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

How to use crystalized ginger in baking? ›

Chop and add to batter for cookies, such as ginger snaps, or quick breads like gingerbread, orange bread or banana bread. Melt butter with diced Crystallized Ginger, fresh lemon juice and sliced green onions in a saucepan. Spoon over hot rice and serve with chicken or fish.

What to avoid when making scones? ›

5 Mistakes to Avoid When Baking Scones
  1. Using anything but cold ingredients. The secret to the flakiest scones is to start with cold ingredients — cold butter, cold eggs, and cold cream. ...
  2. Only using all-purpose flour. ...
  3. Overmixing the dough. ...
  4. Not chilling the dough before baking. ...
  5. Baking them ahead of time.
May 1, 2019

What is better for scones buttermilk or heavy cream? ›

Heavy Cream or Buttermilk: For the best tasting pastries, stick with a thick liquid such as heavy cream or buttermilk. I usually use heavy cream, but if you want a slightly tangy flavor, use buttermilk.

What type of flour is best for scones? ›

Know what flour you should use! We recommend using all-purpose flour. There is some debate as to what flour one should use to go around achieving the perfect scone. This is because within different flours comes different levels of protein.

Should you chill scone dough before baking? ›

Keep scones cold before putting them in the oven: For best results, chill the mixture in the fridge before baking, this will help to stiffen up the butter again, which will stop your scones from slumping as soon as they hit the oven's heat.

How healthy is crystalized ginger? ›

Fortify your immune system with the natural powers of crystallized ginger. Its properties help combat colds, soothe sore throats, and act as a decongestant. Keep this spicy remedy on hand during flu season, and stay healthy.

What are the side effects of crystalized ginger? ›

Other side effects of crystallized ginger — and sugary foods in general — include a greater risk of cavities, metabolic syndrome and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Ginger itself is considered safe. However, it may cause bloating and heartburn in some individuals, warns the University of Rochester.

Is candied ginger the same as crystalized ginger? ›

Fresh ginger is first peeled and then cut into thin slices or chunky cubes. The pieces of ginger are then candied in a sugar syrup to make chewy pieces. This is why crystallized ginger is also known as candied ginger. Crystalized ginger has many uses and can even be eaten on its own as a spicy-sweet snack!

Why are scones bad for you? ›

They are typically extremely high in calories from the heavy butter and cream. And, although scones with fruit might seem healthier, most are even higher in calories and still high in saturated fat. Steer clear of scones.

How to make scones 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 is the best temperature for baking scones? ›

Method. Heat the oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Tip the self-raising flour into a large bowl with ¼ tsp salt and the baking powder, then mix. Add the butter, then rub in with your fingers until the mix looks like fine crumbs.

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.

How thick should you roll out scone dough? ›

It is far better that the scone mixture is on the wet side, sticking to your fingers, as the scones will rise better. Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and flatten it out with your hand, or use a rolling pin, to a thickness of 1-2 cm (1/2 – ¾ inch).

Should butter be hard or soft for scones? ›

Once you've picked the butter for the job, chuck it in the fridge for as long as possible so it's extra hard. “Make sure your butter or fat is as cold as possible when you add it into the flour.

What is the secret to making scones rise? ›

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 do my scones spread out and not rise? ›

You may have used too little raising agent or over handled the dough before it was baked. The oven may have been too cool.

Why do you want your butter cold when making a scone? ›

Butter must be COLD from the very start to when the dough enters the oven. The cold butter melts upon entering the oven and the water content in butter evaporates in steam. As the steam escapes, it bursts up and creates that beautiful tall, flaky, fluffy texture.

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

A mixture of bicarbonate of soda and cream of tartar, or baking powder (which is a ready paired mixture of the two) are used as the raising agent in scones.

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