Chai spice scones are perfect for a crisp fall morning! Full of warming spices these scones are tender and moist. Giving you a double dose of chai flavor with a spiced batter and a visible layer of chai spice running through each scone! Chopped walnuts add nice texture and the simple glaze finishes off the scones with a touch of sweetness.
What is Chai Spice
Chai spice is a beautiful blend of warming spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, nutmeg, clove, and allspice. Some recipes also use black pepper or extra ginger for added spiciness. There’s no one way to make chai spice, which makes it highly customizable when making it at home.
Most people are familiar with chai tea, which is a blend of black tea and the aromatic spices I mentioned above. You can think of chai spice just as you would the tea, except without the caffeine.
If you already have most or all of the above spices on hand you can quickly throw together your own blend using your preferred spice ratios or follow a recipe online. Otherwise, you can purchase chai spice premade if you’d rather not buy 5-6 individual spices to make your own. I love using the King Arthur Chai Spice blend and have used it for a few years now.
How to Make Chai Spice Scones
Prepare the Dough
Begin making the dough by combining all the dry ingredients into a large bowl. Cut in the cold diced butter as you would when making pie crust. I prefer to use my hands or a pastry cutter for this as to not overwork the dough. Scones are notoriously known for being dry so careful handling of the dough is important to keeping them tender and moist.
Add in the wet ingredients and mix with a spoon or spatula. Lastly mix in the chopped nuts with your hands. Pour the dough out onto a clean floured work surface and lightly knead a few times to bring everything together. Divide the dough in half and pat each half into a same sized circle, about 1/2 inch tall.
Creating the Layers
Combine 2 tsp sugar and 1 tsp chai spice in a small bowl. Sprinkle over the top of one half of the dough (see image below) and press down gently to adhere.
Place the second round of dough on top of the first and pinch the edges together to seal into one large disk. The sugar/spice mixture should now be sandwiched between both rounds of dough. Cut the disk into 8 wedges.
Resting the Scones
Place the cut scones onto the prepared baking sheet and place in the freezer for 15 minutes before baking. Alternatively, you can prep the dough ahead of time and let scones rest in the fridge overnight or for several hours. I would recommend leaving the scones in the freezer for no more than 30 minutes if prepping ahead, otherwise keep in the fridge until ready to bake.
Allowing the scones to rest (even for just 15 minutes) will let the gluten relax in the dough and help create light instead of heavy scones. Also, keeping scones cold will help them keep their shape and make for a better rise in the oven.
Glaze the Tops
After the scones have baked and cooled, whip up a simple glaze of confectioners’ sugar, vanilla and milk. The glaze should be a pourable consistency but not overly runny. Drizzle glaze over the tops of the scones for some added sweetness and a finished look. Sprinkle chopped nuts on the wet glaze for added crunch and texture.
For more Fall Vibes check out the recipes below!
- Caramelized Apple Pound Cake
- Vanilla Chai Spiced Granola (sooo good!)
- My Favorite Apple Pie
- Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls (you HAVE to try these!)
- Spiced Apple Cupcakes
Glazed Chai Spice Scones
- Prep Time: 25 min
- Cook Time: 20 min
- Total Time: 1 hour (includes freezing time)
- Yield: 8 scones 1x
Description
Tender and moist chai spice scones with walnuts and a simple vanilla glaze. With warming chai spice mixed right into the batter AND layered in the middle of each scone.
Ingredients
Chai Spice Scones
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup + 2 tsp granulated sugar, divided
- 2 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 3 tsp chai spice (store bought or homemade), divided
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold & cubed
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream, plus more for brushing
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup walnuts, chopped (plus more for topping – optional)
Glaze
- 1 cup confectioners’ sugar
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 tbsp whole milk
Instructions
Chai Spice Scones
- Preheat the oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, baking powder, salt and 2 tsp chai spice. Add in the cold diced butter. Use your hands or a pastry cutter to work the butter into the dry mixture until it is broken down into smaller chunks and coated in flour.
- In a measuring glass, add 1 cup of heavy whipping cream and the vanilla extract. Pour the liquids into the dry ingredients and use a wooden spoon or spatula to mix until the dough begins to come together. Then gently mix in the chopped walnuts with your hands.
- Transfer the dough to a clean lightly floured work surface. Use your hands to shape the dough into two same sized disks, about 1/2 inch thick.
- Combine the remaining 2 tsp sugar and 1 tsp chai spice in a small bowl. Sprinkle over the top of one of the rounds of dough, lightly pressing down to adhere. Place the 2nd round of dough on top of the sugar coated one and gently pinch the outer edges together to seal.
- Using a sharp knife, cut the disk of dough into 8 wedges. Place the wedges on the prepared baking pan and place into the freezer for 15 minutes to rest. After 15 minutes, remove from the freezer and brush the tops of the scones with additional heavy cream.
- Bake for 20 minutes, until the edges are turning a light golden brown. Allow to cool completely before glazing.
Glaze
- Combine all ingredients into a small bowl. Whisk until completely smooth, adding in more sugar or milk as needed to reach the correct consistency. The glaze should be thick enough to stick to the top of the scone but should still be pourable. Drizzle glaze on top of the cooled scones. Top with additional chopped walnuts if desired.
Notes
- Chai Spice: I prefer to use the King Arthur Chai Spice mix. But you can also substitute with a homemade version or another brand.
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