These scones provide a sweet breakfast treat that will cure a chocolate craving without ruining your eating plan. They are made with whole wheat flour for extra fiber and slightly sweetened with raw sugar and dark chocolate chips. They are a healthier option compared to store-bought scones, which can contain as many as 500 calories and 22 grams of fat.

Yield: 8 scones

Prep time: 10 minutes

Bake time: 17 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 ¼ cups whole wheat flour
• 3 tbsp raw sugar
• 2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/8 tsp fine-ground sea salt
• ¼ cup cold unsalted butter, cubed
• ½ cup + 1 tbsp fat-free milk
• 2 tbsp dark chocolate chips

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, salt, and two tablespoons of sugar. Add the butter.
3. Use a pastry blender or two knives to cut the butter into the dough until all the ingredients are combined and the butter is evenly distributed in pea-size pieces.
4. Stir in the milk. Add the chocolate chips. Knead the ingredients into a thick dough until combined.
5. Place the dough on a baking sheet that is greased or covered with a silicone mat. Shape it into a flat, 6-inch circle. Sprinkle the remaining 1 tablespoon of sugar over the dough and press it in gently. Use a pastry cutter or a knife to cut the circle into eight equal wedges.
6. Leave the wedges intact and the scone dough in the circle, and bake for 15 to 17 minutes until the center is firm.
7. Let cool for 2 to 3 minutes, and then use the pastry cutter or knife to retrace the cuts to separate the scones into wedges. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Lori Rice, M.S., is a nutritional scientist and author with a passion for healthy cooking, exercise physiology, and food photography.