Welcome to your new favorite holiday tradition. These Peppermint White Chocolate Scones are the perfect festive treat, blending the cool, crisp flavor of peppermint with the sweet creaminess of white chocolate. They have tender, flaky centers and perfectly crisp edges, making them an irresistible addition to any breakfast, brunch, or dessert spread. If you’re searching for a recipe that truly captures the magic of the season, you’ve found it.
We’ve perfected this recipe to ensure it’s not just delicious, but also incredibly easy to follow. You’ll create bakery-quality scones in your own kitchen with simple ingredients and straightforward steps. Get ready to fill your home with the incredible aroma of holiday baking!
Why This Peppermint White Chocolate Scones Recipe is a Holiday Favorite
There are countless scone recipes out there, but this one stands out for its perfect balance of flavors and textures. The buttery, tender crumb of the scone provides the ideal base for the rich white chocolate chips and the refreshing burst of peppermint. It’s a festive combination that’s comforting without being overly sweet.
Unlike other recipes that can result in dry, crumbly scones, our method guarantees a moist and flaky texture. The secret lies in using very cold butter and being careful not to overwork the dough. We’ll walk you through every step to ensure success. This recipe is destined to become a staple, just like our popular Cinnamon Roll Cheesecake Cookies.
The Key Ingredients for Perfect Scones
The magic of these scones comes from simple, high-quality ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need to bring this festive recipe to life.
For the Scones
- All-Purpose Flour: The foundation of our scones, providing structure.
- Granulated Sugar: Adds just the right amount of sweetness to balance the other flavors.
- Baking Powder: The key leavening agent that helps the scones rise beautifully.
- Salt: Enhances all the other flavors in the recipe.
- Unsalted Butter: Must be very cold and cubed! This creates steam pockets as it bakes, resulting in a flaky, tender texture.
- Heavy Cream: Adds richness and moisture to the dough.
- Egg: Binds the ingredients together and contributes to a golden-brown finish.
- Peppermint Extract: Provides that classic, cool holiday flavor.
- White Chocolate Chips: Melty, sweet pockets of goodness throughout the scones.
For the White Chocolate Glaze
- White Chocolate Chips: The base of our simple, creamy glaze.
- Heavy Cream: Helps melt the chocolate into a smooth, pourable consistency.
- Crushed Peppermint Candies: For that essential festive crunch and extra peppermint flavor on top.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Follow these simple steps to create the most delicious Peppermint White Chocolate Scones. We’ve broken it down into three easy phases: making the dough, baking, and glazing.
Preparing the Scone Dough
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt.
- Cut in the Butter: Add the cold, cubed butter to the flour mixture. Using a pastry blender or your fingertips, cut the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-sized pieces remaining.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a separate small bowl, whisk together the heavy cream, egg, and peppermint extract.
- Combine Wet and Dry: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry mixture. Gently stir with a fork until a shaggy dough begins to form. Fold in the white chocolate chips, being careful not to overmix.
Shaping and Baking
- Form the Dough: Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Gently knead it a few times until it just comes together. Pat the dough into an 8-inch circle, about 3/4-inch thick.
- Cut the Scones: Using a sharp knife or bench scraper, cut the circle into 8 equal wedges. Place the scones on a parchment-lined baking sheet, about 2 inches apart.
- Chill (Optional but Recommended): For the flakiest scones, place the baking sheet in the freezer for 15-20 minutes to chill the dough thoroughly.
- Bake: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Brush the tops of the scones with a little extra heavy cream for a golden finish. Bake for 15-18 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through. Let them cool on the pan for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Glazing and Finishing Touches
- Melt the Chocolate: In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the white chocolate chips for the glaze and the heavy cream. Microwave in 20-second intervals, stirring in between, until smooth.
- Decorate: Drizzle the melted white chocolate glaze over the cooled scones.
- Garnish: Immediately sprinkle the crushed peppermint candies over the glaze before it sets. Allow the glaze to harden before serving.
Pro Tips for Bakery-Quality Scones Every Time
Achieving the perfect scone texture is easy when you know the secrets. These tips will help you get it right every single time.
