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Monday, August 10, 2015

Cherry Chocolate Chip Almond Scones


 My patio is like a little oasis and the perfect spot for tea and a Cherry Chocolate Chip Almond Scone.

 I've shared the tea kettle before that my son, Mike, painted for me.  It looks so pretty with this Mary Engelbreit teacup that my friend, Bea, gave me.


 I made this oilcloth tote bag several years ago, and used the leftover cherry oilcloth as a placemat for my tea. The problem with this tote is that the oilcloth wears out at the corners.  I'd like to cover them up somehow.  Does anyone have an idea?

 These scones are sooooo tasty with the dried Montmorency cherries and chocolate chips!  I can see them with dried apricots and white chocolate chips, or even toffee chips.   The recipe is from King Arthur Flour, and I hope you try them!

Cherry Chocolate Chip Almond Scones


Dough

  • 2 3/4 cups flour
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1/2 cup cold butter
  • 1 cup to 2 cups chopped dried fruit, chocolate or other flavored chips, nuts, or a combination, optional  (I used used tart Montmorency cherries and semisweet chocolate chips)
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla or the flavoring of your choice (I used almond)
  • 1/2 cup to 2/3 cup half and half or milk

Topping

  • 2 teaspoons milk
  • 2 tablespoons sparkling white sugar or cinnamon sugar, optional

Directions

  1. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder.
  2. Work in the butter just until the mixture is unevenly crumbly; it's OK for some larger chunks of butter to remain unincorporated.
  3. Stir in the fruit, chips, and/or nuts, if you're using them.
  4. In a separate mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, vanilla or other flavor, and half and half or milk.
  5. Add the liquid ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir until all is moistened and holds together.
  6. Line a baking sheet with parchment; if you don't have parchment, just use it without greasing it. Sprinkle a bit of flour atop the parchment or pan.
  7.  Scrape the dough onto the floured parchment or pan, and divide it in half. Round each half into a 5" circle (if you haven't incorporated any add-ins); or a 6" circle (if you've added fruit, nuts, etc.). The circles should be about 3/4" thick.
  8.  Brush each circle with milk, and sprinkle with coarse white sparkling sugar or cinnamon sugar, if desired.
  9.  Using a knife or bench knife that you've run under cold water, slice each circle into 6 wedges.
  10.  Carefully pull the wedges away from the center to separate them just a bit; there should be about 1/2" space between them, at their outer edges.
  11.  For best texture and highest rise, place the pan of scones in the freezer for 30 minutes, uncovered. While the scones are chilling, preheat the oven to 425°F.
  12.  Bake the scones for 20 to 25 minutes, or until they're golden brown. When you pull one away from the others, it should look baked all the way through; the edge shouldn't look wet or unbaked.
  13. Remove the scones from the oven, and cool briefly on the pan. Serve warm. When they're completely cool, wrap in plastic and store at room temperature for up to several days.

For Cooking Camp this week the kids made pizza-sized chocolate chip cookies and then they decorated them to take home to their families. The cookies were a big hit!  In between baking and decorating we went to my sub division pool for the kids to play and cool off.  The cousins have such fun together!!

Thank you for your visit!  xo

I am sharing with:

39 comments:

  1. Kitty, I love your tea kettle Mike painted for you with your ME mug and cherry placemat! I wish I had one of your delicious scones this morning. Your cooking campers are adorable. ♥

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  2. Kitty, this brought back memories of my family hanging around the kitchen at our camp in our bathing suits. We didn't have a/c at the time. I love scones and wish I had one of yours this morning. Mike did a great job on the tea kettle. Your grands look very proud of their cookie pizza. xo

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  3. Love your teacup and teapot, Kitty, and that scone looks so good!

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  4. Hi Kitty, I love the table setting with the pretty tea pot and it all decorated with black, white and cherries. Thanks for sharing this scone recipe at our Cooking & Crafting with J & J.
    Enjoy your day and week.
    P.S. Your grandkids are adorable and must love your cooking camp.
    Julie

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  5. Your grandkids are adorable! Their cookies look as delicious as your scone. Your teapot and cup are cute, they make me smile.

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  6. Hi Kitty,
    I love the black and white theme today. I have a lot of black china in my kitchen and your tea kettle from Mike would be perfect for me. Oh my! I love your grandkiddies! What fun they must have at your house and being together with cousins! So very special a grandma you are. Happy Tea Day Sweet Friend! Karen

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  7. Hi Kitty,
    I love the black and white theme today. I have a lot of black china in my kitchen and your tea kettle from Mike would be perfect for me. Oh my! I love your grandkiddies! What fun they must have at your house and being together with cousins! So very special a grandma you are. Happy Tea Day Sweet Friend! Karen

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  8. Your backyard is certainly an oasis. I'm a big fan of oilcloth and have had the same trouble with my oilcloth lunch bag wearing out on the corners. I used clear packing tape to protect the corners. Not ideal but it worked for a while. Love the scone recipe. I'm always on the lookout for new scone recipes. How fun was that pizza sized chocolate chip! Your grandkids are having a great summer at your cooking camp.

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  9. I love scones Kitty, haven't made them in a while... Might need to correct that! Looks like you're keeping the kids happy:@)

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  10. Such a darling tea time with your sweet treasures from your son and friend! Thanks for the scone recipe! I wish I could join you on your patio for tea and scones!

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  11. Such a darling tea time with your sweet treasures from your son and friend! Thanks for the scone recipe! I wish I could join you on your patio for tea and scones!

