This post has been sponsored by Torani. All opinions expressed are my own.

Sweet. Buttery. Delicate. These scones are what you would get if you took a biscuit and a pastry and blended them together.

Today, we’re getting a head start on Christmas baking and kicking off the unofficial season with White Chocolate & Cardamom Scones- a perfect gift to give to those you love.

THE BREAKDOWN

No, not that kind of breakdown. You know, the one we all experience when we realize Christmas can be counted down on our fingers and we still might not have probably haven’t even started our Christmas shopping or menu planning. In fact, we got the tree up, but it’s only half decorated…but, I digress.

The breakdown I’m referring to is the ingredient breakdown of today’s recipe.

1. Cardamom. If you’re unfamiliar with this seasonal spice then this recipe is a perfect introduction. It’s a complex symphony of notes, boasting of citrus, mint, and spice all at once. It’s herbaceous flavor works well with other seasonal spices like cinnamon, cloves, and allspice. From cakes, cookies, and now scones, this fragrant spice is a pantry staple when it comes to holiday baking.

2. Torani White Chocolate Puremade Sauce. By now you are probably well familiar with my love for Torani Syrups from seasonal shakes, frothy delights, to good ‘ol iced coffee. Today, however, I’m switching things up and using Torani Puremade Sauces which are available at a World Market near you.

And because Torani Puremade Sauces are free from any artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives, it allows the sauce to capture the true essence of their flavor. That said, the Torani White Chocolate Puremade Sauce is a combination of sweetened condensed milk, nonfat milk and cocoa butter, giving the scones the required sweetness with an added depth of flavor. Furthermore, the white chocolate beautifully compliments the cardamom spice as well. For this recipe I preferred using the sauce as it bakes well into the batter and works with the cardamom as opposed to baking chips which would offer overtly sweet bites that would overpower the other flavors at work.

Not only are these sauces great for topping your favorite desserts with or adding into your favorite drink, but they also make for a fabulous gift, but more on that in a bit.

3. Creme de la creme. So let’s talk butter and cream. You need a lot of it to achieve the buttery, rich, flakey texture of these scones. As mentioned above, these scones are the result of a biscuit and a pastry. So be sure to use the highest quality fat you can get and remember to brush your scones before baking as well for added richness. As a finishing touch, I sprinkled sugar over each to create a little sugar crust as they baked.

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BAKED WITH LOVE

When it comes to holiday baking, it is usually with the intention of giving. During this hectic time of year, it is sometimes difficult finding the perfect gift.

One thing everyone can agree to love is a homemade gift, and when its baked with love, it is sure to be appreciated.

I made these scones and gifted them in baskets which are a perfect gift in themselves. The baskets can be reused and add charm to any home. Another plus is that each basket is personalized which lends to the thoughtfulness, love and uniqueness of each gift.

Today, I’m preparing a gift basket perfect for all the coffee lovers in our lives.

As mentioned earlier, while any Torani product would be a perfect addition to your holiday gift basket, the Torani Puremade Sauces are truly special. The Dark Chocolate Puremade Sauce is a particular crowd pleaser. Its rich, sophisticated taste of dark chocolate allows the flavor to come through, especially when paired with the rich taste of espresso. It pairs nicely in today’s basket with fresh dark roasted espresso beans, homemade scones, and a personalized coffee mug, along with other delights to enjoy with coffee.

Torani has a wonderful selection of flavors from caramel, cookies & cream, pumpkin pie, to salted dark chocolate. Feel free to get creative with your basket because no matter what, there is a flavor for everyone to enjoy.
 

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