Healthy(er) Scones Recipe with Chocolate & Crystallized Ginger (2024)

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Healthy(er) Scones Recipe with Chocolate & Crystallized Ginger (1)

Long family road trips are typically peppered with stops at Starbucks. And Subway. Hey, don't judge. When the choices are day-old gas station burritos and sub sandwiches, the sandwiches will always win out. The Starbucks pit stops happen first thing in the morning - jet fuel for the first part of the drive - and 3pm or so, lining up with my husband's daily caffeine slumps. Of course, I'm never one to turn down a non-fat latte or two.

Within minutes of walking into the store, my boys have their noses pressed up to the glass case holding all of the treats. Lemon loaf, cake pops, muffins...all of those things that taste great with a cup of coffee, but have the calorie and fat count of a deep-fried Twinkie.

Healthy(er) Scones Recipe with Chocolate & Crystallized Ginger (2)

Inevitably, we get sucked into buying a blueberry scone for the boys to share. It's got fruit in it. It can't be that bad, right?

I made the mistake of googling the nutritional data for that blueberry scone. Well, 460 calories, 18 grams of fat and 24 grams of sugar later, I decided it was time to come up with my own scone recipe.

A couple of years ago, I posted my a fantastic scone recipe by my husband's cousin. The recipe in this post is a direct rip-off of the flavors in that recipe, but with significantly less calories and fat. I kept the oat flour, chocolate chips and crystallized ginger, but cut the butter and sugar by more than half and replaced the cream with skim milk. Some of the switcheroos were inspired by a highly rated Cooking Light scone recipe.

The result? A tender, moist scone with a subtle bite from the crystallized ginger, a decadent hit of chocolate and a drastic decrease in calories and fat. To be exact, each scone contains 183 calories, 7.6 grams of fat and 9.3 grams of sugar.

And to top it all off...the boys loved them!

The recipe:

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

To make the oat flour, place the oats in a food processor and process until finely ground, about 1 minute. Pour into a bowl and scoop 1 cup oat flour back into the processor. Reserve any remaining flour for another use.

Healthy(er) Scones Recipe with Chocolate & Crystallized Ginger (3)

Add the all-purpose flour, sugar, and baking powder to the processor. Pulse briefly to combine.

Add the chilled butter to the processor and pulse until the mixture is pale yellow and the consistency of a fine meal.

Add the crystallized ginger to the processor and pulse to mix.

In a medium bowl, whisk together ½ cup non-fat milk, vanilla extract and egg white. Pour the mixture into the processor and pulse quickly until just mixed.

Healthy(er) Scones Recipe with Chocolate & Crystallized Ginger (4)

Turn the mixture out onto a generously floured surface. Sprinkle the mini chocolate chips over the dough. Lightly dust your hands with flour and gently knead to mix in the chocolate chips, and form the dough into a ball.

Transfer the dough to the prepared baking sheet. With lightly floured hands, form the dough into an 8-inch circle.

Cut the circle into 12 triangles, keeping the circle of dough intact. (Yes, I realize the photo shows 8 triangles. I changed my mind on the second batch, which I didn't photograph.)

Healthy(er) Scones Recipe with Chocolate & Crystallized Ginger (5)

Using 2 teaspoons of non-fat milk, lightly brush the tops of the scones. Sprinkle the turbinado sugar over top.

Bake for 16-18 minutes, or until the surface of the scones are golden brown. Cool on the tray or on a cooling rack. Cut the scones apart and serve.

Healthy(er) Scones Recipe with Chocolate & Crystallized Ginger (6)
(Make ahead: The scones can be made ahead and frozen. Separate the raw scones from each other and place them on a baking sheet lined with waxed paper. Place in the freezer uncovered. When the scones are completely frozen, place them in plastic freezer bags. Take them out a few at a time and bake for 17-21 minutes at 375 degrees F.)

Other lightened-up baked goods:

Healthy(er) Scones Recipe with Chocolate & Crystallized Ginger (7)
Cookin' Canuck's
Cookin' Canuck's
fANNEtastic Food's Whole Wheat Pumpkin Goji Biscotti
Chocolate-Covered Kate's Single-Serving Blueberry Muffin

Printable Recipe

Healthy(er) Scones Recipe with Chocolate & Crystallized Ginger (8)

Low-Fat Scones Recipe with Chocolate & Crystallized Ginger

From the kitchen of Cookin Canuck. www.cookincanuck.com

5 from 1 vote

Print Pin Rate

Course: Breads, Breakfast

Cuisine: British

Keyword: Healthy Breakfast

Prep Time: 25 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 18 minutes minutes

Total Time: 43 minutes minutes

Servings: 12 Scones

Calories: 183kcal

Author: Dara Michalski | Cookin' Canuck

Ingredients

  • 1 ⅓ cups old-fashioned oats for 1 cup oat flour
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 5 tablespoons cold unsalted butter cut into small pieces
  • 3 ¼ ounces crystallized ginger chopped (rounded ½ cup)
  • ½ cup + 2 teaspoon non-fat milk
  • ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 egg white
  • cup mini chocolate chips
  • ¾ teaspoon turbinado sugar such as Sugar in the Raw

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

  • To make the oat flour, place the oats in a food processor and process until finely ground, about 1 minute. Pour into a bowl and scoop 1 cup oat flour back into the processor. Reserve any remaining flour for another use.

  • Add the all-purpose flour, sugar, and baking powder to the processor. Pulse briefly to combine.

  • Add the chilled butter to the processor and pulse until the mixture is pale yellow and the consistency of a fine meal.

  • Add the crystallized ginger to the processor and pulse to mix.

  • In a medium bowl, whisk together ½ cup non-fat milk, vanilla extract and egg white. Pour the mixture into the processor and pulse quickly until just mixed.

