These delicious Caramel Scones are loaded with salted caramel chips and topped with a white chocolate drizzle and a sprinkle of sea salt. They are an excellent breakfast or afternoon snack when paired with a cup of tea or coffee.
Salted caramel is one of my weaknesses. While this flavor is generally associated with fall, we still enjoy it all year in cake, brownies, and frosting.
My husband loves scones. While enjoying a salted caramel mocha, I devised some new recipe ideas for him. He is usually a plain vanilla guy, but these mocha caramel scones won him over.
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Why This Caramel Scone Recipe Works
These caramel scones are light, flaky, and absolutely delicious. Let's discuss a tender scone that melts in your mouth, with pockets of delicious caramel throughout.
And to top it all off? A drizzle of white chocolate chips and a sprinkle of sea salt makes everyone want another one.
These delicious scones are the perfect breakfast, brunch, or afternoon snack. I love pairing them with a cup of coffee or a pumpkin latte. They also go great with a glass of milk or an apple cider tea. Here is why you will love them:
- Soft, flakey center with crisp edges
- Crunchy and golden brown outside
- Sweet caramel chips and white chocolate drizzles
- Sprinkles of sea salt on top
What You'll Need
This caramel scones recipe can be made using only basic pantry ingredients.
Kitchen Tools
- Pastry Cutter (affiliate links)
- Sheet Pan
- Silpat
- Dough Scraper
Main Ingredients
- All-Purpose Flour - Use the fluff and spoon method to avoid adding too much flour to the batter. See how to measure flour if you are unsure.
- Granulated Sugar - Sweetens the dough.
- Baking Powder - Provides the lift as the scones bake.
- Unsalted Butter - Make sure you are using COLD butter. Please keep it in the fridge until you need it.
- Salted Caramel Chips - Adds the caramel flavor to these pastries. Caramel bits can also be used. Although these can cause the scones to stick, so bake them on parchment paper.
- Heavy Cream - Helps to form the dough and add moisture to the texture.
- Instant Espresso - This is optional, but I like the flavor it adds with the salted caramel.
- Large Egg - Adds moisture and binds the ingredients together.
- Topping - A drizzle of melted white chocolate chips and a sprinkle of coarse sea salt adds a delicious finish to this scone recipe.
How To Make Caramel Scones
Cozy up on a lazy weekend and fill your kitchen with the smell of freshly baked salted caramel scones. Start your day the best way.
- Whisk together the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Add the cold butter and then cut it into small pieces with a pastry blender. Stir in the chips, then refrigerate the mixture for a few minutes to keep your butter from softening ahead of time.
- Whisk the cream and instant espresso in a small bowl. Add the egg and vanilla and whisk again.
- Pull out the chilled flour and then create a hole in the center of the dry ingredients. Pour in the wet ingredients and pull them together with a fork until a dough forms.
- Divide the scone dough into two even balls, then pat each into a 6-inch thick circle on a prepared baking sheet. Place the pan in the refrigerator while the oven is preheating.
- Bake the scones, then cool them on the hot pan for a few minutes. Use a knife or dough scraper to cut them into wedges.
Storage Recommendations
- Counter - Keep the cooled caramel chip scones in a tightly sealed container on the counter for 2-3 days.
- Refrigerator - Store in an airtight container in the fridge for 5-6 days.
- Freezer - Wrap cooled scones in plastic wrap and place in freezer bags for 2-3 months. Thaw and bring to room temperature before adding the white chocolate.
Tips and Tricks
- The key to soft, flakey scones is COLD butter and ingredients. This prevents the butter from melting before the scones are baked.
- Use a box grater to grate the butter quickly into the dry ingredients. Two other great options are a pastry blender and a food processor.
- Do not overmix the dough because this makes dense and dried-out scones.
- Chill the mixture and dough often because this keeps it from getting warm.
- If you don't like coffee in your baked goods, omit it and enjoy the flavor of caramel and sea salt.
- Skip the white chocolate and add a caramel glaze instead.
- Try warming one up in the microwave and then adding a drizzle of caramel sauce.
FAQs
If your scones are flat, the dough may be too warm. Scones bake best when everything is cold. Leave enough time to chill the dough multiple times before mixing and baking.
Cold ingredients give you the best texture and flakey layers. Using full-fat ingredients also offers you a more tender and soft texture.
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Recipe
Caramel Scones
These soft and flaky Salted Caramel Scones are loaded with sweet and salty goodness. Perfect breakfast or afternoon treat with a cup of coffee.
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups flour
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon table salt
- 8 tablespoons cold unsalted butter
- 1 cup salted caramel chips
- ¾ cup heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon instant espresso (optional)
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup white chocolate chips
- 1-2 teaspoons coconut oil
- coarse ground sea salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400° F. Line a large baking sheet with a Silpat or parchment paper.
- Stir together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Cut in the cold butter with a pastry blender until it creates small pea like pieces. Stir in the caramel chips. Place the bowl in the refrigerator to keep the butter cold.
