Gluten Free Dark Chocolate Scones {gf, paleo}

These gluten free dark chocolate scones are super chocolatey, tender, moist, and made with healthy real food ingredients like almond flour and coconut sugar! Gluten free, grain free, and paleo friendly.

Um HI! How’s everyone doing? Just wanted to do a quick check in with y’all before we get started talking about this recipe. I’m not going to go on to much about what’s happening right now in the world, because honestly that’s most of what’s circulating on the web. And while it’s good to stay informed, it’s also good to give ourselves a break from the endless stream of anxiety inducing news. I’m convinced that it’s good for our hearts and our minds. But that said, feel free to drop me a comment or slide into my DM’s on Instagram if you need someone to chat with. Ultimately the best way for us all to get through this incredibly challenging time is to be there for each other.

Since we’ve been spending so much time at home lately a lot of the mental breaks we’ve been taking have been in the kitchen, making something yummy to enjoy. And since chocolate is supposed to have some powerful mood-boosting effects I thought, why not make something SUPER chocolatey and yummy for us all to bake while we’re passing the days sheltered in our homes.

Which brings me to introducing these gluten free dark chocolate scones- a chocolate lovers DREAM.

These gluten free dark chocolate scones are not only gluten free but also grain free, paleo friendly, and naturally sweetened.

HOORAY for chocolatey treats that are also good to your body!

Why you’ll love these gluten free dark chocolate scones

• They’re made with real food good-for-you ingredients.
• No processed sugar! These scones are 100% naturally sweetened.
• The real chocolate has mood-boosting properties to lift your spirits when you need it most.
• They are PACKED with chocolate goodness.
• No dry scones here – these dark chocolate scones are moist and tender through and THROUGH.

What are the real food ingredients used to make these gluten free dark chocolate scones?

These dark chocolate scones are made with some simple real food ingredients. They are gluten free, grain free, paleo friendly, and refined sugar free!

The real food ingredients are:

• Almond flour: A healthy grain free flour alternative that’s made from ground almonds. Incredibly nutritious and rich in vitamins and minerals. My favorite brands are Trader Joe’s, Thrive Market, and Bob’s Red Mill.
• Tapioca flour: This grain free flour is an ideal flour for healthy baking extracted from the roots of cassava plant. While it is made from the same plant that cassava flour is made from, they are not interchangeable. Cassava flour is made from the whole root, and tapioca starch is a processed product that is much higher in starch. My favorite brands are Bob’s Red Mill, Thrive Market Brand, and Anthony’s Organic Tapioca Flour.
• Cacao powder: Real cacao powder (not cocoa powder) is typically made from from un-roasted / cold pressed cacao beans. It’s high in magnesium and other essential minerals. Real cacao has also shown to boost mood and lower stress! Yay chocolate! My favorite brands are Terrasoul and Navitas.
• Coconut sugar: Coconut sugar is one of my favorite natural sweeteners. Why do I love it? It’s exchangeable at a 1:1 ratio to refined sugar. These days it’s also readily available at most grocery stores. My favorite brands are Trader Joe’s brand, Thrive Market Brand, Terrasoul, Navitas, and Big Tree Farms Organics.
• Ghee or coconut oil: Two nourishing fats that can basically be substituted 1:1 for any type of fat in baking. There’s so many amazing brands out there but I usually buy mine at Thrive Market.
• Pasture raised eggs
• Non dairy milk: I used almond milk for this recipe, but any type of non dairy milk should work.
• Vanilla: I’m not going to sugar coat it, vanilla extract is expensive! Which is why I ALWAYS buy mine from Thrive Market or Amazon. It’s like $4 cheaper for a 4 ounce bottle at each place. When you bake a lot, this savings really adds up!
• Dark chocolate for the glaze: For this recipe it’s important to use high quality dark chocolate so that it melts nice and smooth. I love Theo Chocolate, or for a truly paleo dark chocolate Hu Kitchen Gems are where it’s at – sweetened only with coconut sugar and soy free. Hu gems can be purchased on Amazon or Thrive Market.

