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Dark Chocolate and Orange Scones

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THE DOUGH MUST GO ON is the ninth book in the Oxford Tearoom Mystery series by H.Y. Hanna and is filled with a jolly good time! Gemma Rose, owner of Little Stables Tearoom in Oxford has been hired to cater morning and afternoon tea for a famous reality talent show: From Pleb to Celeb. The creator and owner of the show is one of the richest and probably most eccentric men in Britain. This gives the author plenty of opportunities to create scenes filled with hilarity, especially when the four octogenarians, known as the Old Biddies, land a spot on the show with their “Granny Band” act. Ms. Hanna provides great descriptions of the various and often crazy talent acts which provides plenty of chuckles. Of course Gemma’s adorable little tabby, Muesli, gets in on the act as well and steals every scene, while Gemma’s mother puts her own mark on the show.

After discovering a murder victim during the competition (killed with an unbelievably unique weapon), Gemma is drawn to helping find the murderer. With so many contestants and show employees in the vicinity of the crime, there are plenty of suspects. As Gemma delves deeper into the victim’s life, she finds lots of people had reasons to truly dislike the murdered woman. Gemma’s boyfriend Devlin, is the inspector in charge of the investigation. While he’s a capable investigator, Gemma has a way of getting people to confide in her, providing clues along the way. The suspenseful conclusion wrapped up the threads of the story and I was greatly surprised at the “how” the murder was executed. It was quite ingenious!

With Gemma’s tearoom catering tea time for the talent show, scones are a must for English tea. Little Stables Tearoom is famous for their Traditional English Scones (the recipe is included in A SCONE TO DIE FOR), which are round and compact, light and fluffy on the inside, and crusty on the outside. They are not very sweet and are usually plain with no toppings. American scones, in contrast, are larger and denser, with more butter and sugar, and are normally made with a variety of ingredients added to the dough. Ms. Hanna thought it would be fun to provide an American scone recipe for contrast and I was honored that she asked me to develop the recipe. We settled on a scone that features an eternally popular combo: tangy orange and dark chocolate. Tart orange zest and bittersweet dark chocolate flavors the buttery scone dough while a drizzle of thick dark chocolate scented with orange extract gives taste buds a sudden burst of flavor with each bite!

 

Dark Chocolate and Orange Scones combine two popular flavors in buttery scones while a drizzle of dark chocolate gives taste buds a sudden burst of flavor!

 

Click here to see the recipe for: Traditional English Scones

 

Amazon Synopsis

Showbiz comes to Oxford in the form of Britain’s hottest new talent show, and tearoom owner Gemma Rose gets a peek behind-the-scenes when she’s asked to cater for the event. But with the Old Biddies, entering the contest as England’s first “granny band”, and her little tabby, Muesli, stealing the limelight, Gemma soon ends up with more than she bargained for… and that’s before she comes across a frozen dead body!

Now, she’s on the trail of a murderer, with four nosy old ladies giving her a helping hand, while also dealing with her embarrassing mother, her workaholic boyfriend–and even a mouse invader at her tearoom!

With things heating up in the contest and so many suspects in the running, can Gemma catch the killer before the curtain falls?

 

 

 

 

 

A special thanks to H.Y. Hanna for providing a winner with their choice of either print or an e-book copy of THE DOUGH MUST GO ON. Contest ends Friday, October 5, 2018 at 11:59 pm PST. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below to enter. The winner will be announced on this page and on Cinnamon & Sugar’s Facebook page, as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!) 

 

 

 

 

Dark Chocolate and Orange Scones combine two popular flavors in buttery scones while a drizzle of dark chocolate gives taste buds a sudden burst of flavor!

Print
Dark Chocolate and Orange Scones
Ingredients
Scones
  • 2 cups (272 grams) all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/3 cup (72 grams) granulated sugar
  • zest from 1 large orange
  • 1/2 cup (112 grams) unsalted butter, cut into small pieces and frozen
  • 1/2 cup (108 grams) sour cream
  • 2 tablespoons orange juice
  • 1 egg
  • 1-1/2 ounces (42 grams) dark chocolate, chopped
Chocolate Orange Drizzle
  • 2 ounces (56 grams) dark chocolate, chopped
  • 1/2 teaspoon vegetable shortening
  • 1/4 teaspoon orange extract
Instructions
Scones

  1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees (F) or 218 degrees (C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

  2. Whisk together until smooth the sour cream, egg, and orange juice. Set aside.

  3. In the bowl of a food processor, pulse together until combined (about 10 pulses) flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, sugar, and orange zest. 

  4. Sprinkle the frozen butter pieces over the top of the flour mixture, then pulse until the mixture resembles coarse meal. 

  5. Add the sour cream mixture to the flour mixture and pulse just until the dough comes together. Be careful to not over process the dough. 

