Blueberry Coconut Cream Scones
June 6, 2009 at 4:06 pm 31 comments
Ah, summer… It’s filtered into everything, even school. I spend at least two periods a day outside, because even my teachers can’t stand being cooped up. We watch movies and do creative projects instead of textbook assignments, and I have never been so relaxed or felt so free.
Summer means reading lazily in the softest, greenest patch of grass.
Playing the radio as loudly as possible so I can sing along without being heard by the neighbors.
Picking fresh, full leaves of basil that beg to become fragrant green ice cream (coming soon, I promise.)
Summer means walking into the dusk in a short sleeved shirt, stargazing right on the cool driveway, and tucking plastic yellow sunglasses in my bag wherever I go.
It’s an energy that I have tried to capture in a photograph all week. But there are no words or pictures that can convey the feeling – I’ve learned to put down the camera and simply breathe in the sun.
Even in Seattle, summer means heat. It’s almost too much – for me, the ideal day is 65 degrees. With a gentle breeze. And a slightly overcast sky. Still, I can’t resist the hazy summer heat and find myself in the backyard more than the house. But nothing can keep me away from the kitchen for long, and sure enough, I’m still baking away.
Oh, I am so lucky to be in love! With summer, with photography, with sugar, with my family. I hope you are all as happy and in love with life as I am at this very moment.
We had our first dinner outside last week. The day was so utterly lovely that we threw open every window and dusted off the old glass table. We passed around fruit salad and chicken, grilled with herbs grown in our own garden. We talked until twilight fell, and found that there is nothing quite like concluding a meal with lavender ice cream in sugar cones.
But first, we started the day with Blueberry Coconut Cream Scones.
I had leftover coconut cream, because my friend C- requested my Chocolate Marble Cheesecake with Coconut, Lemongrass, and Kaffir Lime for her 17th birthday. My dad always loves scones on Saturday mornings, so coconut scones seemed perfectly natural. But I wanted to add something else too… and blueberries were added into the mix.
My family really enjoyed these scones. The texture is very soft and makes for light scones. The coconut flavor is understated but definitely present. I also used plump dried blueberries that added great summery flavor.
Blueberry Coconut Cream Scones
Adapted from House of Annie
Makes 8-12 scones
2 cups all purpose flour
1 tbsp baking powder
3 tbsp sugar
1/2 tsp salt
5 tbsp cold, unsalted butter
1/2 cup dried blueberries
1/3 cup shredded coconut (I used sweetened)
1 cup coconut cream
Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Mix together flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt. Cut in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse meal (I used my food processor.) Add dried blueberries and shredded coconut, then gradually pour the coconut cream in a steady stream and mix in. The dough will be very shaggy and have loose pieces, and more cream can be added if the dough will not come together.
Pat the dough into a circle and cut into 8-12 pieces. Separate onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. (The original recipe instructs for the dough to be rolled out, folded over, and then shaped into a circle and cut… I simply wasn’t paying attention and skipped all that and the scones came out great. But by all means, look at the original recipe and try Annie’s method, which is accompanied with photographs.)
Brush scones with some coconut cream and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown.
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Entry filed under: Breakfast/Brunch. Tags: berries, blueberries, breakfast, coconut, scones.
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17 and Baking 
1. Em | June 6, 2009 at 6:11 pm
While your photography is of course gorgeous, I find it’s your writing the draws me in. It’s like something so rare to encounter on the internet… you are exceptionally talented, my dear :)
Continue to enjoy life and may you always be happier than you are right now (if it’s even possible! giggle!!)
2. Jet | June 6, 2009 at 7:20 pm
oooh… i have a basil plant on the deck right now – can’t wait for the basil ice cream recipe
3. kai | June 6, 2009 at 8:11 pm
yum! saw these on facebook and then went straight to the blog to see if you had a new post ready. and voila! more picturesss =D
liked today’s weather? wasn’t too hot, but it was somewhat drizzly…(i liked it more…can’t stand the heat…I should move in with the polar bears soon)
4. Monica H | June 6, 2009 at 9:06 pm
75 degrees is ideal for me, but sadly that is not my reality. Most days are 85-100 all day long. So hot!
These scones are lovely!
5. maya | June 7, 2009 at 12:38 am
elissa your blog totally blew me away. its amazing, so nice to read and your photography is so beautiful. i’ve never just read your writing thats not for an essay and no wonder you love english! you’re so eloquent :)
seriously, i want to bake. even if it will taste bad, this blog is mouthwatering hehe
6. Jackie @ PhamFatale.com | June 7, 2009 at 2:58 am
Beautiful pictures. I wouldn’t mind having one while sipping a cup of hot tea for Sunday brunch
7. Cristine | June 7, 2009 at 5:04 am
YUM! I love scones and will definately be giving this a try!
