Chocolate Chip Orange Scone Loaf
Looking for a delicious, fresh, spring-time sweet bread idea?
This chocolate chip orange scone loaf is the perfect quick loaf for a morning delight and I am obsessed with this flavor combination. The chocolate and orange blends together to make the best scones!
If you love quick breads as much as I do, you’re going to love this perfect recipe, with simple ingredients for chocolate orange scones.
And they bake up perfectly in my Sweet Heritage Breadwinner Loaf Pans!
What is a scone?
A scone is a small unsweetened or lightly sweetened cake that is biscuit like in texture and consistency. They often have added fruit in them.
It is not a yeast made bread as baking powder is the leavening agent used in scones.
Scones have a long history in Europe, particularly in Scotland, but have come to be well known in cafes and kitchens across the world.
What is a scone loaf?
A scone loaf is just my take on the traditional scone.
I’ve created a recipe that can easily be made in my Sweet Heritage Breadwinner loaf pan to provide a larger serving of this delicious quick bread treat.
It has a consistency similar to that of a traditional scone, but comes shaped more like a quick bread and served in slices instead of individual circles or triangles like you tend to see at your local bakery.
My favorite thing about this recipe is that it is so easy to make in the loaf pan and means you don’t have to spend time shaping each scone individually.
What do you need to make this chocolate chip orange scone loaf?
You will need the below ingredients to make this chocolate chip orange scone loaf:
- 4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for shaping the dough
- 2 tablespoons baking powder
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 tablespoon cream of tartar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup (2 sticks) cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/4-inch slices
- 2 cups mini chocolate chips
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 2 large eggs plus 1 large egg yolk
- 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon whole milk
Be sure not to substitute skim milk for whole milk in this recipe if possible. Using whole milk adds fat to the scone which will result in a richer taste and softer crumb when complete.
Once you have everything you need to make your scones, it’s time to get to work in the kitchen!
How to make a chocolate chip orange scone loaf.
Begin by preheating your oven to 400ºF.
Then, sift together the flour, baking powder, sugar, cream of tartar, and salt in a large bowl. Slice your cold butter and drop it into the flour mixture and toss until all of the pieces are coated. Cutting your butter into slices allows it to combine more easily. I also recommend you use your fingertips – instead of a pastry blender – to press the slices to flatten. This will also help with more thorough mixing. Once mixed, toss again in the flour.
Stir the chocolate chips and orange zest into your dry ingredients until just combined. Then, in a medium bowl, whisk together the cream, two eggs, and 1/2 cup milk until well blended. Pour your egg mixture into the flour mixture and mix just until combined. There shouldn’t be any bits of flour left, but avoid overmixing.
Next, lightly coat a Sweet Heritage loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray. Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and gently shape into a rectangular loaf. (If the dough starts to stick to your hands, lightly flour your hands.) Cut the dough into two equal portions then carefully lift and insert them into the loaf pans.
Now your loaves are almost ready to bake!
Before putting them in the oven, beat the egg yolk with the remaining tablespoon of milk in a small bowl until blended. Brush the tops of the scone dough with the milk mixture.
Put into the preheated oven and bake until golden brown, about 25-30 minutes.
Let cool for 5 to 10 minutes on a wire rack and serve warm.
I like to serve mine with my favorite orange marmalade, honey butter or freshly whipped cream.
Need to make your scones ahead?
Prepare your scones through step 4, then cover tightly with plastic wrap and freeze.
When you’re ready to serve them, uncover, brush with the milk mixture, and bake straight from the freezer. They’ll take just a few minutes longer in the oven.
Chocolate Chip Orange Scone Loaf
Delicious quick loaf scones with chocolate chips and a hint of orange
Ingredients
- 4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for shaping the dough
- 2 tablespoons baking powder
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 tablespoon cream of tartar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup (2 sticks) cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/4-inch slices
- 2 cups mini chocolate chips
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 2 large eggs plus 1 large egg yolk
- 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon whole milk
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400ºF.
- Into a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, sugar, cream of tartar, and salt. Drop the butter slices into the flour mixture and toss until all of the pieces are coated.
- With your fingertips, press the slices to flatten, then toss again in the flour.
- Stir in the chocolate chips and orange zest until just combined. In a medium bowl, whisk together the cream, 2 eggs, and 1/2 cup milk until well blended.
- Pour into the flour mixture and mix just until combined. There shouldn’t be any bits of flour left, but avoid overmixing.
- Lightly coat a Sweet Heritage loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray. Transfer the dough to the prepared surface and gently shape into a rectangular loaf. (If the dough starts to stick to your hands, lightly flour your hands.)
- Cut the dough into two equal portions, carefully lift and insert them into the floured pans.
- In a small bowl, beat the egg yolk with the remaining tablespoon of milk until blended. Brush the tops of the loaf with the milk mixture. Bake until golden brown, about 25-30 minutes. Let cool for 5 to 10 minutes on a wire rack and serve warm.
- Serve with your favorite orange marmalade, honey butter or freshly whipped cream.
Catering Like Carla:
To make these ahead, prepare through step 4, then cover tightly with plastic wrap and freeze. Uncover, brush with the milk mixture, and bake straight from the freezer. They’ll take just a few minutes longer in the oven.
