Morning Glory Scones: Your Ultimate Guide to Flavorful & Wholesome Breakfast Baking

Get ready to elevate your breakfast game with these incredibly delicious and surprisingly wholesome Morning Glory Scones! Bursting with a medley of flavors and textures, these scones are more than just a baked good – they’re a delightful start to any day, packed with ingredients that offer both indulgence and a touch of healthy goodness. Imagine a warm, tender scone, subtly spiced, with delightful pockets of sweet fruit, crunchy nuts, and moist carrot and apple. It’s truly the perfect scone recipe to make for breakfast, brunch, or a satisfying snack.

Today, we’re incredibly excited to feature a guest post from the talented Stephanie of Girl Versus Dough, who is generously sharing her seriously delicious Morning Glory Scones recipe with us. Stephanie’s blog is a treasure trove of incredible recipes, and her passion for baking truly shines through in every post. We are consistently captivated by her stunning food photography and the mouth-watering array of baked goods and other delightful treats she creates.

This recipe is particularly perfect for planning ahead for the weekend. Imagine waking up to the aroma of freshly baked scones, ready to be enjoyed with a warm cup of coffee or your favorite tea. Stephanie has a knack for transforming classic recipes into something extraordinary, making them accessible and enjoyable for everyone. Some of our personal favorites from her collection include the aromatic Basil, Olive and Sun-Dried Tomato Bread, the decadent Sweet Potato-Marshmallow Cinnamon Rolls, and the exquisite Plum-Blackberry Cream Cheese Bread with an Oat Streusel. Each recipe is a testament to her culinary creativity and skill.

It’s an honor to host Stephanie today, and we encourage you to stop by her blog, Girl Versus Dough, to explore all her fantastic recipes. While you’re there, be sure to send your well wishes, as she is expecting a new baby soon!

Hello, A Cedar Spoon friends! I’m Stephanie, and I write about baking bread and other culinary adventures over at Girl Versus Dough. I’m truly honored and excited to be guest posting on Julia’s site today, allowing her to get some extra snuggle time with her new little one. And I’m even more excited because I’ve brought you a scone recipe that is not only incredibly tasty but also wonderfully easy to make!

These aren’t just any scones; they are the kind of scones that will make you want to clap your hands with joy and sing along with a choir of angels. Seriously, the combination of flavors and the comforting texture is just divine. They perfectly capture the essence of a wholesome, satisfying breakfast treat, transforming a simple morning into something truly special.

Morning Glory Scones – What’s in a Name?

I’m talking, of course, about these magnificent Morning Glory Scones. While the precise origin of the name “Morning Glory” for a baked good remains a charming mystery, what is certain is that it universally implies a harmonious blend of delicious ingredients. In the case of these scones, that deliciousness comes from an abundance of wholesome elements. We’re talking about finely shredded carrots, sweet diced apples, juicy raisins, aromatic spices like cinnamon and ginger, tropical shredded coconut, and crunchy chopped walnuts. Each ingredient contributes to a complex flavor profile and delightful texture, making every bite a true experience.

The Star Ingredients: A Symphony of Taste and Texture

Let’s break down what makes these Morning Glory Scones an absolute standout:

• Shredded Carrots: Not just for color, carrots add a subtle sweetness and a wonderful moistness, contributing to the scone’s tender crumb. They also pack a nutritional punch with Vitamin A.
• Diced Apples: Fresh apples introduce a delicate fruity sweetness and a soft, tangy bite, complementing the spices beautifully. Choose a firm apple variety that holds its shape well when baked.
• Juicy Raisins: These classic dried fruits add bursts of concentrated sweetness and a chewy texture, creating a delightful contrast with the other ingredients.
• Chopped Walnuts: Providing a satisfying crunch and a rich, earthy flavor, walnuts also bring healthy fats and protein to the mix, making the scones more filling.
• Shredded Coconut (Sweetened): A hint of tropical sweetness and a lovely chewiness from the coconut elevate the flavor profile, adding another layer of complexity.
• Warm Spices (Cinnamon & Ginger): These essential spices tie all the flavors together, imparting that characteristic comforting and aromatic warmth that makes these scones so inviting.
• Whole Wheat Flour: For that “healthy goodness,” whole wheat flour adds a nutty depth of flavor and increased fiber content, making these scones a more substantial and nutritious option without sacrificing taste.
• Brown Sugar: The use of brown sugar provides a deeper, more caramel-like sweetness compared to white sugar, enhancing the overall flavor and contributing to the scone’s lovely golden hue.
• Chilled Butter: The secret to truly flaky, tender scones! Cold butter creates pockets of steam as it melts during baking, resulting in that desirable light and airy texture. (Also, let’s be honest, for the pure deliciousness!)

This thoughtful combination ensures that these baked beauties are chock full of all those wonderful things, creating a breakfast treat that feels both decadent and nourishing. It’s a perfect example of how incorporating diverse ingredients can transform a simple scone into something truly memorable.

Baking Perfect Scones: Tips for Flaky, Tender Results

One of the best aspects of these Morning Glory Scones is how incredibly easy and quick they are to put together. In fact, they come together so rapidly that you could even bake them on a bustling weekday morning if you’re an early riser. However, I particularly love to bake them first thing on the weekends. There’s something truly special about the leisurely pace of weekend baking, filling your home with the comforting aroma of fresh spices and sweet fruit.