8. Kevin | June 7, 2009 at 9:16 am
Blueberry and coconut sounds like a great flavour combo for scones!
9. Valerie | June 7, 2009 at 10:06 am
Lovely post and pictures! You really captured the feel of summer, and the scones look scrumptious.
10. Alana @ Good Girl Gone Blog | June 7, 2009 at 11:29 am
Ooh you did get to make a berry dessert!
11. Amanda | June 7, 2009 at 2:17 pm
Mmm… These scones look great! And I totally agree with you on how fantastic summer is. After spending the last two years in Maine, I’m especially enjoying the warm summery-ness of VA. :)
12. zurin | June 7, 2009 at 7:59 pm
These scones look great and unusual tt it uses coconut cream..i will try this ..u write so vividly I can feel the summer there and the dinner outside! how wonderful!…glad to know u are having such a good life :))
thnx for droping by my blog too.
13. nutmegnanny | June 7, 2009 at 8:58 pm
The scones look delicious and very summery. As I type I’m on the fifth floor of a NYC apartment building sweating my butt off because I can’t find a fan. I would do anything for a nice 65 degree day to make this place a little bit cooler.
14. Jen | June 8, 2009 at 7:34 am
Girlie, I’d luv one of these scones with my tea right now. It’d make being at work, instead of enjoying a summer’s day, so much easier. Live it up for us both!
15. Shannon L | June 8, 2009 at 9:06 am
aw, you have an herb garden? i mean thats what you meant with picking basil right? i would love to start an herb garden, it seems so beneficial
16. Marta | June 8, 2009 at 1:56 pm
I too prefer a slightly overcast sky! I don’t like the blazing heat of the sun against my skin (I’m an SPF Nazi!) and I certainly don’t enjoy humidity. Perfect weather for me is late-spring… pity it seems to last like 2 days here!
Lovely scones, look nice and flakey :)
17. Lori | June 9, 2009 at 12:07 pm
Beautiful scones! Are you sure your just 17? Youu make amazing food and you do great photography. Bravo!
18. Julia @ Mélanger | June 10, 2009 at 4:12 am
65 F is winter here. Too funny. Great scones. I practically grew up eating them!
19. howtoeatacupcake | June 10, 2009 at 11:48 am
Basil ice cream??? I gotta see that!
20. Francine Weistrop | June 10, 2009 at 7:15 pm
Can I subscribe to your list? I have heard great things about your recipes, and tasted the ginger cookies.
Thanks in advance.
21. Elissa | June 10, 2009 at 7:39 pm
Hi Francine, please feel free to subscribe to my blog. I’m very flattered, thanks! :)
22. Jude | June 11, 2009 at 7:03 pm
Nice idea to use coconut in blueberry scones. It always adds a nice toasted flavor when baked.
The Southeast Asian flavors on the cheesecake sounds great too!
23. Madison | June 12, 2009 at 5:54 pm
Yes, your writing is wonderful. I’m a fellow teenager that’s been reading your blog for a little while.
I want to learn how to bake eventually. I will.–when health permits. You’re exceptionally talented!
24. Nate | June 16, 2009 at 1:19 pm
Hi,
Thanks for linking back to us.
Your photography and your writing are both beautiful.
25. sharon | June 21, 2009 at 4:42 pm
Try dried apricots and slivered almonds with some almond extract. That makes for a wonderful scone….
26. Elissa | June 21, 2009 at 11:04 pm
Sharon – Apricot and almond sounds wonderful, thanks for the idea!
27. Thymes of Change | July 18, 2009 at 11:09 am
Just made these, wonderful!!! Only problem is I made only 8! So quick and easy I’m going to double the recipe next time and maybe make a bit smaller. Thanks for a great recipie!
28. georgia | December 27, 2009 at 10:18 am
Hi,
My sister just sent me an email with your blog. I just read it and really like the visual effect I get. I can picture you and your family cooking and eating together. I am from Middlebury, CT. I like your pictures and especially your writing ability.
Thanks.
29. Tania | February 13, 2010 at 1:59 pm
Elissa, another one of your recipes made!
I didn’t have the coconut cream, so I just used some nonfat yogurt and some milk for liquid substitute (as well as shredded coconut).
They turned out beautiful and delicious!!
30. miss kite » Blog Archive » Scones! | March 24, 2010 at 7:53 pm
[…] want to eventually try this blueberry-coconut scones recipe. I have so many recipes bookmarked! If I don’t get around to the blueberry-coconut […]
31. Sunday Dish: Panzanella « Charm Offensive Cooking | July 18, 2010 at 7:50 pm
[…] been wanting to try two new recipes (one from “The Joy of Cooking” and the other from 17 and Baking), so off to the kitchen I went…thank goodness for air […]