- Whisk the espresso powder into the cold cream. Whisk the egg and vanilla together.
- Make a hole in the center of the flour and pour in the cream, egg, and vanilla. Use a fork to pull together the mixture into a soft dough. Divide the dough into two even balls.
- Press each dough ball into 6 inch circles on the prepared baking sheet. Place the pan in the refrigerator for 20 minutes while the oven is heating up.
- Bake for 23-24 minutes. Remove and let the scones cool on the pan for a few minutes before cutting each circle into 6 wedges.
- Let the scones cool completely if you are adding the white chocolate.
- Place the white chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl and heat for 30 seconds. Stir and heat for a few seconds more if needed. Stir in the coconut oil until the mixture is creamy.
- Spoon into a plastic bag and cut one tip off. Drizzle over the tops of the cooled scones and sprinkle with sea salt. Make sure to add the sea salt after you drizzle each scone.
- Store in a tightly sealed container. Reheat each scone in the microwave for 10 seconds to get that warm fresh from the oven taste, if you like.
Notes
- The key to soft, flakey scones is COLD butter and ingredients. This prevents the butter from melting before the scones are baked.
- Use a box grater to grate the butter quickly into the dry ingredients. Two other great options are a pastry blender and a food processor.
- Do not overmix the dough because this makes dense and dried-out scones.
- Chill the mixture and dough often to keep it from getting warm.
- If you don't like coffee in your baked goods, omit it and enjoy the flavor of caramel and sea salt.
- Skip the white chocolate and add a caramel glaze instead.
- Try warming one up in the microwave and then adding a drizzle of caramel sauce.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 306Total Fat: 18gSaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 54mgSodium: 195mgCarbohydrates: 33gFiber: 1gSugar: 12gProtein: 4g
Nutrition facts are an estimate and are not guaranteed to be accurate. If you need special diet advice, please see a registered dietician.
This post was first published in May 2012. The photos were updated in May 2018, and then the post was republished in March 2024.
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Allison @ Alli 'n Son
Gah! Where was this recipe last night when I was craving scones. I had to settle for plain old chocolate chip. These are next on my scone-making list.
Jenn "Rook No. 17"
Milk....Miiiillllkkkk...and I haven't even had a bite yet.
Tee hee. Just ribbin' ya Jocelyn! Your scones look like a devine salty/sweet sensation!
Always such an inspiration to visit here!!
Diane Balch
It's a Carmel Macchiato scone. I love it. Please share this on foodie friday and I will pin it too.
Carrie @ My Favorite Finds
I chose this to feature on Sugar Bee Crafts today. Grab a button. Congrats!
Lisa @ Flour Me With Love
These look divine! I love salted caramel...Thanks so much for sharing at Mix it up Monday 🙂
Katie
yum! I've only made scones once and the one time I made them I failed miserably. Maybe I'll give these a try!
Sarah Carletti
This looks different and wonderful!
Michelle
I love Salted Caramel!
I am going to have to try these!
Michelle
theonewiththecupcakes.blogspot.com
Joan@chocolateandmore
Where to start, the caramel, the coffee, the white chocolate? So much yumminess in one goodie! Pinned and will be making these soon!
Cookin' Cowgirl
Ooooo, sounds good!! I love salted caramel, and mocha? Hello, these are calling my name! Yum!
CookieCrazedMama
Mmm! I love scones! And how unique-these sound absolutely delicious!
Ashley @ Kitchen Meets Girl
What is it about husbands and boring food?? I don't get it. I could make some super-fancy dessert and my husband would choose vanilla ice cream out of the carton. I'm totally making these scones, though--I'm a sucker for caramel and these sound amazing!
YummyInspirations
Wow! These would be an indulgent Breakfast! I'd love you to link up this post at Breakfast Ideas Mondays - http://www.yummyinspirations.net/2012/05/breakfast-ideas-mondays-3.html
Trish - Sweetology101
probably one of the best sounding scones EVER...and I know scones for sure...YUM YUM
Terry
Funny - my husband is the same way when it comes to dinner. If it were up to him we'd have burgers, hot dogs or sloppy joes every day. These scones look delicious! Pinned.
Hayley
Hahahahaha, I love Dorothy's comment. Seriously, these look AMAZING! I'll take any unwanted scones 🙂
Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust
Dude, our husbands should get together. They can have a boring dessert party while we rock out eating chocolate-mocha-caramel-pretzel-peanut butter cheesecakes or something. I want these scones! I can totally eat salted caramel on a spoon, in fact, I have a jar from TJs that has never seen the inside of a recipe!
The Miller Five
Yum. Those sound dreamy. I had my first salted caramel about 2 years ago at a dockside candy shop. Absolutely to die for delicious!
Kara
Bah, I feel like I've been missing from your blog for quite awhile now. What an absolutely perfect recipe to come back to though! I am in love with the salted caramel flavor!
Aimee
Sounds delish. Where do you find your caramel bits?