your mouth.

Scones and I

Scones and I have a dark past.

So let me explain…the first time I made scones was a MAJOR MAJOR disaster. I used a food processor and processed the heck out of the dough. Needless to say, I ended up with a very wet and sticky dough. In the midst of confusion, I tried to “save” it by adding more and more flour and kneading it…I know…haha. It kind of “worked,” and so I tried to shape them into 6 wedges and baked them.

The result? Well, my 6 scones became ONE flat, shapeless, wet “scone.” Now, if you’ve ever had a scone, you’ll know that they are never wet…or flat. What I made was more like a sheet pan “scone” cake.

After that day, I’ve watched hours and hours of videos on how to make scones, and have made lots of scones.

So today, my friends, not only will I show you how to make scones, but also what NOT to do when making scones! And it all comes from experience, trust me.

How To Make Scones

Making a good dough for scones is ALL about the method and flour to fat ratios. Scones tend to be a little bit drier, so definitely a higher flour ratio. But even if you have a higher flour ratio, it can be easy to mess up the dough by working it too much. The key is combining the dry ingredients with the wet ingredients until just combined, and then press into a dough.

Here’s my preferred method to make scones:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Combine the dry ingredients in a large bowl evenly (AP flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, salt)
3. Work in VERY VERY cold cubes of butter into the dry ingredients until pea size crumbs form. It is mandatory that the butter is super cold or it won’t work. I usually freeze it 1 hour before using it.
4. To incorporate the cold butter into the flour mixture, use a pastry blender, a fork, or your fingers. If using your fingers, be quick or it will soften.
5. Slowly add the wet ingredients (eggs and heavy cream) into the flour and butter mixture, and lightly incorporate with a fork until moist. Do not knead or mix. The dough will be very crumbly.
6. On a clean surface, bring the crumbly dough together with your hands and slightly press until it comes together and shape into a 3/4 inch disk. If there is leftover flour that didn’t incorporate, leave it behind.
7. Divide into wedges. Place on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper. Freeze it for 15 minutes to it stays cold. This helps to maintain their shape while baking.
8. Brush tops with heavy cream and bake about 25-30 minutes until golden brown.

If you want to, you can make these in a food processor (steps 3 through 5). But, be sure to only give it a few pulses.

Easy Dark Chocolate Cranberry Scones

Alright, so now that we’ve covered the basics on how to make scones, let’s talk about what’s in these delicious and easy scones!

• dried cranberries
• dark chocolate chunks
• AP flour
• baking powder
• salt
• sugar
• VERY cold unsalted butter
• eggs
• heavy cream
• vanilla extract
• chocolate glaze

Just imagine all the goodness from each cranberry scone. SO GOOD. Full recipe below!

You can serve these scones for breakfast, as a snack, or anytime! Scones are supposed to be enjoyed whenever you want to! These will keep well for 3-5 days in an airtight container. And don’t worry about smearing the chocolate glaze all over because it won’t smear! This chocolate glaze hardens, making life easier 😉

Happy holiday baking, my friends.

Pin this recipe! 🙂

Kitchen Tips

• Cut the butter into small cubes and put it in the freezer for about 30 minutes before using.
• Use a pastry blender to cut the butter into the dry ingredients. You can also use a fork, but it will take you a bit more time to achieve the right texture. If you prefer, use your hands but be quick so the butter doesn’t soften.
• Absolutely do not overmix or over-knead the dough. You’re looking for a crumbly dough. The dough will come together later when you press it together to form a dough.
• For the chocolate glaze: make this last and drizzle immediately. It will harden pretty quickly.

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