  6. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface. Sprinkle the chopped chocolate over the dough then gently knead into the mix. Again, be careful to not overwork the dough or it will toughen. 

  7. Place the dough onto the parchment-lined baking sheet and pat into an 8-inch circle. Cut into 8 wedges and move them slightly apart.

  8. Bake 12 - 15 minutes. The scones should be golden and the center should look set. Cool scones on a wire cooling rack while preparing the glaze.

Chocolate Orange Glaze

  1. Place the chocolate and vegetable shortening into a microwave-safe bowl. Heat on 70% power for 45 seconds. Stir. Heat in additional 20 second increments as needed, stirring after each heat cycle until chocolate is melted and smooth. 

  2. Mix in the orange extract and stir until smooth.

  3. Drizzle the chocolate over the scones. Allow to set for 15 minutes then serve.

 
Dark Chocolate and Orange Scones combine two popular flavors in buttery scones while a drizzle of dark chocolate gives taste buds a sudden burst of flavor!

 

 

 

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

 

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Dark Chocolate and Orange Scones combine two popular flavors in buttery scones while a drizzle of dark chocolate gives taste buds a sudden burst of flavor!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you receive my blog post via email you will need to visit my website to view the video.

 

I was provided an advance copy with the hopes I would review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

 

Dark Chocolate and Orange Scones combine two popular flavors in buttery scones while a drizzle of dark chocolate gives taste buds a sudden burst of flavor!

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52 thoughts on “Dark Chocolate and Orange Scones”

  1. I don’t really watch them. If I hear from someone that something amazing was on, I look it up. I’m really not a big tv person. I use to be so I’m not sure what happened. When I was younger I had the tv going all the time. Now days can pass by without me turning it on. Weird isn’t it?

  3. I enjoy watching talent shows on tv. My two favorite shows to watch are America’s Got Talent and the Voice.

  10. These scones look delicious! Orange and chocolate is such a good combination, so I can imagine these taste delicious. I already read this book, but entered the giveaway so I can gift a copy to my sister if I win :). I also enjoyed discovering out how the murder was committed in this one. It was a nice twist and I wasn’t thinking in that direction at all, until the reveal. It’s such a fun series that keeps going strong. I don’t watch talent shows on tv, but it sure was a fun theme for a book.

  12. I haven’t had much of a chance to watch talent competitions that much anymore, but the last time I saw American Idol, my favorite went home right before the finals, and it always seems like my favorites don’t get that far…

  13. I love chocolate orange scones. The only place I know that sells them is Ettore’s in Sacramento, California. I don’t have network tv but sometimes will see a link to a talent show and click on it to watch. Thank you for this opportunity

  23. I do not watch talent contests on tv, unless food competition shows count. ?
    Orange and dark chocolate are one of my favorite flavor combinations, so I will definitely be baking up a batch of these delicious looking scones!

  30. Thank you for the information on “THE DOUGH MUST GO ON” and the wonderful recipe for Dark Chocolate and Orange Scones. Love scones and these sound to die for.

    I do like to watch some of the talent shows on TV. However, I usually don’t pick who they selected for the winner. I’m not a “regular” watcher since something usually gets in the way of watching something regularly at our house.

  33. I don’t get much chance to watch talent shows but sometimes will catch them here and there. And the recipe looks yummy!

  34. My Paternal ancestral line is in England/Wales area and I love H.Y. Hanna’s books because the setting takes place within it. All the books in both series are well worth reading. It is a bonus to obtain recipes also. My fingers are crossed.

  36. I watch them when I’m visiting my aunt. I like to help her with her puzzles and visit in the evenings. Fall through spring we brew tea while we visit. I’ll have to try this recipe and take her some this week.

  39. I watched every episode of American Idol for many yrs, but I haven’t watched talent shows in recent yrs.

  43. Thank you for the scone recipe. I live sco es and have not put u I g on many so may try this soon.

    I don’t find or take time to watch talent shows as I am reading more than watching tv and I also have painting and jewelry making to keep me very busy instead of tv watching. My husband watches and alerts me to his favorites however.

    Thank you.

  45. I like scones. They don’t sell them at Walmart any more. The orange and cranberry ones were really good!

  49. I have watched them in the past, but do not pay much attention to them now. I suppose what has turned me away is realizing just how scripted they are. I have met a musician who appeared on one of the shows…he and other entertainers I’ve met all say the same and I do not like that we see the contestants portrayed the way that the producers want us to see them (“entertainment value” at the expense of some very talented people) and not as who they really are. If I had not met the one person several times – both before and after he did the show – the unfavorable impression from the program would have left me not knowing that he is really a very nice, kind, and genuine person.

  50. I don’t watch talent shows, but I do watch Top Chef and Project Runway. Thanks for having this great giveaway! I’m going to try that recipe ASAP.

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