Orange Scone Recipe with Dark Chocolate

You well know that we love a good scone recipe, especially a good orange scone recipe. Citrus scones tend to be lighter and sunnier in flavor. This is especially appreciated in the winter months when we start to get overwhelmed with heavy soups and stews. These orange dark chocolate scones make a perfect treat for these colder months.

Making an Orange Scone Recipe with Dark Chocolate

We are all used to seeing the typical cranberry orange scone hanging around, and while we do love the classic combination, for this recipe we wanted something a little more decadent and fun. We kept the base recipe for orange scones the same, but swapped the cranberry for some rough cut extra dark chocolate.
While dark chocolate tends to be bitter, it comes out mellow in this recipe. The scone itself is slightly sweet while the citrus adds another layer of flavor to balance the bitter chocolate. If extra dark chocolate is too much, try a milder chocolate until you find one that suits your tastes. Milk chocolate is an option as well, but we truly feel that the dark chocolate works best in this recipe.
This orange scone recipe comes out a little fluffier than most scone recipes since there is a bit of extra liquid from the added orange juice. If your dough comes out to tacky to shape proper simple add flour a tablespoon at a time until the texture is easier to manage.

Set Up a Warming Winter Tea

The combination of citrus and dark chocolate is an unmatched delight. Winter is often a time when citrus becomes abundant, so finding fresh oranges for this recipe should be easy. Why not design a whole tea party menu around it?
We suggest starting on a bright note with an orange feta salad. Next, a gingery red onion soup is a great complement to all the citrus in this menu. If you want to add a tea sandwich, try a fancy grilled cheese with brie and orange marmalade. Finally, round out the menu with these orange and dark chocolate scones at the end.
For tea pairings, we suggest one of our Comfort Blend teas in in both regular and decaf. Flavored with orange, cinnamon, clove, and ginger, this chai-style tea is a perfect match for everything in this menu and especially these orange dark chocolate scones. It's also a great tea to have on hand for the fall and winter season when cozy, comforting moments happen a bit more often.
We also have a really fabulous tea we call Brunch in Paris. It’s the perfect dessert tea to combine with this orange scone recipe as it mirrors the flavors of the scone by combining tea, cacao nibs, and orange peel.
Orange teas not your jam? Try our House Blend black tea. A simple black tea, it pairs will with basically anything, and its hint of vanilla adds a sense of comfort which goes well with desserts.