If given the choice between a muffin and a scone, I’ll take the scone every single time. I’ve even been known to eat scones for dessert (instead of breakfast) on more than one occasion. There’s something about that dry, flaky texture that I love. For some reason, however, I haven’t made scones that often until now. Living an organic, non-GMO lifestyle doesn’t mean you have to give up your favorite foods. You just need to know how to make them with the cleanest ingredients. This recipe for blueberry lemon scones is fantastic and super easy. The scones are perfect for a weekend brunch, a treat or to make ahead and freeze for later.
There are two special ingredients in this recipe. The first ingredient is Nutiva’s new organic vegan superfood shortening blend. This shortening replaces the “Crisco” (that’s full of heart clogging trans fat and GMOs) that most scone recipes call for. Nutiva’s shortening is a blend of organic coconut oil and red palm oil (not to be confused with the palm oil that is harvested unsustainably and destroying animals habitats). Nutiva’s commitment to obtaining red palm oil through sustainable practices makes it one of the most unique products available on the market. Whole Foods is now carrying this product, and you’ll find it in the baking supplies section of the store because it doesn’t need to be refrigerated.
The second ingredient is coconut palm sugar. This type of sugar is a perfect 1 to 1 substitute for any recipe that calls for regular old sugar. One of the big pluses of coconut palm sugar – it’s completely unrefined and not bleached like typical refined white sugar, helping to preserve all of its teeming vitamins and minerals. It is naturally high in amino acids – has 10,000 times more potassium, 20 times more magnesium and 20 times more iron than conventional sugar. Converting to this type of sugar could also lower your risk of developing diabetes because its glycemic index is half of that compared to sugar.
- ½ cup Nutiva shortening or grass-fed butter
- 3 cups spelt flour
- ¼ cup coconut palm sugar
- 1 tablespoon + ¾ teaspoon of baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons lemon zest
- ½ cup frozen blueberries
- 1 egg
- ½ cup + 2 tablespoons coconut milk, divided
- Lemon Glaze:
- ¼ cup coconut palm nectar
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
- In a small bowl place the shortening in the freezer for 10-15 minutes.
- In a separate bowl mix together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.
- Cut in the shortening with the back of a fork or pastry cutter until the size of a pea.
- Add the lemon zest and blueberries and mix gently to combine.
- In a small bowl mix the egg and the coconut milk together. Add to the dry ingredients and mix only until combined.
- Roll the dough out on a floured cutting board until it is 1'' thick. Cut the scones into your desired shape and put on a baking sheet. Brush with the 2 tablespoons of coconut milk and place in the oven.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes.
- While baking make the lemon glaze by combining the coconut palm nectar with the lemon juice.
- Drizzle on top of each scone when they first come out of the oven.
Hope you enjoy the recipe!
Vani
Please note: {Giveaway ended}
I’m already subscribed, etc. so I don’t know how to enter the drawing. Does this do it?
I’m already subscribed to the email newsletter. Would like to try the Crisco substitute. I have bought Nutiva’s Red Palm Oil, and Coconut Oil, but haven’t tried the new product. Thanks for the recipe and the tips.
Mmmmm, coconut sugar! And I am super excited to try the shortening!!
Can’t wait to try this recipe.
I have used another vegan brand of crisco or just used vegan butter but I like this version better. Hope can find at local health food store. Thanks.
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I already subscribed! The blueberry lemon scone looks delicious and I am going to try it out soon, no matter what. And also, I just want to say thank you for what you do. I was finally able to get my health back on track!! I thought I was eating and drinking healthy stuff, but it turns out that the labels on the products were misleading. Of course. And how did I find out they were misleading?? YOU!! :). It turns out almost all the foods I ate had GMOs in them!! I couldn’t believe myself! But thanks to you, I was able to find ACTUAL healthy foods (Certified Organic, Non-GMO, etc.). And all the blogs and recipes you post are super informative and helpful! So thanks, again.
What is coconut palm nectar? Does Whole Foods also carry this?
i hope i get that good stuff
I really enjoy reading the information from Food Babe. The information is helpful & much needed. I will try this recipe.
Interesting! Will try!
I’m so excited to try this this shortening substitute! I like your fb and follow you on Twitter, YouTube, and Pinterest!
Already enjoying updates so so interesting news! So curious about the oil combo!
Mmmm I just made these yesterday, but made them vegan, with a flaxseed egg. I also added some vanilla to the wet ingredients, because I love vanilla. It was deee-lish!!! They are already all gone. 🙂 Thanks Vani for all your hard work and your yummy recipes!
Can’t wait to try your scone recipe! Thanks for your great work and making the world a better place 🙂
I can’t wait to try them! They are in the oven right now but I had to make them with organic butter since I do not have the shortening on hand. I would love to win it so I could try it!