Prepping Your Ingredients Right

• Chill Your Butter: This is non-negotiable for tender, flaky scones. Use butter straight from the fridge, diced into small pieces. You can even pop it in the freezer for 10-15 minutes before using for extra coldness.
• Measure Accurately: Especially with flour, spoon it into your measuring cup and level it off with a straight edge rather than scooping directly, which can lead to too much flour.
• Fresh Spices: Ensure your cinnamon and ginger are fresh for the best aromatic impact.
• Finely Prepared Add-ins: Shred your carrots and finely chop your apples to ensure they integrate well into the dough and cook evenly.

Mixing and Handling the Dough

• Combine Dry First: Always whisk together your flours, sugar, baking powder, and spices thoroughly before adding any wet ingredients. This ensures even distribution of the leavening agents.
• “Cutting In” the Butter: Use a pastry cutter, two knives, or even your fingertips to work the cold butter into the dry ingredients until it resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-sized pieces remaining. This creates steam pockets for flakiness.
• Don’t Overmix: This is a golden rule for scones. Once you add the wet ingredients and your fruit/nut mix, stir just until a soft dough forms. Overmixing develops gluten, leading to tough scones.
• Gentle Kneading: A few light kneads on a floured surface are all you need to bring the dough together. The goal is to just unite the ingredients, not to develop elasticity.

Shaping and Baking

• Even Thickness: Pat the dough into a uniform 1-inch thick circle. This ensures all scones bake evenly.
• Sharp Cuts: Use a sharp knife or a bench scraper to cut the dough into 8 equal wedges. Clean cuts help the scones rise properly.
• Unaltered Surface: Place the wedges on an ungreased baking sheet. Scones often have enough butter to prevent sticking, and an ungreased sheet can sometimes yield a slightly crispier bottom.
• Test for Doneness: Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, or until the largest scone is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into its center comes out clean.

Once they emerge from the oven, I let them cool slightly on a rack before drizzling them generously with the fragrant spice glaze. I confess, it’s hard to resist eating a couple (or five!) while they’re still wonderfully fresh and warm. Any remaining scones can be easily frozen for on-the-go breakfasts or those inevitable snack attacks throughout the week. It’s a brilliant way to ensure you always have a wholesome, homemade treat on hand without extra effort during busy days.

So, the next time you feel that irresistible urge to bake something comforting and utterly delicious (which, in the case of these scones, should be about two minutes from now!), promise yourself you’ll make these scrumptious Morning Glory Scones. Just be sure to get your singing voice ready when you hear that choir of angels – it’s a standard side effect of enjoying such delightful homemade goodness!

More Breakfast Recipes to Brighten Your Morning

If you loved these Morning Glory Scones and are looking for more delicious ways to kickstart your day, A Cedar Spoon has an array of fantastic breakfast recipes. From savory egg muffins to creative pastry pizzas, there’s something to suit every taste and busy schedule. Explore some of our other favorite morning meals below:

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5 from 1 vote

Morning Glory Scones

By
Julia Jolliff

Prep:
15 minutes mins

Cook:
20 minutes mins

Total:
35 minutes mins

Servings:
8

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Morning Glory Scones are chock full of flavor and a little bit of added healthy goodness. The perfect scones recipe to make for breakfast!

Ingredients

For the scones –

• ▢ 1 cup all-purpose flour
• ▢ 1 cup whole wheat flour
• ▢ 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
• ▢ 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• ▢ 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• ▢ 1/2 teaspoon salt
• ▢ 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
• ▢ 1/3 cup chilled butter, diced
• ▢ 1 cup shredded carrots
• ▢ 1/2 cup peeled and finely chopped apples
• ▢ 1/2 cup raisins
• ▢ 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
• ▢ 1/4 cup sweetened coconut
• ▢ 1/3 cup milk
• ▢ 1 egg

For the glaze –

• ▢ 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• ▢ 2 tablespoons orange juice
• ▢ Pinch cinnamon

Instructions

• Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). This ensures the oven is at the correct temperature for immediate baking.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, packed light brown sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, and ground ginger until thoroughly combined. Add the diced, chilled butter and cut it into the dry mixture using a pastry cutter or your fingertips until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-sized pieces of butter remaining.
• Next, add the shredded carrots, finely chopped apples, raisins, chopped walnuts, sweetened coconut, milk, and egg to the dry ingredients. Stir gently with a spoon or spatula until a soft, shaggy dough forms. Be careful not to overmix. Lightly dust a clean surface with flour, turn the dough out, and knead it just a few times (3-4 turns) until it barely comes together. Pat the dough into a cohesive 1-inch thick circle. Using a sharp knife or bench scraper, cut the circle into 8 equal wedges. Arrange these wedges on an ungreased baking sheet, leaving a little space between each scone.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 18 to 20 minutes, or until the scones are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center of the largest scone comes out clean. Transfer the baked scones to a wire cooling rack to cool slightly.
• While the scones are cooling, prepare the glaze. In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, orange juice, and a pinch of cinnamon until smooth and drizzly. Drizzle the glaze generously over the warm or room-temperature scones. Allow the glaze to set for a few minutes before serving to prevent it from running off.

Nutrition

Calories: 318kcal,
Carbohydrates: 49g,
Protein: 6g,
Fat: 12g,
Saturated Fat: 6g,
Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g,
Monounsaturated Fat: 3g,
Trans Fat: 0.3g,
Cholesterol: 42mg,
Sodium: 374mg,
Potassium: 268mg,
Fiber: 4g,
Sugar: 17g,
Vitamin A: 2967IU,
Vitamin C: 4mg,
Calcium: 119mg,
Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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