I rarely bake scones, since my son was deemed the scone expert in the family. But, I had a craving and he was busy being a teenager, so I set off to make these caramelized white chocolate and peach scones myself. He came home and told me I did a nice job, so that is really all the endorsement you should require to know these are worthy. 😉 The peaches sitting on my counter were ripe, but not busting open with juice, so they were just right for adding to the scone. You want them to have flavor and be ripe, but still have some body, so they don’t turn to mush when you mix them into the dough. Typically I’m not a huge white chocolate fan, but I’ve been on a white chocolate caramelizing kick and thought it would be a lovely match for the peaches. Caramelizing white chocolate give it a bit of a nutty edge that it otherwise lacks and makes it way more flavorful and interesting. Caramelizing the white chocolate is something that requires a touch of patience, so I recommend doing it with a glass of rose wine (not so much that you forget to stir the chocolate) and settle into the kitchen for a bit.
VIDEO: Watch me caramelize the chocolate and make the scones.
Caramelized White Chocolate Peach Scones
1/2 cup Guittard White Chocolate
3/4 cup half and half (half milk and half heavy cream)
2 large eggs
3 cups (385g) all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon baking powder
2 tablespoons sugar, plus more for the tops
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
Zest of one lemon
12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, chilled and cut into small pieces
1 medium peach, washed (skins on), pitted and cut into 1/4-inch pieces
2 tablespoons heavy cream for brushing on the tops
Lemon Curd for serving
To caramelize white chocolate:
Preheat oven to 275°F. Line a baking sheet with a Non-Stick Silicone Baking Mat
Spread white chocolate onto baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes or until chocolate is shiny and melted. Spread it out with an Offset Spatula
Full recipe below, or follow my son’s instructions here.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup Guittard White Chocolate see notes
- 3/4 cup half and half half milk and half heavy cream
- 2 large eggs
- 3 cups 385g all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 tablespoons sugar plus more for the tops
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- Zest of one lemon
- 12 tablespoons 1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, chilled and cut into small pieces
- 1 medium peach washed (skins on), pitted and cut into 1/4-inch pieces
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream for brushing on the tops
- Lemon Curd for serving (if desired)
Instructions
- Caramelize the white chocolate: Preheat oven to 275 F. Line a baking sheet with a non-stick silicone baking mat. Spread out white chocolate onto baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes or until chocolate is shiny and melted.
- Spread it out with an offset spatula. Return to the oven and bake for another 10 minutes. Remove from oven, gather up the chocolate and then spread it out with the spatula again, so it is in a thin layer. Repeat this process every 10 minutes until it caramelizes. It will go through a very thick stage and then liquify again. It will look and feel like natural peanut butter that has separated. Keep spreading and working it. It’s a long process, but so worth it. If your chocolate seizes up (gets grainy), you can still use it as is in the recipe. All you need to make sure of is that it’s a nice caramel color.
- Once you have the color you want, let it sit at room temperature to harden. You can do this days ahead. You can now use it in any recipe that calls for white chocolate. It is delicious. For this recipe, break it into smallish pieces.
- For the scones: Preheat oven to 425 F. Whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar.
- Add the zest and chilled butter to the flour mixture. Use a pastry cutter to cut the butter into the flour mixture. Keep cutting the butter in until most of the butter is worked into the flour, but there are a few pea-sized pieces left.
- Toss in the white chocolate and peaches. Mix with your hands.
- Whisk together the half and half with the eggs. Add the liquid to the dry mixture. Use a spoon or your hands to mix. It will be shaggy with some dry patches. Dump it onto the counter.
- Drizzle a tiny bit more liquid if it’s really dry. Use a bench scraper to fold the dough over itself. Give it about 8 folds total, until it just barely comes together. Dust with a touch of flour. Pat into a disk.
- Transfer to a baking sheet lined with parchment. Brush with cream. It should be about 1-scant-inch thick. Dust with sugar.
- Use a bench scraper or knife to cut into equal pieces. I went for 8 large scones.
- Once the oven is at 425 F reduce to 400 F when you put the scones in the oven. Bake until the scones are set in the middle, about 25+ min. If you put fruit in them, they may take a little longer.
Video
Notes
VIDEO: Watch me caramelize the chocolate and make the scones.
These scones look so delicious and perfect for brunch!
They look delicious, a must try!!
Zoe, I have been following for a long time, recently l was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. I was wondering if among all that amazing recipes you may have some recipes for pepoles with my condition?
Perhaps don’t miss out on all the yummy sweets things that l love so much. Thanks lovely lady!!!
Cheers
Hello, those peaches scones look awesome. I must try Them. Thanks for sharing. Have a lovely day.
It is really fun following you Zoe!
They’re in the oven right now, the fragrance is unbelievable, even though I did have to omit the caramelizing step since I had a four year old would-be baker assisting me!