Name: Chocolate Pecan Scones Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 45 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 3 teaspoons baking powder; 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed; 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 1 stick (4 ounces) unsalted butter, VERY cold and cut into tiny pieces; 12 ounce bag chocolate chips; 1 cup pecans, chopped; 1 large egg; 3/4 cup heavy cream; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 1 large egg, beaten; 1 teaspoon milk or water; 2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar, for sprinkling

There’s just something magical about the combination of rich chocolate and crunchy pecans in a tender, flaky scone. This Chocolate Pecan Scones Recipe is one of my absolute favorites to make when I want a cozy treat that feels a little bit special but isn’t complicated. Trust me, you'll love how these scones balance sweet, nutty, and buttery flavors in every bite.

Three triangular scones are placed closely on a beige crumpled paper surface with a white marbled texture underneath. Each scone has a golden brown crust with visible chocolate chunks embedded on the surface and some melted into small pools. The rough, crumbly texture is highlighted by light dusting of white powdered sugar scattered unevenly on top. Some scone pieces show visible nuts, adding more texture, and the edges are slightly crisp and cracked. The photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Chocolate Pecan Scones Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Chocolate Pecan Scones Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Chocolate Pecan Scones Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I can't tell you how many times this Chocolate Pecan Scones Recipe has saved me as a quick weekend brunch idea or a delightful afternoon coffee companion. It offers that perfect blend of textures and flavors without being intimidating to bake. Plus, it fills your kitchen with such a comforting aroma!

Flaky and Tender: The cold butter technique creates those signature layers, so your scones come out beautifully flaky every time.
Chocolate and Nutty Goodness: Chocolate chips melt just right while pecans add a satisfying crunch that pairs wonderfully together.
Simple to Make: Despite feeling fancy, this recipe is straightforward and forgiving, perfect even if you're a scone newbie.
Versatile: It works for breakfast, an indulgent snack, or even a sweet addition to your afternoon tea.

Ingredients & Why They Work

Each ingredient in this Chocolate Pecan Scones Recipe plays a crucial role in the final texture and flavor. Using really cold butter makes for the best flaky texture, while brown sugar adds warmth alongside cinnamon. And of course, the mix of chocolate chips and pecans creates those irresistible little pockets of sweetness and crunch.

Flat lay of a small mound of all-purpose flour, a small pile of light brown sugar, a few specks of ground cinnamon scattered on the white surface, tiny cubes of cold unsalted butter arranged neatly, two whole large eggs with clean shells, a small white bowl filled with heavy cream, a small white bowl with vanilla extract, a small white bowl filled with glossy chocolate chips, a small white bowl with chopped pecans, and a small white bowl with fine confectioners' sugar, all placed symmetrically on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

All-purpose flour: Provides structure, but isn’t too heavy, so the scones stay tender and flaky.
Salt: Enhances the sweetness and rounds out all the flavors perfectly.
Baking powder: The leavening agent that helps these scones rise and get fluffy.
Light brown sugar: Adds subtle molasses notes that work so well with cinnamon and nuts.
Ground cinnamon: Brings warmth without overpowering the chocolate or nuts.
Unsalted butter (VERY cold): The secret to flaky layers – make sure it’s cold and cut into tiny pieces before mixing.
Large egg: Binds ingredients and adds richness to the dough.
Heavy cream: Keeps the dough moist and tender, giving a lovely crumb.
Vanilla extract: Enhances the chocolate and nut flavors subtly in the background.
Chocolate chips: Sweet, melty pockets of gooey chocolate throughout each scone.
Chopped pecans: Crunchy, toasty nuts that add texture and deepen the flavor profile.
Beaten egg + milk/water (egg wash): For that beautiful, golden shiny crust.
Confectioners' sugar: Light dusting adds a pretty finish and touch of sweetness.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

While the classic Chocolate Pecan Scones Recipe is amazing as is, I love mixing things up sometimes so you can make it your own! You’ll find small tweaks that suit your taste or ingredient availability can make all the difference.

Variation: One of my favorite spins is swapping the pecans for toasted walnuts or even almonds if that's what you have on hand. It gives a slightly different nutty flavor but still goes beautifully with the chocolate.
Dietary adjustments: You can easily use half-and-half instead of heavy cream for a lighter version, though the scones might be a tad less rich.
Extra mix-ins: Feel free to toss in dried cherries or cranberries for a tart contrast against the sweet chocolate.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Chocolate Pecan Scones Recipe

Step 1: Prep your base with cold ingredients

Start by preheating your oven to 400°F and lining a baking sheet with parchment paper. Combining the dry ingredients first – flour, salt, baking powder, brown sugar, and cinnamon – ensures an even mix of flavors. Then, my trick is to use VERY cold butter cut into tiny pieces and work it into the dry mix quickly, with just my fingers or a pastry cutter. This keeps the butter from melting and creates that flaky texture we all love.

