Best Chocolate Shortbread Scones With Caramelized Bananas Recipes

BANANA CHOCOLATE CHIP SCONES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400F degrees. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or silicone baking mat. Set aside.
• In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, sugar and salt. Cut in the butter, using a pastry blender or your fingers. Alternatively, you can pulse the ingredients in a food processor. Mix until mixture resembles coarse meal (uneven pieces of butter in the mixture is good!). Add 3/4 cup heavy cream and vanilla extract and stir with a spatula or a fork until dough begins to form. If dough is too crumbly, add more heavy cream - up to 1/4 cup. Don't overmix. Gently fold in bananas and chocolate chips. The dough will be slightly sticky.
• Transfer dough to a floured surface and knead dough gently, about 5-6 times, until a ball forms. Pat the dough into a 9-inch (22 cm) circle, about 3/4-inch thick. Cut the circle into 8 even wedges.
• Place the scones on prepared baking sheet. Brush the tops with a bit of heavy cream. Sprinkle with coarse sugar. Bake scones for 15-18 minutes, or until golden brown. Transfer baking sheet to a wire rack and allow it to cool for 10 minutes. While scones are still hot, sprinkle again with coarse sugar for extra crunchiness.
• These scones are delicious either warm or at room temperature.
• Scones are best eaten the same day they are made, but they can be frozen for up to 1 month.

HOW TO MAKE PERFECT SCONES

Steps:

• Whisk flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder together in a large bowl. Grate the frozen butter using a box grater. Add it to the flour mixture and combine with a pastry cutter, two forks, or your fingers until the mixture comes together in pea-sized crumbs. See video above for a closer look at the texture. Place in the refrigerator or freezer as you mix the wet ingredients together.
• Whisk 1/2 cup heavy cream, the egg, and vanilla extract together in a small bowl. Drizzle over the flour mixture, add the add-ins, then mix together until everything appears moistened.
• Pour onto the counter and, with floured hands, work dough into a ball as best you can. Dough will be sticky. If it's too sticky, add a little more flour. If it seems too dry, add 1-2 more Tablespoons heavy cream. Press into an 8-inch disc and, with a sharp knife or bench scraper, cut into 8 wedges. For smaller scones, press dough into two 5-inch discs and cut each into 8 wedges. To make 10-12 drop scones: Keep mixing dough in the bowl until it comes together. Drop scones, about 1/4 cup of dough each, 3 inches apart on a lined baking sheet. To make mini (petite) scones, see recipe note.
• Brush scones with remaining heavy cream and for extra crunch, sprinkle with coarse sugar. (You can do this before or after refrigerating in the next step.)
• Place scones on a plate or lined baking sheet (if your fridge has space!) and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, preheat oven to 400°F (204°C).
• Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or silicone baking mat(s). If making mini or drop scones, use 2 baking sheets. After refrigerating, arrange scones 2-3 inches apart on the prepared baking sheet(s).
• Bake for 18-26 minutes or until golden brown around the edges and lightly browned on top. Larger scones take closer to 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool for a few minutes. Feel free to top with any of the toppings listed in the recipe Note below.
• Leftover scones keep well at room temperature for 2 days or in the refrigerator for 5 days.

MINI CHOCOLATE CAKES WITH CARAMELIZED BANANAS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°. In a microwave, melt chocolate and butter; stir until smooth. Cool. Beat eggs, sugar, vanilla and salt on high speed until thick and pale, about 5 minutes. Sift in flour; mix just until combined. Fold in chocolate mixture., Spoon batter into 8 buttered 4-oz. ramekins dusted with cocoa. Place ramekins on a baking sheet. Bake until a toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean, 12-15 minutes. Run a small knife around sides of ramekins. Invert onto cooling rack; let stand 5 minutes. Remove ramekins; place cakes on individual plates., For bananas, melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Toss banana slices with sugar until well coated; arrange in a single layer in skillet. Do not stir bananas until bottoms are golden brown, 4-5 minutes. Turn; cook until second side is golden brown, 4-5 minutes longer. Remove from heat. Place bananas on plates with cakes., For sauce, heat wine and sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer until slightly thickened, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat; cool slightly. Whisk in chocolate. Pour over cakes.

CARAMEL CHOCOLATE SHORTBREADS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9-inch square baking pan with aluminum foil, leaving about a 2-inch overhang on 2 sides. Spread the coconut in a single layer on a baking sheet and set aside.
• Beat the butter, vanilla and salt with an electric mixer on medium speed in a large bowl until smooth and creamy. Add the confectioners' sugar and mix on low until just incorporated. Beat in the flour in 2 batches to make a smooth dough.
• Lightly flour your hands and press the dough into the prepared baking pan. Bake the shortbread until the edges are firm and the top is dry, 28 to 30 minutes. Top the shortbread with the caramels in an even layer. Return to the oven along with the baking sheet of coconut and cook, tossing the coconut once, until the caramels are melted and the coconut is golden, about 10 minutes.
• Spray the back of a spoon with cooking spray and use it to spread the caramel all over the shortbread. Sprinkle with the chocolate and let sit until the chips are melted, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle with the toasted coconut and let cool completely, about 1 hour.
• Using the foil overhang as handles, lift the shortbread out of the pan and cut into 12 pieces.

CHOCOLATE SHORTBREAD SCONES WITH CARAMELIZED BANANAS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• In a medium bowl, gently mix together the bananas, agave nectar, cinnamon, and salt until the bananas are completely coated.
• Spread the banana mixture over the prepared baking sheet. Bake the bananas on the center rack for 20 minutes. The edges of the banana slices will be crisp and golden brown. Remove from the oven. Let the bananas stand for 30 minutes, or until completely cool. (The bananas can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.)
• Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• In a small bowl, mix together the chocolate crumb and chocolate chips just until combined; set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, evaporated cane juice, baking powder, and salt. Add 1/2 cup oil, the vanilla, and the hot water and combine until a thick dough is formed. If the mixture seems too dry, fold additional water, 1 tablespoon at a time, into the batter until it is moist. Using a plastic spatula, gently fold the chocolate chip-crumb mix into the dough just until it appears marbled.
• Dust the counter generously with flour. Drag the dough through the flour until it is completely coated. Pat the dough gently until it is 1 inch thick, and, using a 3-inch round cookie cutter, make 12 scones. Arrange the scones on the prepared baking sheets with at least 1 inch between them. Brush each with the remaining 1/4 cup oil and sprinkle them with a pinch of evaporated cane juice. Bake the scones on the center rack for 18 minutes, rotating the sheets 180 degrees after 10 minutes. The finished scones will be crisp to the touch.
• Let the scones cool on the sheets for 30 minutes, or until completely cool. Cut each scone in half horizontally and spread 1 tablespoon vanilla frosting and a generous amount of the caramelized bananas on the bottom half. Replace the tops and dust with confectioners' sugar. Store the scones in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.