Probiotic Scones with Apricot and Kefir
These scones are probiotic rich thanks to the kefir and apricot which help you maintain healthy gut bacteria, a perfect way to start the day.
Scones are a breakfast pastry that are similar to a biscuit. They are popular in the UK. For me I was introduced way back in seventh grade in home economics class, does anyone else remember making them? They are a quick bread in that you just mix the ingredients and bake, no rising or activation required. Scones can be sweet or savory. These Probiotic Scones with Apricot and Kefir are moist and flavorful thanks to the cream cheese and kefir, and the apricots give a nice sweet profile to the scone. After baking the edges get a golden brown color and the inside is flaky and warm. They go perfectly with butter and a sprinkle of sea salt or a smear of cream cheese and jelly. Either way you can’t go wrong.
These scones are packed with probiotic powerhouses such as kefir and dried apricot. If you’ve never heard of kefir, it is a fermented milk drink similar to a drinkable yogurt but a bit thicker and tangier. These Probiotic Scones with Apricot and Kefir are beneficial for your “gut health” because they can contain live microorganisms that help your digestive health. Various benefits of probiotics include; boost immunity and decrease inflammation, help improve a healthy skin tone, lower blood pressure, and better digestion. The apricots are not only a good source of probiotics, they also are high in antioxidants, contain a fair amount of fiber and have many important vitamins in them per serving. They are deliciously soft and chewy and go great in this recipe. These Probiotic Scones with Apricot and Kefir also have hemp hearts snuck in which are a great source of iron. I have begun adding hemp hearts into any recipe I can ever since my youngest was low in iron during one of his routine check ups. They don’t alter the flavor or change the scones consistency so they are completely optional if you choose to add them in, I choose to just to help boost my little ones scone with extra nutritional benefits. Hemp hearts are a great source of iron, that also have protein and omega 3 fatty acids in them.
The recipe comes together fairly quickly after you have assembled all of your ingredients. If you have little ones in your kitchen like I do they love to mix the butter and cream cheese into the flour, its a fun sensory experience for them and they can’t really mess it up. (After cubing the butter and cream cheese you add it to the dry ingredients and mix by hand slowly pinching it in until the butter is into small pea size pieces.) Before baking paint a small amount of the left over kefir on the scones and sprinkle with cane sugar. Once removed from the oven spread a small amount of butter on the top and some sea salt. Serve warm and enjoy.
Probiotic Scones with Apricot and Kefir
Equipment
- mixing bowls
- sheet pan
- parchment paper
Ingredients
- 3 1/4 Cup Flour
- 1/2 Cup Cane Sugar plus more for sprinkling on top
- 2 1/2 tsp Baking Powder
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 4 oz Cream Cheese
- 8 tbsp Butter
- 1 Egg
- 1 tbsp Vanilla Extract
- 1 Cup Kefir
- 1 Cup Dried Apricot roughly chopped
- 1/4 Cup Hemp Hearts
- Coarse Sea Salt for sprinkling on at the end, optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
- In mixing bowl mix together dry ingredients, flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.
- Cube the cream cheese and butter into small squares, roughly the size of a playing dice. They both should be cold not room temperature.
- Add cream cheese and butter to dry ingredients and gently mix in by hand, pinching the butter and cream cheese until they are small chunks, roughly pea size.
- Add in the chopped apricots and hemp hearts.
- In separate mixing bowl mix together the wet ingredients, egg, vanilla and kefir.
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and slowly mix together with a fork until loosely mixed.
- Lightly flour a working surface and turn the dough out onto surface. Gently work the dough, folding it over it self a few times until it holds together nicely and you are able to pat the dough into a circle shape, roughly 1/2 inch thick.
- Cut the dough into desired shape of scones, could be triangles, squares, wedges etc. (I opted for triangles, I cut mine similar to how you would cut a pizza.) Brush the dough with some of the reserved kefir and sprinkle with the sugar a light dusting.
- Bake at 400F for 20 minutes, the tops should be golden brown.
- Serve warm and enjoy, goes great with a cup of tea!
