Maple-Blueberry Scones

These scones were absolutely fabulous- very tender and flaky. Half of the butter is fully incorporated into the dough, making them tender, and the remaining butter is kept intact and only dusted with flour, as in a traditional scone, resulting in flakiness. I loved that they were sweetened with maple syrup and incorporated whole wheat flour.

This recipe was adapted from Joanne Chang of Flour Bakery + Café in Boston, via The New York Times, contributed by Dorie Greenspan. I drizzled the glaze and modified the size and baking time. Amazing.

Yield: 18 scones

For the Scones:

• 1 ⅔ cups/240 grams whole-wheat flour
• 1 cup/130 grams all-purpose flour
• 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• ¾ cup/170 grams unsalted butter (1 1/2 sticks), cold, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• ½ cup/120 grams crème fraîche, Greek yogurt or sour cream, at room temperature
• ½ cup/120 milliliters pure maple syrup
• 5 tablespoons/⅓ cup/80 milliliters buttermilk, at room temperature
• 1 large egg yolk, at room temperature
• 1 cup/125 grams fresh blueberries

For the Maple Glaze:

• ½ cup/60 grams confectioners’ sugar
• 4 to 5 tablespoons maple syrup

1. In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, briefly mix both flours, the baking powder, baking soda and salt on low speed.
2. Add half the butter and paddle until fully mixed into the flour, 2 to 3 minutes. (This will coat the flour with butter so the scones are tender.)
3. Add the remaining butter to the bowl of the stand mixer. Pulse the mixer three or four times to mix the pieces into the dough while keeping them whole. (This step will give you small pieces of butter in the dough, which will help the scones be a bit flaky.)
4. In a medium bowl, whisk together the crème fraîche, maple syrup, buttermilk and yolk until thoroughly mixed.
5. Stir in the blueberries.
6. With the mixer on low, pour the blueberry mixture into the flour mixture, and paddle on low for about 10 seconds to get some of the liquid mixed into the flour.
7. Stop the mixer, and mix the rest of the loose flour into the dough by hand: Gather and lift the dough with your hands and turn it over in the bowl several times until all the loose flour is mixed in.
8. Shape the dough into a ball, wrap it well and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or for up to 1 day. (This gives the flour time to fully absorb the liquid.)
9. Heat the oven to 350 degrees, preferably on convection, and position a rack in the center. Line three rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper.
10. Using a 3 tablespoon ice cream scoop, scoop out 18 mounds of chilled dough, and place them on the prepared baking sheets a few inches apart. (I placed 6 per sheet.)
11. Bake scones for 18 to 20 minutes, rotating the baking sheet midway through the baking time, until the scones are evenly golden brown and firm when you press them.
12. While the scones are baking, make the glaze: In a small bowl, whisk together the sugar and enough maple syrup to make a drizzle-able glaze. Use immediately, or store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week. Rewhisk before using.
13. Remove the scones from the oven and let cool for 5 to 10 minutes before drizzling with glaze.
14. Using a spoon, drizzle with maple glaze. Serve.

Whole Wheat Applesauce Muffins with Maple Glaze

After reading the post about these healthy muffins on Cooking with Aunt Juju, I made them the next morning! I had to have the maple glaze- my daughter was in complete agreement. 🙂

The original recipe used amazing homemade applesauce in the muffins… I didn’t have time for that on such short notice. 😉 I used Trader Joe’s organic unsweetened applesauce instead. (Next time I’ll have to try the homemade- I’m sure it would be fabulous.) I also modified the recipe to include whole wheat flour, use one whole egg, one percent milk, and coarse salt. I also had to increase the amount of maple syrup in the glaze. 🙂

The maple glaze adds something special, sweet, and indulgent to a healthy, whole grain base. A wonderful balance! These muffins are a perfect autumn breakfast.

For the Applesauce Muffins:

• 1 1/2 cups rolled oats
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 3/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 to 1/2 tsp coarse salt, to taste
• 1 cup unsweetened organic applesauce
• 1/2 cup 1% milk
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
• 3 T canola oil
• 1 large egg

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F on convection.
2. In a large bowl combine the oats, flours, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
3. In a separate bowl beat together the applesauce, milk, brown sugar, oil, and egg.
4. Add the wet ingredients to the dry and mix just until moistened.
5. Spoon into greased muffin tins and bake for 16 minutes on convection, or up to 20 minutes in a standard oven. Remove, cool and make the glaze.

For the Maple Syrup Glaze:

• 1 T butter, melted
• 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar, sifted
• 3 1/2 T pure maple syrup

1. Combine ingredients. Drizzle over muffins once they have cooled.

One Year Ago:

• Skinny Whole Wheat Pumpkin-Chocolate Chip Bread

Two Years Ago:

• Alton Brown’s Basic Waffles with Blueberries

Three Years Ago:

• Banana Banana Bread
• Pear-Granola Muffins