Cranberry and Chocolate Chip Scones

Yum!

Saturday morning was slightly gloomy and the hubs and I needed a bright start to the day. Okay, really I was just excited to use my new scone pan, which just came in the mail from Rue La La. There was a Nordic Ware sale last week and I picked up a few new baking items.

Don't worry, I washed the pan before I used it.



Flipping through my cupboards I realized I had just the right amount of ingredients to make Cranberry and Chocolate Chip Scones from The Joy of Baking.

Here's the recipe:
2 cups all purpose flour
1/4 cup granulated white sugar
1 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold and cut into pieces
1/2 cup milk or semi sweet chocolate chips or chunks
1/2 cup dried cherries or cranberries
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
3/4 cup buttermilk

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C) and place rack in middle of oven.

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Cut the butter into small pieces and blend into the flour mixture with a pastry blender or two knives. (The mixture should look like coarse crumbs.) Stir in the chocolate chunks (or chips) and dried cherries. In a small measuring cup whisk together the buttermilk and vanilla extract and then add to the flour mixture. Stir just until the dough comes together (add more buttermilk or flour as necessary). Do not over mix the dough.

Transfer to a lightly floured surface and knead dough gently four or five times and then pat the dough into a circle that is about 7 inches (18 cm) round and about 11/2 inches (3.75 cm) thick. Cut this circle in half, then cut each half into 4 pie-shaped wedges (triangles). Place the scones on the baking sheet. Brush the tops of the scones with a little milk.


Bake for about 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Remove from oven and place on a wire rack to cool.





Finally, nestle on the couch with one or two scones and a glass of milk. Repeat the eating process in a few hours.


Any other recommendations for scone recipes? I'm so happy to finally have a pan even though I've made scones in the past, just plopped them on a baking sheet.