Indulgent Caramel Bliss Scones: The Ultimate Coffee Creamer Recipe

Are you searching for an ingenious way to elevate your baking, or perhaps find a delightful use for that liquid coffee creamer sitting in your fridge? Look no further than these extraordinary Caramel Bliss Scones. This time-honored recipe offers a unique twist on the classic scone, infusing it with the rich, creamy flavor of your favorite coffee creamer. The result is a scone that’s exceptionally tender, moist, and bursting with a comforting caramel essence, making it a perfect accompaniment to your morning coffee or an exquisite afternoon treat.

We’ve found that using liquid coffee creamer, especially a caramel-flavored one, adds an unparalleled depth of flavor and a wonderfully moist texture that traditional scones sometimes lack. While we love experimenting with various brands and flavors, Coffee Mate’s caramel varieties have consistently delivered outstanding results. Whether you stick with the classic Coffee Mate or venture into their newer, more natural lines, these scones are destined to become a staple in your recipe collection. So, if you’re ready to transform a simple pantry item into a baking triumph, these Caramel Bliss Scones are your answer!

Why Bake Scones with Coffee Creamer?

The idea of incorporating liquid coffee creamer into a scone recipe might sound unconventional, but it’s a brilliant hack for several reasons. Firstly, liquid creamers are specifically designed to provide richness and flavor, and these qualities translate beautifully into baked goods. They act as both a liquid and a flavoring agent, contributing to the scone’s tenderness and infusing it with a delicious, nuanced taste. For this recipe, caramel-flavored creamer creates an incredible foundation, making every bite feel like a little piece of bliss.

Secondly, it’s an excellent way to use up any leftover creamer before it expires. Instead of pouring it down the drain, you can turn it into a batch of delectable scones that will impress anyone. Finally, modern coffee creamers, particularly lines like Coffee Mate Natural Bliss, offer an exciting array of “cleaner” ingredient options. For those who enjoy the convenience and flavor of liquid creamers but prefer fewer artificial additives, the Natural Bliss range is a game-changer. Made with just a few simple ingredients like milk, cream, sugar, and natural flavoring, it allows you to enjoy these indulgent scones with peace of mind. As someone who appreciates both flavor and ingredient transparency, I’m thrilled to recommend using these options in your baking adventures.

Caramel Bliss Scones: The Recipe

This recipe yields 8 delightful scones, perfect for sharing or enjoying over a few days. The dough for these scones is intentionally a little softer than some traditional scone doughs, which contributes to their incredible tenderness. Don’t worry, with a lightly floured surface, shaping them into beautiful triangles will be a breeze. We’ve also discovered that these scones are fantastic for making ahead, offering ultimate convenience for busy mornings or planned brunches.

Ingredients for Caramel Bliss Scones:

• 2 cups (9 oz / 270 grams) all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 4 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 4 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into small chunks
• 1 large egg yolk
• ¾ scant cup heavy cream, or as needed
• ¼ cup Coffee Mate Natural Bliss, Caramel Flavored (or your preferred caramel liquid creamer)
• ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract

Ingredients for the Caramel Icing:

• 1 tablespoon melted unsalted butter
• 1 cup confectioners’ sugar (powdered sugar)
• 1-2 teaspoons Coffee Mate Caramel Bliss (or more milk, as needed)
• Milk as needed (or more Caramel Bliss for richer flavor)

How to Make Coffee Creamer Scones: Step-by-Step Guide

Get ready to bake a batch of the most heavenly scones! Follow these detailed steps to ensure perfectly golden, flaky, and delicious Caramel Bliss Scones every time.

Preparation and Dry Ingredients:

1. Preheat Oven: Begin by preheating your oven to 400ºF (200ºC). This ensures the oven is at the correct temperature for immediate baking once your scones are formed.
2. Prepare Baking Sheet: Line a large baking sheet with non-stick foil or parchment paper. This prevents sticking and makes for easy cleanup.
3. Combine Dry Ingredients: In the bowl of a food processor, or a large mixing bowl, thoroughly combine the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Whisk these ingredients together well to ensure the baking powder and salt are evenly distributed throughout the flour.
4. Add Sugar: Stir in the granulated sugar until well combined with the flour mixture.
5. Incorporate Cold Butter: Add the cold, cubed unsalted butter to the dry ingredients. If using a food processor, pulse until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs, with some pea-sized pieces of butter remaining. If mixing by hand in a bowl, use a pastry cutter or your fingertips to work the butter into the flour until the same coarse, crumbly texture is achieved. The key is to keep the butter as cold as possible to create flaky scones.

Wet Ingredients and Dough Formation:

6. Prepare Wet Mixture: In a separate small bowl, whisk together the large egg yolk, heavy cream, the Coffee Mate Caramel Bliss creamer, and vanilla extract until well combined.
7. Combine Wet and Dry: Add the wet mixture to the food processor (or mixing bowl) with the dry ingredients. Process (or mix) just until a soft dough begins to form. Be careful not to overmix; overworking the dough can lead to tough scones.
8. Turn Out Dough: Gently empty the soft dough onto a large, clean, lightly floured surface. The dough will be softer than some traditional scone doughs, so don’t be alarmed. If it feels particularly sticky, dust your surface and hands more generously with flour. If it seems a little dry, use less flour.

