For those seeking a delightful, guilt-free treat that aligns with a low-carb lifestyle, look no further than this keto lemon blueberry scones recipe. These scones capture the essence of a classic scone while significantly reducing the carbohydrate content. Whether you're mindful of your daily meal choices or simply looking for a healthier alternative to traditional baked goods, these scones are a perfect fit.
The Quest for a Keto-Friendly Scone
The journey to create these scones began with a desire to recreate the comforting experience of enjoying a scone with coffee, without compromising a commitment to lower-carb eating. The goal was to make a dent in what is typically a 45-60 grams of carbohydrate per serving treat. The only self-imposed requirement was to not sacrifice texture and taste in that pursuit by making it keto. This recipe started as a Saturday morning experiment, not initially planned to be a blog post, but the outcome was so happy that here they are, six bakes later, photographed and ready to share.
What Makes These Scones Reduced Carbohydrate?
The secret to these scones lies in strategic ingredient substitutions. By exchanging half of the white flour for almond flour and substituting the monk fruit for sugar, it was possible to bring the net carbs down by virtually half.
Almond Flour: A Nutty Substitute
First, one cup of the all-purpose flour was substituted with one cup of blanched almond flour. The less expensive and more easily found almond meal was too gritty, while the superfine blanched almond meal had a lovely, tender crumb that could almost pass for a regular scone. Be sure to use blanched almond flour, such as Bob's Red Mill brand and not almond meal (the flour should be a solid butter color, with no brown flecks).
Monk Fruit Sweetener: A Guilt-Free Sweetener
In place of sugar, Lakanto Monkfruit was used. Lakanto's formula blends monk fruit extract with erythritol (for bulk), but erythritol's cooling sensation on the tongue is tempered considerably by the monk fruit. It's a 1:1 replacement with zero net carbs and zero calories, no fiber, no maltodextrin, no artificial flavoring or sweeteners. Sugar substitutes are pricer than regular sugar, but I find it's worth it for the occasional treat. Just be sure it's a cup for cup sugar replacement.
Read also: Easy Low-Carb Cheese Crackers
Blueberries: A Burst of Flavor and Antioxidants
While fruit does contain natural sugar, blueberries are relatively low in sugar and packed with nutrients. Blueberries bursting with antioxidants and fiber can even help control blood sugar levels. The blueberries provide juicy pops of natural sweetness with just the right amount of tartness.
Recipe: Keto Lemon Blueberry Scones
This recipe makes 6 scones.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup flour, plus two tablespoons for rolling, divided use
- 1 cup blanched almond flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- 2 teaspoons 1:1 monk fruit sweetener, plus one teaspoon for finishing, divided use
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt (or kosher salt)
- 5 tablespoons cold unsalted European-style butter, cubed
- 1 cup frozen blueberries (can use fresh)
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream, plus 2 teaspoons for finishing, divided use
- 1 teaspoon lemon extract
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 400º F. Line a quarter sheet pan (13-inches x 9-inches) with parchment.
- Sift together one cup of the flour with the almond flour, baking powder, monk fruit and salt into a large mixing bowl. Using a hand pastry blender, cut the cold butter into the flour mixture until the butter is well incorporated - the butter should be virtually invisible, and the flour should hold together when you squeeze it. Alternately, dump the two flours, baking powder, monk fruit and salt into the bowl of a food processor fitted with the s-blade - pulse for 20 seconds to combine. Add the butter and pulse for 45 seconds to 1 minute or until there are no visible chunks of butter. Then transfer the mixture to a large bowl and continue.
- Fold in the blueberries, covering them in flour.
- Pour in one cup of cream and the lemon extract, then carefully work it in for 30 to 40 seconds. The mixture will be very sticky, and there will still be visible flour.
- Sprinkle a tablespoon of the reserved flour onto your work surface and tip the dough out onto it, scraping the bowl.
- Cover your hands with some of the remaining flour, pat, and roll the dough into an even log, about 9-inches long (sprinkle the rest of the flour on the dough if it's too sticky to roll).
- Flatten the log to roughly a ½-inch thickness.
- Slice the flattened log into thirds, then cut each section diagonally to form triangles.
- Transfer onto the lined sheet pan.
- Brush the reserved cream onto each scone and sprinkle with the reserved monk fruit.
- Bake the scones for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the edges are golden and the tops have set and no longer look wet.
Scones will keep in an airtight container on the counter for two days or refrigerate for up to 5 days.
Tips and Variations
- Dairy-Free Option: Substitute coconut oil for the butter to create dairy-free scones.
- Nut-Free Option: If you need to be nut-free, try using sunflower seed flour. But keep in mind that it reacts with baking powder and can turned your baked goods a funny green as they cool.
- Sweetness Adjustment: If you want to cut back on the erythritol a little, you can add a touch of highly concentrated sweetener such as stevia or monk fruit extract.
- Frozen Berries: You can use frozen blueberries, but they tend to bleed quite a bit when you try to mix them into the dough.
- Additional Flavors: Feel free to experiment with other berries like raspberries or blackberries, or add sugar-free chocolate chips and chopped nuts.
Storing and Freezing
Because of the juicy berries, it is recommended to store these scones in the fridge in a covered container. They will last up to a week. You can also freeze them, both baked and unbaked, for several months. If unbaked, let them thaw completely before baking.
Nutritional Information
For one serving, these Keto Blueberry Scones have 6.9 grams of carbs and 2.8 grams of fiber. If you count net carbs, they have 4.1 grams.
Read also: Keto Calorie Counting: A Detailed Guide
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