Espresso Chocolate Scones with Walnuts
Chocolate scones are for rainy mornings. They are meant for grey afternoons, or for a cozy night, with a cup of tea.
Everything about a scone takes me straight to a winter day. Might be snowing outside, it might even be the coldest day of the year. Whenever I’m faced with such a day, you can almost bet I’m going to bake some scones.
And it was a day like that when I decided to bake these Espresso Chocolate Scones with Walnuts I present to you today.
This post may contain affiliate links. I earn a commission from qualified purchases. Please read our Privacy policy here.
I make scones quite a bit, from savory to sweet.
That’s because making scones can be fairly easy. All you need is a basic scones recipe and you alter it as you add the ingredients to your liking.
For sweet scones, you can mix in dried or fresh fruits. You can add nuts, spices like cinnamon, cardamom, or nutmeg. You can make it chocolate, caramel, or anything you love under the sun.
For savory ones, it’s like making an omelet: whatever is in your fridge. Chopped herbs, peppers, different types of cheese, meats, garlic and these sorts of things. Chop it up, mix it in the dough, bake it and enjoy it. My favorites are jalapeño cheddar, or garlic and sun-dried tomato . I’ll eat them with the delicious soup that’ll been simmering on my stove.
The secret for making a good scone is in the little details.
Don’t ever overmix your dough. Knead the scones dough by using a method called pat and fold, which means you will sort of incorporate your dry and wet ingredients in a bowl by mixing carefully with a spatula.
After they have been almost completely incorporated, transfer the mixture to a floured counter and proceed to cut the mixture in half and place one half on top of the other. Pat it down gently with your hands. Cut it in half again and fold, by placing one half on top of the other. Repeat this process a few times until you don’t see any streaks of flour in your dough.
This is the safest method for kneading scones and biscuits dough and not ending up with a tough and dry final product.
What I really love about scones, though, even more than eating a bowl of piping hot delicious soup alongside with it, is when I make these espresso chocolate scones and have them with coffee. It might be because I’m getting a double dose of caffeine, might be the chocolate drizzle that enchants me. I eat them when they are just cooled. That’s the best time to eat a scone, in my opinion.
Next time it’s raining or snowing outside and it’s a chill winter or fall day, open your pantry, open your fridge, gather simple ingredients and make it a day to remember by baking unforgettable scones!
And since we are talking about scones, here’s a picture of my Cheddar, Garlic and Jalapeño scones. I don’t have a recipe for it on the blog yet! But soon I hope to make them again!
Strawberry Lemon Scones if you’re after a sunny scone!
Almond Orange Sweet Rolls.
Espresso Chocolate Scones with Walnuts
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 tsp espresso powder
- 2/3 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter cold (8 tablespoons)
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 6 ounces bittersweet fine quality chocolate chopped you can use chocolate chips, if you will
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
Chocolate glaze
- 2/3 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips or chopped chocolate
- 1/4 cup half and half
Instructions
- Start by chopping the cold butter into 0.5 inch pieces. Stick chopped butter in the freezer for 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, start to gather the other ingredients.
- In the bowl of a food processor, place flour, cocoa powder, espresso powder, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Pulse a few times to combine the ingredients.
- In a measuring cup or a cup with a spout, place egg, beat it slightly. Add heavy cream, vanilla and whisk everything to combine.
- Add chopped frozen butter to the food processor. Process about 8-10 times until butter is cut into dry ingredients. The mixture should resemble coarse meal. You don’t want to see really large pieces of butter. If you see pea sized pieces of butter, you will want to process the mixture a few more times.
- Transfer this mixture to a large bowl. Add wet ingredients to flour and butter mixture. Then add the chocolate chips and walnuts, and fold carefully to combine. Once mixture is more or less incorporated, transfer it to a lightly floured counter. Now you are going to use a method of folding biscuit/scones dough that is called pat and fold.
- Cut the mixture in half and place one half on top of the other and pat it down back to its original size. Cut it in half and place one half on top of the other once again. Do this a few times until dough is smooth and you see no streaks of flour. Be careful and gentle when patting and folding because scones dough isn’t supposed to be overworked or you will have a tough final product.
- You will have a shaggy and sort of wet mixture. You can lightly flour your hands to better handle the dough, but don’t use too much flour either, because you don’t want to add more flour to your dough or, again, you might end up with tough results.
- Pat the mixture into a 8” circle. Use your hands to shape the outside of the circle and try to smooth it out as you pat the mixture.
- Using a sharp knife, cut the dough disk into 8 wedges, like a pizza. Carefully and with floured hands, transfer each scone to a baking sheet lined with a silicon mat or lightly greased parchment paper.
- Make sure scones are 2 inches apart from each other.
- Pre-heat the oven to 375F.
- I usually will stick my scones in the freezer while the oven pre-heats because I want my butter to be very cold once I start baking the scones.
- Bake scones for about 20 minutes. You can test if it’s done by inserting a toothpick in the scone, it it comes out clean means it’s baked. Don’t overbake your scones or they will be tough and dry.
Chocolate Glaze
- Let scones cool down and glaze with chocolate glaze. I like to put the glaze in a piping bag and cut the tip with a pair of scissors, just a tiny hole so I can create a beautiful drizzle.
- Mix half and half and chocolate in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave them together in 30 second intervals, stirring in between until all chocolate is melted.
Nutrition
I could enjoy these scones even during the summer time! they look and sound amazing, thanks for all the great tips too!
Thank you Albert!!
Hi,
These sound great, and maybe I’m missing something obvious, but where’s the espresso hiding in this recipe?
Amy
Hello, Amy! Thank you for pointing it out. Of course I left behind one of the stars of the show! I’ve updated the recipe! 1 teaspoon of espresso powder!! Have a great day! 🙂
I would love to make these scones. I think this would be a nice treat for the weekend. Thanks for sharing this recipe.
Thank you, Mirlene!
I was just looking for a scone recipe! to be honest, I usually like a simple,, plain scone but this chocolate scone looks heavenly!! Chocolate and espresso is a magical combination.
I agree! Thank you!
Thanks for sharing! I haven’t had much luck making scones but your tips are really helpful! Guess I’m going to try again and def these chocolate and espresso ones! Yum!
Thank you so much, hope you get to make some scones soon!
I love the idea of having chocolate scones on a rainy night with tea, just so comforting. This recipe is easier than I thought. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you, Fred! Scones are not complicated at all!
Oh my goodness – these look amazing!! I’ve been thinking about making scones for breakfast – I think this just sealed the deal 🙂
You would love them, Steph!
That first sentence is so true, rainy mornings and grey afternoons – definitely! These looks really yummy
Thank you, Stine!!
These sound amazing! Chocolate and espresso, oh my! I love how much care you put into your baking too!
Thank you, Lisa!!
Que delícia!!
Amei Camela
These are genius Camila! Dark and sinful! So good with a cup of Chai for breakfast 🙂
Thank you, Dee! I agree!! 🙂
You continue to slay me, my dear friend!! Every day I check my front porch for a delivery package that says, “From Camila” with a delicious treat-shaped heart on it! I will continue to check…I’m fiercely loyal like that… 🙂 🙂
haha one day it has to happen!!!
Scones, buiscuts, and most doughs are all about the little things! Mixing to much or to little changes the entire outcome. Great post
Thank you Patrick 🙂
Ca, ficou muito apetitoso, parabéns
Obrigada Pai 🙂