How to make these gluten free dark chocolate scones

There are a few important steps in making sure that these dark chocolate scones turn out *just* right. But don’t worry – I’ve got your back with some step-by-step instructions the whole way through.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Whisk together wet ingredients: In a small bowl whisk together egg, 3 tablespoons almond milk, vanilla extract, and 1/2 teaspoon of lemon juice or ACV. Place in the freezer for about 10 minutes. This step creates little pockets of fat that melt once the scones are baked, giving them a tender, moist crumb every time.
3. Melt ghee or coconut oil: While wet ingredients are chilling in the refrigerator melt the ghee or coconut oil. Set it aside to cool slightly while you prepare the dry ingredients.
4. Whisk together dry ingredients: In a large bowl whisk together almond flour, tapioca flour, coconut sugar, cacao powder, baking soda, salt until combined. Set aside.
5. Stir ghee or coconut oil into chilled wet ingredients: After egg and almond milk mixture has chilled for 10 minutes, stir in the melted ghee and mix with a fork until little balls of ghee have formed and hardened. Break apart with fork if it gets too clumpy. 
6. Combine wet and dry ingredients: Pour ghee mixture into the bowl with dry ingredients. Mix together with a spatula until combined. Once combined add chocolate chips and stir to incorporate. The dough will be thick but still fairly sticky, and will get a bit thicker as it sits. 
7. Form dough into a 6 inch disc: Generously sprinkle tapioca flour on your work surface. Dump dough out on top of tapioca flour. I like to use a large wooden cutting board for this step. Sprinkle the top of the dough generously with tapioca flour, flip it, and sprinkle the other side as well to coat. This should allow you to handle it without it sticking to your hands. Pat dough, and form into a 6 inch disc. If at any point in time the mixture is too sticky sprinkle with a little more tapioca flour. 
8. Chill disc of dough: Transfer disc of dough onto a plate and move to the freezer to chill for 15 minutes. This will allow you to cut it more easily, and it will hold it’s shape better while baking.
9. Cut dough in 6 triangles: Once dough has chilled, cut into 6 equal triangle shaped pieces. Carefully move each one to a parchment lined baking sheet, several inches apart from each other. 
10. Brush scones with almond milk: Lightly brush the tops and sides with remaining 2 tablespoons of almond milk.
11. BONUS POINTS: Add a few extra chocolate pieces to the tops of the scones before popping them in the oven for some melty eye-catching pools of chocolate.
12. Bake scones! Move to the oven and bake at 350 degrees for about 22 minutes. Until edges are firm and tops are nice and crackly. 
13. Allow scones to cool before glazing: Allow scones to cool slightly before glazing with melted dark chocolate.

A few notes on the recipe

• These gluten free dark chocolate scones are a healthy homemade treat to enjoy with your morning coffee or as an afternoon treat!
• They will keep stored on in a sealed container on the counter for about 3 days, or frozen for up to 2 months.
• For the best results, make sure to follow each of the steps closely. After dough is mixed and formed into a disc, chill it again! You will be able to cut it into triangles much more easily, and it will spread less when it bakes, giving your scones a more structured look.
• Tapioca flour is your friend! It adds a certain amount of structure by holding things together in a baking recipe (what gluten usually does) and also produces a nice crisp edge that everyone loves. Also, with sticky doughs like this, you can use it the same way you would use flour on your countertop, hands, the dough itself to keep it manageable. Such a win!

Other Healthy Dessert Recipes

• Salted Gluten Free Oatmeal Chocolate Chunk Cookies {gluten free + refined sugar free}
• Paleo Maple Pecan Scones {paleo + gluten free + refined sugar free}
• Chocolate Coconut Almond Bliss Balls {paleo friendly + vegan}

Make sure to tag me @nyssas_kitchen on Instagram and comment below if you make these gluten free dark chocolate scones! To pin this recipe and save it for later, you can use the button on the recipe card, or on any of the photos above. Happy baking!

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