Chocolate Chip Scones

It's officially Chocolate Week here on McCoy Family Feast! Usually chocolate week would be a bit closer to Valentine's Day, but after that last post I couldn't wait... must-have-chocolate-now. Speaking of which, I'm wondering--is brown still Kate's favorite color?

Today I am thankful for the culinary masters who decided to make chocolate a breakfast food. Genius! The next two posts will be special breakfast treats. The first is a "friend" recipe, and coming up soon will be an old family favorite. If you have a favorite chocolate recipe you'd like to share this week, send it my way.

These yummy scones are a specialty of Kristi Jackson. She discovered the recipe in college, and has been making it for happy overnight guests ever since. It is easy, but don't tell that to your impressed friends. The recipe suggests you cut them into wedges, like a pie. This makes for big scones, which is great for a small group. For a brunch, I sometimes make them into little round scones with a biscuit cutter. Last Christmas I did not get my act together in time to make goodies for my neighbors, so I made it up to them by giving them heart-shaped scones with homemade strawberry-port jam on Valentine's Day. I have gotten a ton of mileage from this recipe, so hopefully you'll enjoy it too. Thanks, Kristi!

Chocolate Chip Scones
recipe from Mary Engelbreit and Kristi Kay

Ingredients:
2 cups flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 1/4 to 1 1/3 cups whipping cream

Topping:
2 to 3 tablespoons melted butter
2 tablespoons sugar

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Combine flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar in a bowl. Add chocolate chips. Stir in cream with a fork until dough holds together in a sticky mass.
Turn dough out on a lightly floured board. Knead the dough several times. Pat dough into a 10" circle. Cut circle into 8 wedges.
Place on ungreased cookie sheet about 2" apart.
Brush scones with melted butter and sprinkle with sugar.
Bake for about 15 minutes or until golden brown.

(If any are left, they can be frozen. Heat frozen scones in oven at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes.)