These dark chocolate cherry scones are super easy to make and are a delicious addition to the breakfast or brunch menu. Candied cherries and dark chocolate turn a plain butter scone into something special.
I love scones. I love them a lot. For years, I ordered scones when I went to bakeries and coffee shops, but I never made them. That’s mainly because scones have this sort of large-than-life reputation. I know so many people who assume – like I used to – that scones were somehow a difficult thing to make. However, once I actually gave making them a try, I realized something. Scones are actually just sweet versions of biscuits, and we can all make biscuits. Since then, I’ve made all kinds of scones for gatherings or just because. Of all the kinds I’ve made, this particular variation of dark chocolate and cherries is the one I come back to the most. The flavor is just so delicious!
Dark Chocolate Cherry Scones
This simple scone recipe starts with a classic scone dough. Then, I mix in chopped dark chocolate and candied cherries for a bitter-sweet flavor that’s just amazing. Finally, I bake them to golden perfection and top them with a simple cherry glaze that really gilds the lily, er, scone. It all takes about 35 to 40 minutes from start to finish, and when it’s all done, I have a batch of delicious scones that has everyone coming back for more. It’s the perfect treat for a sweet breakfast, dessert, appetizer, or afternoon snack.
Why You’ll Love This Dark Chocolate Cherry Scones Recipe
- It’s full of the classic flavor combination of dark chocolate and cherries, and it’s so easy to make.
- It’s the perfect breakfast or brunch treat.
- It’s a delicious midday snack that isn’t too sweet.
Dark Chocolate Cherry Scones Ingredients
You’ll only need some basic baking ingredients to make this recipe. Most of them are probably in your kitchen right now, but the ones that aren’t are readily available at your local grocery store – even the candied cherries.
- All purpose flour
- Sugar
- Baking powder
- Baking soda
- Salt
- Cold butter
- Candied cherries
- Dark chocolate chips
- Half and half
- Lemon juice
- Coarse sugar
- Powdered sugar
- Milk
- Cherry extract
How to Make Dark Chocolate Cherry Scones
Step 1: Prep
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
Step 2: Combine the Dry Ingredients
Whisk the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together in a large mixing bowl. Then, cut the butter into the flour mixture with a pastry cutter or fork until crumbly. Finally, add the chopped cherries and dark chocolate and stir.
Step 3: Add the Half and Half
Pour half and half into the dry ingredients. Then, with clean hands, mix until just combined. Add more half and half if the dough is too dry.
Step 4: Knead
Knead the dough about 8 times on a lightly floured surface.
Step 5: Cut
Flatten out the dough to form it into a rectangle about 1-inch high. Then, sprinkle the top with coarse sugar and pat dry. Finally, cut the dough into 8 to 10 triangles and place them on the prepared baking sheet.
Step 6: Bake
Bake for 16 to 20 minutes until golden. Remove from the oven and place them on a wire rack with parchment paper underneath to cool.
Step 7: Make the Glaze
While the scones are baking, combine the powdered sugar, milk, and cherry extract to make the glaze.
Step 8: Top the Scones
When the scones have cooled to just warm, drizzle the cherry glaze over them.
Recipe Tips
- For the best texture, use cold butter. Cut the butter into pieces and then leave it in the refrigerator until the moment you’re ready to cut it into the flour.
- Mix the scone dough until just combined and no further. Overworking it will ruin the texture.
- Be sure your scones have cooled to just warm before adding the glaze drizzle. If the scones are too hot, the drizzle will just roll right off of them.
Variations
- You can use milk or semi-sweet chocolate in place of dark chocolate.
- Dried cherries will work in place of candied.
- Try folding in some almonds, pecans, or walnuts for more flavor and texture.
What to Serve with Dark Chocolate Cherry Scones
Scones make a great breakfast or snack on their own with just some milk or coffee. However, they’re also an excellent addition to a larger breakfast featuring your favorite savory options like:
- Eggs
- Bacon
- Sausage
- Ham
- Hash browns
Recipe FAQ
What flour is best for scones?
All-purpose flour is your best bet for great scones.
Should you chill scones before baking?
You don’t have to, but it can make a difference in some cases. If you’ve worked the dough quite a bit or it’s warm in your kitchen, chilling the scones will help get the butter cold again, which makes for a great scone.
How do I get my fruit scones to rise and be fluffy?
The best way to get your scones to rise well is to place them next to each other while baking. When the scones are just touching, the heat transfers evenly between them. In addition, because they can’t spread outward, they’ll just rise.
What is the secret to a good scone?
Cold butter is the most important part of making really good scones. Cold butter melts slowly as the scones bake, making a wonderful texture. Cube your butter before you begin any other part of the recipe, then place it back into the refrigerator until you’re ready to use it. This ensures that the butter is as cold as possible when you work it into the dough.
Can you freeze homemade scones?
Scones freeze very well and will last for up to 3 months in the freezer.
How to Store Leftover Dark Chocolate Cherry Scones
Store these scones at room temperature for up to 2 days. You can also refrigerate them in an airtight container for up to a week. For longer storage, you can freeze them for up to 3 months in an airtight freezer-safe container. Place the scones in single layers separated by parchment or wax paper.
Try This Delicious Dark Chocolate Cherry Scones Recipe Today
These dark chocolate cherry scones are full of the classic flavors of chocolate and cherries. They’re so delicious and so simple, and you’ll be able to make them in no time flat. That’s a great combination if you ask me. With so much flavor and so little work, they’re a treat that everyone should make at least once. That being said, if you do make them, it will just be one of many times that you do. They’re so good, you’ll be making them all the time!
More Delicious Cherry Dessert Recipes You’ll Enjoy
Cherry Cream Cheese Dessert – An quick and easy, delicious dessert made with a graham cracker crust, a sweet cream cheese filling and topped with cherry pie filling.
Cherry Surprise Dessert – A super easy cherry dessert that starts with a buttery batter topped with cherry pie filling and then baked to perfection. That is all there is to it.
Cherry Cream Cheese Danish – This flaky Danish is filled with a sweet cream cheese mixture, a fresh cherry filling, baked until golden and drizzled with glaze.
Easy Cherry Cobbler – This delicious and easy cherry cobbler is from our other blog, Great Grub, Delicious Treats. It’s absolutely delicious and so easy to make. The perfect summer dessert recipe.
Dark Chocolate Cherry Scones
Ingredients
Dark Chocolate Cherry Scones
- 2 â…” cup all purpose flour
- â…“ cup sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup butter, cut into small pieces
- ¾ cup candied cherries, coarsely chopped
- ¼ cup dark chocolate chips, coarsely chopped
- ¼ cup half and half
- ¼ cup lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon coarse sugar
Cherry Glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoon milk
- 1 teaspoon cherry extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425° and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Dark Chocolate Cherry Scones
- In a large bowl, whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt together.
- Using a pastry cutter or fork, add butter and mix until crumbly.
- Add chopped cherries and dark chocolate. Stir.
- Pour half and half into the dry ingredients, and with clean hands, mix until just combined. Add additional half and half, if more liquid is needed.
- On a clean surface, lightly covered with flour, knead dough about 8 times.
- Flatten out dough to about 1 inch high and form into a rectangle.
- Sprinkle the top with coarse sugar. Gently pat into dough.
- Cut into 8-10 triangle pieces and place on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for 16-20 minutes or until browned.
- Remove from oven and let cool. once cool, drizzle with glaze and enjoy
Cherry Glaze
- In a small bowl, stir powered sugar, milk and cherry extract together until combined. Once the scones have cooled, drizzle with glaze and enjoy.
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