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  12. I've always loved your checkerboard kettle. The black and white design is so versatile and can be used for Halloween or Alice in Wonderland-themed teas!

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  13. What an awesome bunch of kids waiting for something delicious from Grandma Kitty's Kitchen! I am sure they absolutely ADORE you!!!

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  14. I forgot to say what a darling post you did and thank you for linking!

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  15. I always like it when you pull out your black and white themed tea things and it does look like an oasis in that first photo. We've made the pizza pan chocolate chip cookies for birthday cakes many times, my preference over a cake any day.
    I have you to thank for a recipe I made this week from a blog that you follow. :-)

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  16. I love your design! Very cute! Did your son use an enamel paint for the teapot? I have had my eye on a MacKenzie Child, but so pricy. If I could paint one that would be wonderful! Have a wonderful day, Lynn

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  17. Your patio is heavenly, Kitty! I would certainly be having tea out there daily.

    Your scones turned out beautifully and I'm sure they taste wonderful. I liked your idea of adding toffee chips, I would have never thought of that addition, love it!

    Your grandchildren are precious.

    Much love ~ Debbie

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  18. Well you had me a scone and chocolate! Those look wonderful! And I KNOW the kids loved the cookie pizzas...used to make those with my kids when I taught kindergarten! Thanks for linking to Tuesday Cuppa Tea!
    Ruth

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  19. Your campers look like they are ready to eat those pizza size cookies. '-)
    Love the black and white check and your darling ME cup.
    Oh, and the scone looks pretty good too. ;-)

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  20. I recognized Mike's teapot right away! It looks great with your ME mug and your pretty oilcloth. Your scones look fabulous. All those options sound delicious, but I'd take the cherry chocolate, too!
    Your grandchildren look like they were having great fun with those cookies.

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  21. Love the black and white checker pattern! And you had me at chocolate chip scones!

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  22. Hi, you can try using a permanent/washable marker pen in the color that you want to cover just color over the worn area. May take a couple of times one coat at a time. to get it all covered. B.

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  23. Your painted tea kettle is lovely as is your tote bag. I'm visiting from Tea in the Garden.

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  24. The kids look like they're having plenty of fun. What a nice thing to see.

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  25. Hello, As usual, I am the last to comment, so I move slower than some! But I did PIN this to my baking board 101. As these looked amazing! I would love to have tea and scones with you one day my dear friend!
    Blessings, Roxy

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  26. Wow...how tasty does this sound?! :) YUMMMY!

    Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J!

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  27. Your table setting is beautiful! the scones sound and look delicious!

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  28. Oh how special to have a part in making 'cousin memories'...such a great way to do it. And they're learning while having a blast. These scones sound awesome. Pinned! Thanks for sharing! XO

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  29. I love Mary Engelbreit I have been purchasing some items lately.. I have photos for a post just haven't posted yet.. So I love your cup and saucer .. everything looks great together. I wrote this recipe down going to make them.. I had just bought some mini chocolate chips and I was thinking I wanted to do just that.. never thought of the cherries though.. great idea I can't really wait to make these.. thanks so much with love Janice

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  30. The scones are delicious! love your black and white accessories and the tea kettle is so cute, all painted to match. Beautiful setting too dear Kitty. The kids all look so happy. xo

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  31. The kids look like SUMMER! You know I love Mary Engelbreit, so of course I like all your decorations Kitty.

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  32. HI Kitty - I love your sweet table setting. This post perfectly matches your beautiful blog! I like your oilcloth tote, too. Perhaps you could make stylish 'patches' just around the corners in black with hand-stitching. You might have to 'dart' them. I love that you have 'cooking camp' with your darling grands. What a sweet and fun Grandma you are! Hugs xo Karen

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  33. Sweet friend, your grandchildren are simply the cutest...they must take after their grandmother {{smiles}}

    Thank you for sharing your charming post with Roses of Inspiration. I love the theme of your table setting and the scones look delicious! Love and hugs to you!

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  34. What a lovely tea and scone setting...I just adore ME and I don't think I have any of her pieces. I miss her magazine so much...
    I have no ideas on how to patch your bag....sorry.
    Your kids look like they are having so much fun. I miss my "little" grands ...they are fun now but really loved the times we had together when they were little...:)
    Your scones look out of this world !!

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  35. Hi Kitty,
    I just love Mary Engelbreit , this looks like a really fun tea time. Your Cherry Chocolate Chip Scones would sure be a big hit here at the cottage. Hope you are having a great day and thanks so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
    Come Back Soon!
    Miz Helen

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  36. Thinking of you today, on the anniversary of Rich's passing. I know he would be so proud of how well you are coping. You are a great example for all those darling grands...I love that you do "Cooking Camp" with them & the huge cookies are a GREAT idea!

    Thanks too, for the yummy looking scone recipe. You ALWAYS have the bestest looking treats, Kitty!

    I'm sorry, but I don't have any suggestions to protect the oilcloth edges. I'll bounce it off my sewing friends & will get back to you if they have any ideas.

    Hugs,
    Rett

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  37. Your tea kettle looks great and so pretty with your teacup! The kids look like they are having a wonderful time and learning how to cook at the same time. Good for you!

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  38. That's one big cookie Kitty! You are such a fun grandma!! It still amazes me that your son painted that teapot. Such a cute display and the scones sound delicious! Thanks for sharing with SYC.
    hugs,
    Jann

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  39. I couldn't concentrate on your cherry chocolate chip scone Kitty for admiring your son's handiwork on the kettle and your cute ME cup! I love McK-Ch and ME! I admire your energy for cooking with your grands, looks like they have a ball!
    Jenna

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