  • Turn the mixture out onto a generously floured surface. Sprinkle the mini chocolate chips over the dough. Lightly dust your hands with flour and gently knead to mix in the chocolate chips, and form the dough into a ball.

  • Transfer the dough to the prepared baking sheet. With lightly floured hands, form the dough into an 8-inch circle.

  • Cut the circle into 12 triangles, keeping the circle of dough intact.

  • Using 2 teaspoons of non-fat milk, lightly brush the tops of the scones. Sprinkle the turbinado sugar over top.

  • Bake for 16-18 minutes, or until the surface of the scones are golden brown. Cool on the tray or on a cooling rack. Cut the scones apart and serve.

Make ahead:

  • The scones can be made ahead and frozen. Separate the raw scones from each other and place them on a baking sheet lined with waxed paper. Place in the freezer uncovered. When the scones are completely frozen, place them in plastic freezer bags. Take them out a few at a time and bake for 17-21 minutes at 375 degrees F.

Notes

WW (Old Points) 4 / WW (Points+) 5

Nutrition

Serving: 1Scone | Calories: 183kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 14mg | Sodium: 113mg | Potassium: 116mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 180IU | Calcium: 50mg | Iron: 1mg

Tried this recipe?If you make this recipe, I'd love to see it on Instagram! Just use the hashtag #COOKINCANUCK and I'll be sure to find it.

Disclosure: I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Healthy(er) Scones Recipe with Chocolate & Crystallized Ginger (2024)

FAQs

Healthy(er) Scones Recipe with Chocolate & Crystallized Ginger? ›

The resting of the dough helps to relax the dough so everything remains tender, if you kneaded the dough and baked the scones immediately the insides would be great but the outsides would be tough and chewy.

Why do you rest scones before baking? ›

The resting of the dough helps to relax the dough so everything remains tender, if you kneaded the dough and baked the scones immediately the insides would be great but the outsides would be tough and chewy.

What is the best raising agent for scones and why? ›

As well as the raising agent in the flour, baking powder adds a bit of lift to scones. Baking powder is a convenient choice as it is a ready-mixed leavening agent, generally made of bicarbonate of soda and cream of tartar (usually some cornflour too).

What makes scones not rise? ›

Not using enough leavening agent. Placing scones far away from each other on the baking tray. Not preheating the oven before putting in the scones. Low-quality ingredients.

Which flour is best for scones? ›

Use all-purpose flour for a higher rising scone that holds its shape nicely, both in and out of the oven. To make more delicate, lower-rising, cake-like scones, substitute cake flour for all-purpose flour.

How to get scones to rise higher? ›

To ensure taller scones, start with a thicker dough disc and place the scones on a tray with sides, allowing them to slightly touch one another. This arrangement encourages the scones to push against the pan and each other, promoting height.

What are the differences between American style scones and British style scones? ›

American scones use much more butter than British scones, and they usually have quite a bit more sugar. The extra butter is what makes them so much denser. This is not really a good or bad thing, as British scones pile on plenty of sugar (in the form of preserves/jam) and butter or clotted cream as toppings.

Should scones be refrigerated before baking? ›

If you want to make scones ahead (but don't want them to become stale), we suggest prepping your scone dough ahead of time and then either chilling it in the fridge or freezing it, depending on when you plan to bake them.

Are scones healthy? ›

For it turns out that scones are … fattening. A Food Standards Agency (FSA) report has found that the average scone contains 408 calories, with the best – sorry, most fattening – clocking up a remarkable 756 calories and 39.2g of sugar.

Should flour be sifted for scones? ›

Don't forget to sift!

Be sure to double or even triple sift your flour, as it takes away the clumps in the flour allowing for more air pockets in the scone dough - the result being a fluffier and more crumbly scone.

Is heavy cream or buttermilk better for scones? ›

If you are using baking soda, you will want to use buttermilk, an acidic ingredient that will react with the leavener to help them rise. On the other hand, if you use cream or milk, you'll want to use baking powder because it combines the acid needed with baking soda all in one complete powder.

Should you rest scones before baking? ›

The explanation is simple: As with other doughs, including pizza dough, resting lets scone dough's gluten relax completely, so that it doesn't snap back during shaping or baking.

Why do you put eggs in scones? ›

Sweet scones and cheese scones have an egg added to enrich them. Both will rise but whatever scone you make its important that they are handled lightly and not rolled too thinly. If you haven't seen it, we show them being made in the cookery school.

Should scones be baked at a high temperature? ›

While the scones are chilling, preheat the oven to 425°F with a rack in the upper third. Bake the scones in the upper part of your oven for 18 to 23 minutes, or until they're a light golden brown.

What are the qualities of a perfect scone? ›

The best scones have a crisp, slightly caramelized exterior and a tender, buttery, just-sweet interior. They can be dressed up with a glaze, studded with fruit or nuts, or gently spiced. Whichever route you go, we're here to help you achieve scone perfection. These are F&W food editor Kelsey Youngman's favorite tips.

How to get scones to rise high? ›

To ensure taller scones, start with a thicker dough disc and place the scones on a tray with sides, allowing them to slightly touch one another. This arrangement encourages the scones to push against the pan and each other, promoting height.

Why aren t my scones light and fluffy? ›

Why are my scones not light and fluffy? The trick to getting beautiful light and fluffy scones is to handle the dough as little as possible. So when scones don't rise or aren't fluffy, it could be because the dough was over mixed or over kneaded, which makes them more dense.

Is it better to make scones with butter or oil? ›

For example, if you substitute oil for butter or margarine, you can significantly reduce the amount of saturated fat in your baked goods. This streamlined recipe for Light Scones uses just 3 tablespoons of canola oil, which contains a fraction of the saturated fat found in butter or margarine.

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