Double Chocolate Brownie Scones

These tender chocolate scones have the crisp edges of a bakery scone and the fudgy richness of a brownie. Cocoa powder, dark chocolate chips, cold butter, and cream create a deeply flavored pastry that is best served slightly warm.
Prep: 20 min · Cook: 18 min · Total: 38 min · Serves: 8
Ingredients
- 0.75 cup granulated sugar
- 0.5 cup heavy cream (cold, plus 1 tbsp for brushing)
- 0.5 cup unsalted butter (very cold and cut into 1/2-inch cubes)
- 0.5 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (sifted)
- 1 tbsp coarse sugar (for topping)
- 0.75 cup dark chocolate chips
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 each large egg (cold)
- 0.5 tsp fine sea salt
- 2 cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 400°F (204°C) for at least 15 minutes, then line a rimmed half-sheet pan with parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk the 2 cups all-purpose flour, 1/2 cup sifted unsweetened cocoa powder, 3/4 cup granulated sugar, 2 tsp baking powder, and 1/2 tsp fine sea salt for 30 seconds, until the cocoa is evenly dispersed and no pale streaks remain.
- Add the 1/2 cup cold cubed unsalted butter to the bowl and cut it into the dry ingredients with a pastry blender or your fingertips for 3-4 minutes, until the mixture looks like coarse crumbs with some pea-size butter pieces still visible.
- Stir in the 3/4 cup dark chocolate chips with a silicone spatula for about 20 seconds, until they are evenly distributed through the flour mixture.
- In a 2-cup liquid measuring cup, whisk the 1 cold large egg, 1/2 cup cold heavy cream, and 1 tsp vanilla extract with a fork for 30 seconds, until the egg is fully blended into the cream.
- Pour the cream mixture over the dry ingredients and fold with a silicone spatula for 1-2 minutes, just until the dough forms moist clumps; stop mixing while a few dry patches remain so the scones stay tender.
- Turn the dough onto a lightly floured work surface and gently press it together with floured hands for 1 minute, then pat it into a 7-inch round that is about 1 inch thick.
- Use a floured chef's knife or bench scraper to cut the round into 8 wedges, then transfer the wedges to the prepared half-sheet pan, spacing them at least 2 inches apart.
- Brush the tops of the scones with the remaining 1 tbsp heavy cream using a pastry brush, then sprinkle the 1 tbsp coarse sugar evenly over the tops.
- Bake the scones on the center rack at 400°F (204°C) for 16-18 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through, until the edges look set, the tops are matte with small cracks, and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with moist crumbs but no wet batter.
- Set the sheet pan on a wire rack and let the scones cool on the pan for 8 minutes, until firm enough to lift without breaking.
- Transfer the scones to the wire rack with a spatula and serve warm after 5 more minutes, or cool completely for a firmer brownie-like crumb.
Nutrition (per serving)
- Calories: 448
- Protein: 7 g
- Fat: 24 g
- Carbohydrates: 57 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Sugar: 28 g
- Sodium: 312 mg
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