Tag: scones

Easy Grain-Free Scones

I’m back with another scone recipe! This time it’s the promised low carb grain-free version. You can have the pleasure of eating scones,  but without the health issues that grains cause in some people and they are lower in carbs.

For me, I’m so thankful to have a healthy alternative that I can enjoy with a cup of delicious green tea. Delicious you say? I know, most of you are wrinkling your noses up and your taste buds are curling backwards at just the thought of actually having green tea on purpose. Who, you might ask, would enjoy a steamy cup of green tea? That, would be me:) along with a host of other green tea lovers. Here’s juat a few tidbits on this tea to consider. Green tea is alkalizing for your body, it has antioxidants to reduce the forming of free radicals and protects cells.  It also can improve brain function through the amino acid L-theanine which is calming.  Some studies show that green tea may lower your risk for breast, prostate and colon cancer.

I admit that when my naturopath, who was helping me through mercury poisoning, strongly suggested I switch to this tea, I was NOT excited. At. All.  It was one of those things that I asked God to help me like because I sure didn’t like it. It tasted like spinach water. I learned that brewing it more than 4 minutes makes it taste bitter and to use water not quite at a boil. Well,  it became my favorite thing and I love it!  It is so comforting to have my green tea with me everywhere I go. And I mean everywhere. Just ask my family and close friends. There is more on green tea benefits here.

Now let’s get back to the scones since green tea is struggling to be the star of this post…

Okay…these scones are tender and filling. Their texture is more dense because of the coconut/ almond flour combo. The scone will not have a crusty outside like ones made with the other flours, but are more cake-like.  They’re the perfect accompaniment to a cup of Joe…or perhaps some green tea.







Easy Grain-Free Scones

1/4 cup Coconut flour, packed and slightly mounded

2 Tbl. Almond flour,  packed

1/2 tsp. Cinnamon

1/8 tsp. Baking soda

1/8 tsp. Himalayan pink salt

Optional Add-ins:  2 Tbl. of any of the following: mini dark chocolate chips, dried cranberries, chopped nuts, cinnamon chips

3 Eggs room temperature

1/4 cup Coconut oil or grass-fed Butter, melted

1 Tbl. raw Honey

1/2 tsp. Vanilla extract

Note: 1 Tbl. Milk, coconut milk or choice of milk- only if needed for too a stiff batter (I did not need it in these scones)

  • Preheat oven to 180C/ 350F. Put baking paper on a cookie sheet or small tray.
  • In a medium bowl mix dry ingredients together with a spoon. Add any of optional items here.
  • In another small bowl combine coconut oil, honey and vanilla extract.
  • Add eggs to oil mixture and mix with a fork or whisk until well blended.
  • Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and combine well. Let sit for a few minutes so that the flours can soak up the moisture.  If the dough becomes too stiff add the milk. Otherwise omit it.
  • Using an ice cream scoop, large spoon or 1/4 measuring cup, scoop up a scant 1/4 cup of the dough and drop it on the baking paper lined pan. It should make 5-6 scones.
  • Bake about 13 minutes till lightly browned. Do not overbake for they will become dry.

May serve with butter, whipped coconut cream or as is.  Now, go grab a cup of green tea. Oh, all right, get your coffee, black tea or comfort drink and enjoy these little guilt-free morsels.

Note: If you have left over scones you can slice them 1/4 inch thick and bake 180C/350F to dry them out and use as biscotti.


Warmly yours,  Jeanenne 

Foodie Mama



I Love Scones! 

 

Anyone that knows me knows how much I LOVE scones. It’s kind of like my signature thing to make…and eat.  There’s this place in my heart that just loves England/Great Britain and the whole tea & scone culture from there. That’s how I’ve come to adore scones and tea…more on the tea part later.  My grandkids know that I am always up for making a mess…uh, I mean scones with them:)  In fact, that’s always on their list to do when they come over.

Now mind you, not any scone will do. It needs to be crisp on the outside, tender and flaky on the inside. Oh man, I am drooling just thinking about biting into one with butter or whipped cream slathered on each bite. Mmm. My husband took me away for our anniversary last weekend and the place we stayed had the most divine scones ever! I indulged in one both mornings, eating it painfully slow to make the goodness last. With us eating mostly grain-free, this has kind of curbed my traditional scone making habit. I made these when my niece, Sophia came to South Africa a couple of weeks ago. Now days I usually make the  grain-free versions,  but the real thing is my absolute favorite. In this recipe you will see the flours that I use.  Traditionally, white flour is used and works perfectly in this recipe, but I prefer to use some healthier alternatives when using grains… just to up the health value a bit.  You will notice that these are darker and they are a little heavier than the white flour version.  Be looking for the grain-free scones coming soon.

Typically, scones are served with Devonshire cream, whipped cream, butter and/or preserves. I kind of lean towards the salty side so I love them with butter and Devonshire cream.  Terry likes jam and cream on each bite like a true British chap. Is your mouth watering yet?

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Traditional Scones

3 cups white flour (I use: 1c spelt flour, 1c rolled oats, 1/2 c buckwheat, 1/2 c white flour)

3 tsp. baking powder (non-aluminum)

3/4 tsp. baking soda

3/4 tsp. pink salt

1 tsp. cinnamon

2 slightly mounded Tbl. sugar or xylitol sweetner

6-8 Tbl /100-115 g cold butter (it’s up to you)

3/4 cup milk- if using only white flour then you may need a bit more)

optional: 1/4 c mini chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 200C/400F.  In a bowl or food processor combine all of the dry ingredients except the chocolate chips,  If you are using the oats then you will need a food processor to process them into a flour.  Bowl method: Mix all the dry ingredients together in a medium sized bowl.  Cut in cold butter with a pastry blender or you can rub it in using your fingers until coarse crumbs.  Food Processor method: put all the dry ingredients into the processor, except chocolate chips.  Process until well combined and the oats, if using,  are now a flour.  Add chunks of cold butter.  Process again until mixture is coarse crumbs.  At this point both methods are the same.  Put the crumbly mixture into a medium sized bowl if it has been in the food processor. Add chocolate chips, if using.  Make a well in the center of mixture and add the milk all at once.  Fold in the mixture with the milk, being careful not to over-mix the batter.  This is the secret of flaky, tender scones.   If you have chosen to do the mixed flour combinations then the mixture will be more dry.  It just needs to be wet enough to hold together. Pour the mixture out onto a cookie sheet or pizza pan.  Gather it into a inch thick flat round disk in the center of your pan. This can take some pressing because it is a more dry dough.  Take a long knife and cut the flat circle of dough into fourths. Next cut each quarter into 3 wedges to equal a total of 12 wedge-shaped scones.  Carefully, separate each wedge using a floured knife and a small spatula so that the scones are not touching each other. Keep dipping your knife in flour between cuts to separate the scones.  Brush each scone with milk using a pastry brush.  Bake for 12-15 minutes or until nicely browned.  Remove from oven and use a spatula to carefully slide under each scone in case they stuck a bit from the milk that dripped when you brushed them before baking.

Enjoy with butter, whipped cream, jam, Devonshire cream and of course tea!

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I know that this pan is old and rustic,  but it is my traditional, well-used scone tray along with my grandmother’s teapot.

I hope you fall in love with this English tradition like I have.  In our home it has always been a time to gather our family or friends together, have scones and tea, but most of all to enjoy time with each other.

Warmly, Jeanenne

Foodie Mama

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