During comfort food season, few things warm the innards like a crumbly, buttery scone. Chicago’s bakeries are turning out showstopping specimens that have come a long way from their humble British and Scottish roots.
Here are the best, including an option that won’t completely derail your weight-loss resolution.
Hoosier Mama Pie Company
Paula Haney has a pastry rep to protect. Her golden scones ($3, pictured above)—laced with dark chocolate chips or fruits such as tangy cranberries—leave no doubt. hoosiermamapie.com for locations
![A scone from Caffe Streets](/wp-content/archive/images/2014/0114/C201401-D-Scones-Caffe-Streets.jpg)
Caffe Streets
No day-old duds here; you’ll find five flavors ($3.50) handcrafted daily, including a g-free pick (recently, an ultramoist blueberry and lemon zest) made with rice flour. 1750 W. Division St., 773-278-2739, caffestreets.com
![Scones from Angel Food Bakery](/wp-content/archive/images/2014/0114/C201401-D-Scones-Angel-Food-Bakery.jpg)
Angel Food Bakery
This cozy shop has but one stellar scone offering ($2.75) a day—the dome-shaped sweet-and-savory cornmeal-apple, for instance. 1636 W. Montrose Ave., 773-728-1512, angelfoodltd.com
![Scones from Floriole](/wp-content/archive/images/2014/0114/C201401-D-Scones-Floriole.jpg)
Floriole
Slightly charred cheese flecks the cheddar-chive masterpiece ($3) and melts to oozy perfection when dunked in the soup du jour. The result: pure wintertime delight. 1220 W. Webster Ave., 773-883-1313, floriole.com
![Scones from Interurban](/wp-content/archive/images/2014/0114/C201401-D-Scones-Interurban.jpg)
Interurban
Christine McCabe folds frozen blueberries from last summer’s farmers’ markets into her pleasantly nutty whole-wheat scones ($2.25) for a not-too-indulgent snack. 2008 N. Halsted St., 773-698-7739
![Scones from A Taste of Heaven](/wp-content/archive/images/2014/0114/C201401-D-Scones-A-Taste-of-Heaven.jpg)
A Taste of Heaven
Warm from the oven, these muffiny morsels ($1.50) are irresistible—especially the raspberry version. Free coffee on Wednesdays sweetens the deal. 5401 N. Clark St., 773-989-0151, atasteofheavenchicago.com