Chocolate Chip Scones

While not necessarily traditional English Scones, these are very tasty, especially when fresh out of the oven. If you don't want to use chocolate chips, feel free to leave them out, or substitute them for 1/2 cup currants or raisins.

Chocolate Chip Scones
Adapted from Betty Crocker "Baking Basics"
8 servings

Ingredients:
1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
3 tbsp sugar
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/3 cup cold unsalted butter (5 1/3 tbsp)
1 egg
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
4-7 tbsp whipping cream, plus an additional 1 tbsp
1/2 cup miniature semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 tsp white decorator sugar crystals or granulated sugar

1. Preheat oven to 400F degrees.

2. In a large bowl, stir flour, 3 tbsp sugar, baking powder, and salt until mixed. Cut in the butter, using either a pastry blender or two knives, until the mixture looks like fine crumbs.

If using two knives to cut in butter, make sure to run them past one another as demonstrated. This is also a great arm workout!

3. In a small bowl, beat egg until yolk and white are well mixed. Using a fork, stir the egg, vanilla extract, chocolate chips, and one tbsp of whipping cream at a time into the flour mixture until it starts to form a soft dough and leaves the sides of the bowl. After adding 6 tbsp of whipping cream, I replaced the fork with my hands and the process went a lot of faster, so don't be afraid to get dirty.

4. Lightly sprinkle flour over a cutting board or counter top. Place dough on floured surface and gently roll in the flour to coat. Gently kneed dough about ten times, or for roughly 1-2 minutes until the it feels springy and smooth.

5. Place the dough on an ungreased cookie sheet (or in my case pizza pan). Pat dough with fingers into an 8 inch round. Using a sharp knife (or pizza cuter) dipped in flour, cut dough into eight wedges, but do not separate them. Brush wedges with 1 tbsp whipping cream and sprinkle with sugar crystals.

6. Bake 14-16 minutes or until light golden brown. Immediately remove from cookie sheet (or pizza pan) to a cooling rack. Serve warm, though they are still tasty the next day.

7. Enjoy!

Nutritional Info per Serving:
Calories 314; Total Fat 17g; Cholesterol 67mg; Sodium 329mg; Total Carbs 35g; Protein 5g