Chocolate Chip Scones

I'm really behind in my updating this blog. :D

Last weekend I wanted to make a nice breakfast. I was tired of the usual bowl of cereal. So I decided I was going to make homemade scones. I found a recipe online that sounded good and, well, made a few changes (reduced the butter by half, used Splenda instead of sugar, skipped the nuts cause I didn't have any). They turned out delicious, of course. Served with a cup of fresh Alterra coffee (I'm currently enthralled with their "Blue Heeler" blend) and scrambled eggs.

Chocolate Chip Scones
2 cups all purpose flour
1/4 cup Splenda
1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 stick unsalted butter, cold and cut into pieces
1/3 cup semi sweet chocolate chips or chunks
2/3 cup buttermilk (I soured some skim milk with lemon juice - 1 cup + 1 tbsp is the ratio)
2 tablespoons pure maple syrup

Egg mixture for brushing tops of scones:
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1 tablespoon milk

Preheat oven temperature to 400º F.

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 chips. In a small measuring cup combine the buttermilk with the maple syrup and then add to the flour mixture, stirring just until the dough comes together. Do not over mix the dough.

Transfer to a lightly floured surface and knead the dough gently four or five times and then pat the dough into a circle that is about 7 inches round and about 1 1/2 inches thick. Cut this circle in half, then cut each half into 4 pie-shaped wedges. You will have 8 scones altogether. Place the scones on the baking sheet. Make an egg wash of one well-beaten egg mixed with 1 tablespoon milk and brush the tops of the scones with this mixture.

Bake for about 18 - 20 minutes or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Remove from oven and then turn your broiler on high. Transfer to a wire rack to cool or eat hot, fresh out of the oven!

Makes 8 scones.