Step 2: Mix the wet ingredients and combine gently

In a glass measuring cup, whisk together the egg, heavy cream, and vanilla extract. Pour this into your flour-butter mixture, then add the chocolate chips and chopped pecans. Use a fork to stir everything—just until everything is moistened. The dough will seem shaggy and loose at this stage, but that’s okay! You want to avoid overmixing to keep the scones tender.

Step 3: Shape and cut your scones

Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead it a few times — just enough to bring it together into an 8-inch round disc. I find shaping it this way helps with even baking. Then, using a sharp knife or bench scraper, cut the dough into 8 wedges, like slicing a pizza. Carefully move each wedge to your baking sheet, leaving about 2 inches between for spreading.

Step 4: The golden finishing touch

Brush each scone lightly with an egg wash made from the beaten egg mixed with a bit of milk or water—this gives such a beautiful golden shine. Bake for 18-20 minutes until the tops turn light golden brown and the scones feel firm to the touch. Let them cool right on the baking sheet for 10 minutes, then sprinkle with confectioners' sugar. This little dusting adds a touch of elegance and sweetness.

Top Tip

After baking these Chocolate Pecan Scones a handful of times, I’ve learned some key things that really help get them just right – flaky, moist, and perfectly baked without overdoing it.

Keep the butter cold: I can’t stress this enough — the smaller and colder the butter pieces, the better the flaky layers. If the butter melts, you lose that classic scone texture.
Don’t overmix the dough: Mixing just until moistened keeps the scones tender, otherwise they can turn out tough. A shaggy dough is totally okay!
Shape gently: When forming your disc and cutting wedges, handle the dough lightly to keep air pockets intact for fluffier scones.
Baking time matters: Pull the scones out as soon as they’re golden but still soft; they’ll firm up as they cool. Avoid overbaking to prevent dryness.

How to Serve Chocolate Pecan Scones Recipe

Garnishes

I usually keep it simple and dust the scones with confectioners’ sugar just before serving. But sometimes I like to add a light drizzle of honey or a little spread of clotted cream or whipped butter—it enhances their naturally sweet and nutty flavors without overpowering them.

Side Dishes

These scones pair beautifully with a cup of freshly brewed coffee or a pot of Earl Grey tea. For an extra special brunch, I serve them alongside fresh fruit like berries or a citrusy fruit salad, which adds a nice contrast to the rich chocolate and pecans.

Creative Ways to Present

For holiday mornings or special occasions, I like to arrange the scones in a circular pattern on a pretty platter with small ramekins of clotted cream, jam, and honey in the middle. It turns what feels like a simple treat into an inviting spread everyone loves to dig into.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I store leftover scones in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days – but honestly, they rarely last that long in my house! To keep them from drying out, it’s best to gently wrap them in a kitchen towel inside the container.

Freezing

Freezing these scones is a game-changer. I like to flash freeze the unbaked wedges on a tray, then transfer them to a freezer bag. When I want fresh scones, I bake them straight from frozen and add a few extra minutes to the baking time. The texture stays just right!

Reheating

To reheat, I pop scones in a 325°F oven for 5-7 minutes or until warm throughout. This brings back the flaky texture better than microwaving, which can make them a bit chewy.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I substitute the chocolate chips with something else?

Definitely! While chocolate chips are classic, you can swap them for chunks of your favorite chocolate bar, white chocolate chips, or even dried fruit like cranberries for a different flavor profile.

What’s the best way to keep scones flaky?

The key is to keep your butter as cold as possible and avoid overmixing the dough. When working the butter into the flour, only mix until it resembles coarse crumbs with pea-sized bits of butter still visible.

Can I make these scones vegan or dairy-free?

You can try substituting the butter with a vegan butter alternative and using a plant-based heavy cream substitute like coconut cream. Keep in mind, results might vary slightly in texture and flavor.

How long do these scones stay fresh?

Freshly baked scones are best enjoyed within 2 days when stored at room temperature in an airtight container. For longer storage, freeze them and reheat when ready to serve.

Final Thoughts

This Chocolate Pecan Scones Recipe is near and dear to my heart because it’s both comforting and impressive without requiring tons of effort. They remind me of those cozy mornings at home when the oven warmth fills every corner and a little bit of chocolate makes everything better. I can’t wait for you to try making these and sharing them with people you love—it truly feels like a little love baked right in.