- Use Frozen Butter: For an extra-flaky texture, grate frozen butter into your dry ingredients using a box grater. This keeps the butter cold and distributes it perfectly.
- Don’t Overwork the Dough: The key to a tender scone is a light hand. Mix the dough until it just comes together. A few lumps are perfectly fine!
- Keep Everything Cold: Ensure your butter, cream, and egg are cold. This prevents the butter from melting prematurely, which is crucial for a good rise.
- Don’t Twist the Cutter: When cutting your scones, press straight down. Twisting the knife or cutter can seal the edges and prevent the scones from rising to their full potential.
For another recipe where technique makes all the difference, check out our amazing Cranberry Walnut Artisan Bread.
Peppermint White Chocolate Scones: Variations and Substitutions
While this classic combination is a winner, feel free to make it your own with these fun variations!
- Dark Chocolate Peppermint: Swap the white chocolate chips for semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips for a richer, deeper flavor.
- Add a Little Spice: Add 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon or nutmeg to the dry ingredients for a warm, spicy note.
- Mint Chocolate: Use mint extract instead of peppermint and chopped Andes mints instead of peppermint candies for a different flavor profile.
If you’re in the mood for a different kind of sweet treat, give our Butterscotch Brownies a try!
How to Store Your Scones
These scones are best enjoyed the day they are baked. However, you can store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. If you need to store them longer, you can freeze the unbaked, cut scones. Simply place them on a baking sheet in the freezer until solid, then transfer to a freezer bag. You can bake them directly from frozen, adding a few extra minutes to the baking time.
FAQs about Peppermint Scones
Yes! The best way to make them ahead is to prepare the dough, cut the scones, and freeze them unbaked on a baking sheet. You can then bake them directly from frozen, adding 2-3 minutes to the bake time.
You can, but you must be extremely careful. Peppermint oil is significantly more potent than extract. You would only need a few drops. We recommend sticking with extract for better control over the flavor intensity.
For a thicker glaze, add a little powdered sugar. For a thinner, more drizzle-able glaze, add a tiny bit more heavy cream until you reach your desired consistency. Be sure to let the scones cool completely before glazing.
The key is to use very cold butter and not to overmix the dough. Mix only until the ingredients are just combined. A shaggy, slightly sticky dough is perfect for tender, moist scones.
Place the unwrapped candy canes in a sturdy zip-top bag, seal it with most of the air removed, and gently crush them with a rolling pin or the back of a heavy spoon. This contains the mess and gives you perfect-sized pieces for sprinkling.
Share Your Festive Bakes!
These Peppermint White Chocolate Scones are a true delight and a wonderful way to celebrate the holiday season. We know you’ll love making them as much as you’ll love eating them. If you try this recipe, please leave a comment below and let us know how it turned out! Don’t forget to share your beautiful creations on Pinterest – we can’t wait to see them!
Peppermint White Chocolate Scones Recipe
Peppermint White Chocolate Scones (The Best Holiday Recipe)
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt.
- Add the cold, cubed butter. Using a pastry blender or your fingertips, cut the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- In a separate small bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup heavy cream, the egg, and peppermint extract.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry mixture and stir with a fork until a shaggy dough forms. Gently fold in 1 cup of white chocolate chips. Do not overmix.
- Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and gently knead 2-3 times to bring it together. Pat into an 8-inch circle.
- Cut the circle into 8 equal wedges and place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Brush the tops of the scones with a little heavy cream.
- Bake for 15-18 minutes, or until golden brown. Let cool on a wire rack completely before glazing.
- In a microwave-safe bowl, combine 1/2 cup white chocolate chips and 1 tbsp heavy cream. Microwave in 20-second intervals, stirring until smooth.
- Drizzle the glaze over the cooled scones and immediately sprinkle with crushed peppermint candies.
- Allow the glaze to set before serving.
Notes
Tip 2: Do not overwork the dough! A tender scone comes from a light touch.
Tip 3: Ensure the scones are completely cool before adding the glaze, otherwise it will melt right off.
