Cherry-Chocolate Buttermilk Scones

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Cherry-Chocolate Buttermilk Scones

Serves 12

You can mix and shape these ahead of time; refrigerate on a baking sheet

overnight and pop in the oven in the morning. For Valentine's Day, use a

2-inch, heart-shaped cookie cutter.

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/3 cup sugar

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

4 tbsps chilled, unsalted butter, diced

1 tbsp grated orange zest (1-2 medium oranges)

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

3/4 cup coarsely chopped dried tart cherries

2/3 cup chilled buttermilk

3 tbsps unsweetened applesauce

1 large egg yolk

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 tsp almond extract

Extra buttermilk, for brushing

Whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl.

Add butter and zest; rub in with fingertips until a coarse meal forms. Mix

in chocolate chips and dried cherries.

In a small bowl, whisk together buttermilk, applesauce, egg yolk, and

extracts. Add wet mixture to dry ingredients; stir with a fork until dough

comes together in moist clumps. Gather into a ball (dough will be sticky).

Wrap in plastic and chill at least 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 400 deg F. Lightly spray and flour a baking sheet. On a

lightly floured surface, press out dough with floured hands to form a

3/4 -inch-thick round. Cut dough into 12 wedges, or use a cookie cutter.

Transfer pieces to baking sheet, spacing 2 inches apart. Brush scones

lightly with additional buttermilk.

Bake until scones are crusty on top and a toothpick inserted into center

comes out clean, 15-20 minutes.

Calories 237;Fat 10g;Chol 29mg;Carbs 36g;Protein 4g;Fiber 2g;Sodium 172mg

Delicious Living February 2004

Marilyn

Moderator for

Diabetic_Recipes

dnevessr@...

Opinions expressed are solely

my own and should not be

mistaken for

Professional advice.