Shaping and Baking:

9. Gentle Kneading: Knead the dough once or twice very gently, just enough to bring it together and smooth it out slightly. Avoid excessive kneading.
10. Shape Rectangles: Divide the dough in half. Shape each half into a rectangle approximately 6×3 inches (about 15×7.5 cm) and about ¾ inch (2 cm) thick.
11. Cut Triangles: Cut each rectangle in half lengthwise, resulting in two smaller rectangles. Then, cut each of these smaller rectangles diagonally, yielding four triangles from each original half, for a total of 8 triangles.
12. Arrange and Bake: Carefully arrange the scone triangles on your prepared baking sheet, leaving a little space between each.
13. Bake to Golden Perfection: Bake for 16-18 minutes, or until the scones are beautifully golden brown on top and cooked through.
14. Cool: Remove the scones from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. This cooling step is important before icing.

The Irresistible Caramel Icing:

No Caramel Bliss Scone would be complete without a luscious caramel icing to top it off. This simple glaze adds another layer of sweetness and a beautiful finish to your baked creations.

1. Prepare Icing Base: In a medium bowl or a large measuring cup, combine the melted unsalted butter and the confectioners’ sugar. Stir well until a thick paste forms.
2. Add Caramel Flavor: Gradually add 1-2 teaspoons of Coffee Mate Caramel Bliss (or your preferred caramel liquid creamer).
3. Adjust Consistency: Slowly add small amounts of milk (or additional caramel creamer for a richer flavor) a teaspoon at a time, mixing until you achieve your desired consistency. For a drizzling consistency, you’ll need it a bit thinner. For piping, like the scone shown in the photo, make it thicker.
4. Pipe or Drizzle: Once the scones are cooled, you can drizzle the icing over them with a spoon, or for a more decorative look, transfer the thicker icing to a small sandwich bag, snip off a tiny corner, and pipe it over the scones.

Essential Tips for Perfect Coffee Creamer Scones

Achieving bakery-quality scones at home is easier than you think, especially with a few key techniques:

• Keep Ingredients Cold: This is paramount for flaky scones. Cold butter creates pockets of steam in the oven, leading to light, airy layers. Ensure your butter, egg yolk, and even the liquid creamer are chilled.
• Don’t Overmix: Overmixing develops the gluten in the flour, resulting in tough scones. Mix just until the dough comes together.
• Gentle Handling: Scone dough appreciates a light touch. Avoid heavy kneading.
• Flour Your Surface Wisely: Use just enough flour to prevent sticking, but not so much that it dries out the dough.
• High Heat Baking: Baking at 400°F (200°C) helps the scones rise quickly and develop a beautiful golden crust.
• Even Cuts: Ensure your scones are cut uniformly for even baking.

Make-Ahead & Freezing Instructions:

One of the best features of this Caramel Bliss Scones recipe is how well it adapts to make-ahead preparation. You can enjoy freshly baked scones with minimal effort on the day you plan to serve them.

• Freezing Dough Squares: Prepare the dough as instructed, shape it into rectangles, and then cut it into squares (or triangles). Arrange the unbaked scone pieces on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, ensuring they don’t touch. Freeze for 1-2 hours until solid. Once frozen, transfer the individual scone pieces to a freezer-safe airtight bag or container. They can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months.
• Thawing Frozen Scones: The night before you plan to bake, transfer the desired number of frozen scone pieces from the freezer to the refrigerator to thaw overnight. They will rise just fine.
• Baking Frozen Scones (without thawing): For an even quicker option, you can bake the scones directly from frozen. They might require an extra 5-10 minutes of baking time. Keep an eye on them until they are golden brown.
• Refrigerating Dough: While freezing works perfectly, leaving the raw dough in the refrigerator overnight without freezing has also yielded good results. Simply cover the dough tightly with plastic wrap and chill. When ready to bake, shape and bake as usual, potentially adding a minute or two to the bake time.

Small Batch Coffee Creamer Scones:

If you’re baking for one or two and prefer a smaller yield, this recipe is easily halved. Simply divide all the ingredient quantities by two. You’ll end up with 4 delicious scones, perfect for a cozy morning. The dough consistency and baking instructions remain the same, just be mindful of the reduced quantity on your baking sheet.

Serving Suggestions & Variations

These Caramel Bliss Scones are incredibly versatile. They are delightful on their own, but here are some ideas to enhance your experience:

• With Coffee or Tea: Their rich caramel flavor pairs perfectly with a hot cup of coffee, a creamy latte, or a soothing cup of black tea.
• Fresh Fruit: Serve alongside a bowl of fresh berries or sliced peaches for a bright contrast.
• Whipped Cream or Clotted Cream: For an extra decadent treat, offer a dollop of whipped cream or traditional clotted cream.
• Flavor Variations: Don’t limit yourself to caramel! Experiment with other liquid coffee creamer flavors like vanilla, hazelnut, Irish cream, or even seasonal pumpkin spice. You can also fold in chocolate chips, chopped nuts, or dried fruit like cranberries or raisins into the dough before shaping.

Conclusion

These Caramel Bliss Scones truly are a testament to how simple ingredients, with a creative twist, can produce something truly extraordinary. Using liquid coffee creamer not only makes these scones exceptionally moist and flavorful but also provides a clever solution for utilizing that creamer in your fridge. Whether you’re an experienced baker or just starting out, this detailed recipe, complete with make-ahead options and helpful tips, ensures a successful and delicious outcome. So, gather your ingredients, preheat your oven, and prepare to indulge in these wonderfully tender, caramel-infused delights. They are guaranteed to bring a moment of blissful sweetness to your day. Happy baking!