These rich, buttery scones contain ample chunks of chocolate and pecans lending intrigue and distinguishing them from every other scone you’ve ever had. Not surprisingly, they’re from the Barefoot Contessa herself, Ina Garten.–Angie Zoobkoff
Ina Garten’s Chocolate Pecan Scones
Okay, I have a thing about scones. When they’re good, they’re light and flaky and full of flavor. Be sure to use really good chocolate that you dice by hand so there are puddles of melted chocolate when you bite into them. And trust me, four teaspoons of Diamond Crystal kosher salt may sound like a lot but it makes all the difference.
Ingredients
- 4 cups plus 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour, plus more for the dough
- 1 1/2 cups chopped bittersweet chocolate
- 1 cup chopped raw pecans
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, plus additional for sprinkling
- 2 tablespoons baking powder
- 4 teaspoons Diamond kosher salt or 3 teaspoons Morton’s kosher salt
- 3 sticks (12 oz) cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch (12-mm) pieces
- 1 cup cold heavy cream
- 4 extra-large eggs, lightly beaten
- 1 extra-large egg beaten with 2 tablespoons cold water or heavy cream
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C) and arrange 2 oven racks in the top and bottom thirds of the oven. Line 2 rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a small bowl, combine 3 tablespoons flour with the chocolate and pecans.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the remaining 4 cups flour, the sugar, baking powder, and salt. Add the butter and, with the mixer on low speed, blend until the butter is the size of peas, 2 to 5 minutes. Measure the cream in a 2-cup glass measuring cup, add the eggs, and beat until combined. With the mixer still on low, slowly pour the wet mixture into the dry mixture and mix just until blended. Add the chocolate and pecan mixture and once again mix just until combined. The dough will be very sticky.
- Turn the dough onto a very well-floured surface and knead it a few times to be sure the chocolate and pecans are well distributed, adding a little flour so the dough doesn’t stick to the board. Flour your hands and a rolling pin and roll the dough 3/4 to 1 inch (18 to 24 mm) thick. You should see lumps of butter in the dough.
- To cut the scones into squares or triangles, simply use a sharp knife to slice the dough into squares or triangles so there’s no wasted scraps. To cut the scones using a biscuit or cookie cutter, cut the dough with a 3-inch (8-cm) plain round cutter and place the scones on the prepared baking sheet. If desired, you can quickly and gently reroll the scraps and cut out more scones, handling the dough gently and keeping in mind that these will lack the same tender texture as the first batch since they’ve been handled a little more.
- Lightly brush the top of each scone with egg wash, sprinkle with sugar, and bake, switching the pans halfway through, until the tops are lightly browned and the insides are fully baked, 20 to 25 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Nutrition
Serving: 1 scone (of 16)Calories: 498 kcalCarbohydrates: 37 gProtein: 8 gFat: 36 gSaturated Fat: 19 gTrans Fat: 1 gCholesterol: 132 mgSodium: 532 mgFiber: 3 gSugar: 8 g
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Recipe © 2019 Ina Garten. Photo © 2019 Quentin Bacon. All rights reserved.
[recipe-testers-choice]
I would love to make these with some leftover cranberries and orange zest instead of chocolate and pecan. Is the recipe amenable to flavor swaps?
Hi KLJ, as long as the proportions of the dough aren’t altered, it should be fine to mix up the add-ins according to your taste.