Another recipe I can’t wait to try. I’m so thankful for all that you do ! ! ! Both in leading the way to honesty in ingredient labels and publishing recipes with awesome ingredients.
Cooking is largely an art form I have yet to master. However, with most of the recipes you post, they are easily manageable. And better yet, taste great. I’ve had my share of healthy foods that taste like cardboard. (Most of which came from my own hands in the learning process.)
Your recipes get me excited to try new things. I can’t thank you enough for that!
I love your website. Thanks for all you do!
Can’t wait to try the recipe . Sounds delicious. I am just starting organic-non gmo journey. It would be nice to win the give away!!!
I am ecstatic there is a healthy shortening alternative! !
My kids and I are learning so much from all your great info. Thanks for helping me and my family make healthy informed choices with the food we eat….Love that I can pass this on to my kids and help them see that what they put into their body Matters!!!!!
Excited to try this scone recipe! Thank you
Love your site Vani! Your passion & energy shows thru all that you do & I’m so glad I found out about the Food Babe! Looking forward to making some wholesome scones @ home! All the best, Danielle in NY
Nutiva coconut oil! Hope shortening with subbing gluten-free ingredients help scones come out as pictured…and deliciously imagined 🙂
The Nutiva products sound like fantastic alternatives. Thanks for info.
I cannot Read enough! I am so thankful that I found your site!! All the difficult questions I ask myself, you answer here! I appreciate all the Clear info to improve my life so much!
Absolutely love Nutiva Shortening! It is wonderful I only use Coconut Palm Sugar, but haven’t tried Nutiva brand yet.
Thanks for a great blog and great products.
Can’t wait to try the recipe as soon as I win the giveaway! Thank you for all your detective work. I’m paying it forward.
I googled a recipe for japanese carrot dressing and you came up.
What tribe are you from?
I am just curious.
How to replace egg?
oooh, this recipe sounds yum! I would love to try the Nutiva’s “crisco”!
Where can I find the coconut palm nectar?. I didn’t find it on Nutiva’s website.
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Just made these and the house smells awesome! I replaced the lemon peel w/ organic orange peel….and used the juice from the orange in place of the lemon juice. I tweaked the “icing” a bit more, too….based on what I had on hand. MMMM!!
Would love to try these products!
Here’s some information about coconut palm sugar everyone should definitely read: http://www.tropicaltraditions.com/coconut_palm_sugar.htm
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I’m confused. The first ingredient in the http://store.nutiva.com/shortening/ is Organic Palm Fruit Oil (followed by Red Palm and then Coconut Oil). Is Organic Palm Fruit Oil the same palm oil you say to avoid?
Doesn’t spelt contain gluten? Any alternative?
Trying to fight colon cancer, hope these recipes help
Great recipes
could substitute the egg (animal product) for 1 TBSP ground flax whisked with water.
These tasted like depression, the dog wouldn’t even sniff them. : /
Is this recipe calling for liquid coconut milk or the canned stuff which is thicker? Any substitute for spelt flour?
Can you make your own version at home of the nutiva “shortening” – I have both products, the coconut oil and the red palm oil, so I’m wondering if there is a ratio you can use to utilize the products you have on hand already?
Thanks!
These look wonderful and I would like to try them. I am concerned about using coconut palm sugar, which may be unsustainable. Tropical Traditions, a company that sells all things coconut will not produce/carry it. If a coconut tree is used to make sugar, it cannot produce coconut, maybe never again. Since the coconut palm sugar is more lucrative than the coconuts themselves, more producers are turning to the sugar making. That is partly why coconut, coconut milk, etc prices are rising sharply. Some say that this does not hurt the trees, however, one of their sources says she has never seen the trees produce coconuts again after tapping them for sugar. Should we take that chance?
I love scones but avoid for health and now I can have some again!! Thanks!
I am trying wheat free all of December, can you substitute oat flour for the spelt flour??
I think most would like to eat healthier, home produced or local food, but it is so difficult to source food ethically, especially in times of a recession, yes, it is easy for some to say Grow Your Own, go to the markets etc and good if you can do this and have transport, but, it requires space and time, ordering online is also useful, but now many communities are struggling to provide services., not very realistic.
I find that unless, I go to a specialist shop, most which are a long way, it usually takes a considerable amount of organisation and isn’t very ethical, so making do with what you have is usually the only option.
The ingredients tend to be very expensive for those on a budget.
This is all very interesting, look forward to learning more and being healthier might even lose weight,good all the way around. Thank you.
Food babe thanks for fighting for a better tomorrow! Pick me!
Interesting. I did not know there was a safe shortening.