Simple Chocolate Chip Scones

If you’re in the mood for a delicious scone, one pretty and tasty enough for a tea party but hearty enough for an afternoon treat with a cup of coffee or tea, this is the recipe for you! In this post I’m going to show you how to make my favorite chocolate chip scones. (Hint: They’re delicious!) 

What is a scone, anyway? 

A scone is a baked pastry that’s slightly sweet and has a crumbly, tender texture. In many ways scones are similar to biscuits, but they are often richer due to the use of both butter and heavy cream. 

Scones can be plain or filled with ingredients like chocolate chips, dried fruit, or nuts. I’ve even made scones with savory ingredients like bacon, cheese, and chives. The sweet ones are often enjoyed with butter, jam, or glaze and pair beautifully with coffee or tea.

What Makes This Scone Recipe So Special? 

These simple chocolate chip scones are perfectly tender and flaky, with a crisp, golden-brown exterior that gives way to a soft, buttery crumb. (By the way, I went with salted butter, but you can use unsalted, if you like. I think that all cookies need a bite of salt, especially if there’s chocolate involved!)

Speaking of bites. . .each bite is packed with melty chocolate chips, (I used semi-sweet) adding just the right amount of sweetness to the rich, buttery dough.

Lightly glazed, these scones have a delicate crunch on top while remaining irresistibly crisp and tender inside. Enjoy them warm for the ultimate melt-in-your-mouth treat!

Enough with the enticements! Let's take a look at what you'll need to make these simple but delicious scones.

Chocolate Chip Scone Ingredients

There is a full printable recipe card at the bottom of this post but here’s a quick peek at what you’ll need to make these. These are simple ingredients you might already have on hand in your pantry or refrigerator. 

FOR THE SCONES

• 2 cups + 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• ⅓ cup white sugar
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• ½ cup cold butter, grated
• 1 egg
• ¼ cup heavy whipping cream plus more for brushing
• ¼ cup sour cream
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ cup mini chocolate chips
• ½ cup chopped pecans (optional)

FOR THE GLAZE

• 1 ½ cup powdered sugar
• 2-3 tablespoons water or milk

How to Make Simple Chocolate Chip Scones

These come together in minutes and are absolutely delicious! 

Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper. 

Place all dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, and sugar) in a large mixing bowl and whisk together. 

Grate the cold butter into the dry ingredients.

Mix well. (I used a large fork for this but you can use your hands or even a stand mixer with kneading attachment.) 

Now add all of the wet ingredients (vanilla, sour cream, heavy whipping cream, and egg). 

Mix well. 

Work in the chocolate chips and nuts. 

Form into two balls and place on parchment paper. 

Press down to about 1” thickness (you’ll end up with two discs)

Brush with more heavy cream. Cut into 6 triangles each. 

(Note: If you want larger scones you are welcome to form the dough into one single disc and cut it into eight triangles. Baking time may vary, depending on the size of the triangles.) 

Separate on parchment lined cookie sheet to give the scones room to grow as they bake.

Bake until lightly golden. 

My smaller ones baked for 16 minutes at 400 degree. 

Remove tray and place on wire rack to cool. 

Make the glaze by combining powdered sugar and water (or milk). 

Drizzle over cooled triangles. 

Serve and enjoy! 

These should be stored at room temperature in an airtight container. They will stay fresh for 3-4 days. They can be frozen to eat later. 

What to Expect from these Scones

If you’re a fan of chocolate chip cookies but you happen to love a thicker, more biscuit-like texture, you’re going to flip over these scones. They’re truly perfect, lovely on the inside and out. I decided to go with the smaller chocolate chips because that’s what I had on hand. You are welcome to use whatever you like! 

I just love the crisp exterior and that flaky biscuit-like interior. It's perfection! And the glaze brings the whole thing together. I give this a 10 out of 10, y'all!

Variations on this Recipe

Here are some ways you can change this recipe up: 

Choose a different type of chocolate: You could go with white chocolate and raspberry. Or milk chocolate and coconut and almonds. You could even use chocolate chunks in place of chips. Use your imagination! 

This is a great “base” recipe for scones so you could use this recipe to make a savory offering. Try ham and cheese or pepperoni and mozzarella. Yum. 

No matter how you serve them up, you’re sure to love these easy scones. 

Other Scones from Out of the Box Baking

Here are some fan favorites: 

• Lemon Creme Scones
• Savory Scones
• Cake Mix Scones
• Buttermilk Scones
• Snickerdoodle Scones
• Gluten-Free Scones

That’s it for this post, friends!

I hope you enjoyed this delicious recipe. 

If you make this recipe and love it, don’t forget to leave a review and a comment below. And while you're at it, go ahead and pin some photos to your Pinterest boards!

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About the Author

Janice Thompson is an author, baker, and all-around mischief maker! She has overcome a host of baking catastrophes, including a toppled wedding cake, to learn more about the baking process. Janice has published over 165 books for the Christian market but particularly enjoys writing recipes and baking devotions. To learn more about Janice or to drop her a note, visit her About the Author page.