Cheesy Pretzel Chai Caramel Scones (Print)

Scones with cheddar, pretzel bits, chai spices, and caramel deliver a sweet-salty bite for mornings or snacks.

# Components:

→ Dry Ingredients

01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 2 teaspoons baking powder
03 - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
04 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
05 - 1 tablespoon chai spice blend (cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, cloves, black pepper)
06 - 2 tablespoons light brown sugar

→ Cheese & Pretzels

07 - 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, grated
08 - 3/4 cup mini pretzel twists, roughly chopped

→ Wet Ingredients

09 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
10 - 2/3 cup cold buttermilk
11 - 1 large egg

→ Caramel

12 - 1/3 cup thick caramel sauce, plus extra for drizzling

→ Topping

13 - 1 egg, beaten for egg wash
14 - Flaky sea salt (optional)
15 - Extra caramel sauce (optional)
16 - Extra pretzel bits (optional)

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, chai spice blend, and brown sugar until evenly incorporated.
03 - Add cold, cubed butter to the bowl and use a pastry cutter or fingertips to blend until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
04 - Fold in grated cheddar cheese and chopped pretzel twists to distribute throughout the mixture.
05 - In a separate bowl, whisk together cold buttermilk, egg, and thick caramel sauce until smooth.
06 - Pour wet mixture into dry ingredients. Gently combine until just incorporated; do not overmix.
07 - Transfer dough to a floured surface, pat it into a 1-inch thick round, and slice into eight wedges.
08 - Place wedges onto prepared baking sheet. Brush tops with beaten egg, and sprinkle with flaky sea salt and extra pretzel bits as desired.
09 - Bake in the center of the oven for 16 to 18 minutes until the scones are golden brown.
10 - Allow scones to cool slightly, then drizzle with additional caramel sauce before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Sweet and savory flavor combination
  • Perfect for breakfast, snack, or tea time
02 -
  • This recipe contains wheat, dairy, and eggs
  • Check pretzel and caramel package labels for possible nut or soy traces
03 -
  • Use very cold butter and buttermilk for flakiest scones
  • Do not overmix the dough to keep texture tender

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