Chocolate Chip Scones

Saturday morning is my favorite morning of the week.  Not because it’s Saturday, but because it’s our family day, a day where we try to relax and don’t do any chores or work–a real Sabbath.  It starts by sleeping in.  Then it progresses to me making a nice breakfast, and eventually leading to Eric and I playing with Matthew for a good chunk of the morning.  Sometimes we don’t get out of our pjs until almost noon.  Now that’s relaxing!

Most of the time I make French Toast, because that’s Eric’s favorite breakfast, but often-times, I make scones, so we can have a quick breakfast come Sunday and Monday.  And Saturday was one of those scone-breakfast mornings.  But our relaxing, casual, comfy day was turned upside down when Eric began working on installing hardwood in our condo.  I didn’t think it’d be that big of a deal, until I realized that our kitchen would soon be piled high with stuff and tools, and our house would have dust everywhere.  Add to that that we live in the upstairs unit of a condo with concrete floors, so our used-to-be-cozy house is currently the same temperature as outside.  (At least it feels that cold!)  Plus I had to leave the house for two days, because a demolition is no place for a toddler to be.  In the afternoon, this is what our living and dining room looked like.

Matthew did want to help, and he found a few tools that he could work with.

But for the most part, he kept moving spacers and getting in the way. (Sans why we left.)

Currently, only the living room is mostly complete, (as the trim needs to be installed), but it now looks like this!

So, I dream of getting my Saturday back–and my kitchen, as that is what I miss the most!–where I can sleep in, relax, and make some of these scones.  They are the most delicious, moist scones, and when they have slightly cooled from the oven…well, there are no words.  How I wish I had one that I could eat tonight, but Eric and his buddies ate them all.  But it’s a small price to pay for a nice, new floor.  It’s good to know the scones helped fuel the boys on.  Enjoy! xoxo

Chocolate Chip Scones

printable recipe

3 c flour

1/2 c sugar

1/2 t baking soda

1 T baking powder

3/4 t salt 1 c semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips

¾ c (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter

1 1/2 c buttermilk

1 t real vanilla extract

heavy cream

coarse sugar

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Cut the cold butter into 1/2-inch cubes with a knife and place in a bowl. Cover with Saran wrap and put in the freezer for 30 minutes. After the 30 minutes, place the dry ingredients in a food processor with the very cold butter. Pulse until the butter is pea-sized.

Transfer the mixture to a deep bowl. Create a well in the middle and then add the buttermilk, vanilla, and chips. Using a wooden spoon or a spatula, stir the dry ingredients into the wet, until it is incorporated.

Place the dough onto a lightly floured surface. Press into a disc 1-2 inches thick. Using a large knife, cut out 8-12 scones like you would a pizza and place 6 on each cookie sheet. (They spread a bit, so don’t put them all on one cookie sheet.) Brush with a little bit of heavy cream and sprinkle with coarse sugar. Bake for 12-16 minutes, or until edges are golden brown and toothpick inserted comes out with just a few crumbs.

Cool on a wire rack. They can be stored up to 2 days in an airtight container.