Set Phasers to Scone

This blog is like Star Trek for me. No it doesn't make me grow Vulcan ears, or give me melodramatic exaggerated acting skills, but it challenges me. It takes me where no Adam has gone before (at least baking wise... thanks college) While I have recipes that are my "go to" guys, I'm finding that it's cool to pass the ball to a new rookie and see if he drops it. If he has butterfingers and drops the ball like Clumsy McSlippy Hands, well then I'll throw to someone else. Damn is it football season yet? I can't wait to see Jets camp.

So Scones. This kid has never ate one, and never made one either. At the coffee shop they look like some kind of triangle biscuit, big and puffy, yet dull and boring. I have heard that you need to have them with some kind of sweet filling or frosting to make them worthwhile, or coffee. They are like that friend who is a meek wallflower by themselves, but comes to life when a bunch of friends are around. I wanted the scone to stand up for itself without some kind of Siamese sugary concoction attached to it, so I came up with chocolate scones, with chunks of dark chocolate inside, a hint of cinnamon, and a touch of espresso to wake you up... and the beautiful thing is that it's easy. Easy like Sunday morning :) Sorry I couldn't resist.


Caffeinated Charged Chocolate Scones
Recipe by Adam

-1 3/4 cup white whole wheat flour (or AP)
-1/4 cup packed brown sugar
-3 Tbsp cocoa powder
-1/2 tsp cinnamon
-1/2 tsp espresso powder
-1/4 tsp salt
-2 tsp baking powder
-1/2 tsp baking soda
-3 Tbsp cold, unsalted butter, cut into pieces
-1 egg, beated
-1/2 cup light sour cream
-1 tsp vanilla
-Chocolate pieces (milk, dark, whatever)

Preheat oven to 400*, line two cookie sheets with foil or parchment paper.

In a medium bowl, combine dry ingredients: flour, sugar, baking soda and powder, espresso powder, cocoa, salt, and cinnamon. Pour the butter chunks into the bowl and mix with your hands, until the flour resembles some soft crumbs... like making a pie crust. Add in chocolate pieces. Stir a little to coat them.

In a large bowl, combine egg, sour cream, and vanilla, an mix well. Pour the dry ingredients into the wet, and with a spatula, fold gently until a pretty wet dough forms. Do not over mix. Please. Treat this like muffin batter, just get everything all together.

Place dough on a clean, lightly floured surface, and roll out so it's about 1/4 inch thick. Take a floured cup or cookie cutter and cut the dough into circles. Place the circles on the prepared pans, brush with melted butter, and bake for about 10-12 minutes, or until the toothpick test comes out clean. Remove the foil from the pan and let them cool completely. Enjoy with your favorite cup of coffee.

The scones turned out pretty well. They were light, airy, and kind of cakey. Think of a not so sweet, drier, lower fat, no mess piece of chocolate cake. I guess biscuit is a good way to describe it. I actually think they would be perfect for dunking into milk or coffee. Pop on some Star Trek, or James Bond if you're British, and make your morning easy.

(Star Trek Pictures taken from http://startrekspace.blogspot.com/)