Cherry Pecan Scones Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Arrange two racks evenly spaced in the oven. Line two sheet pans with parchment paper.
• In a small bowl, combine the 3 tablespoons flour with the chocolate and pecans and set aside.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the 4 cups flour, the sugar, baking powder, and salt. Add the butter and, with the mixer on low speed, blend until the butter is the size of peas. Measure the cream in a 2-cup glass measuring cup, add the eggs, and beat until combined. With the mixer still on low, pour the wet mixture into the dry mixture and combine just until blended. Add the chocolate and pecan mixture and mix just until combined. The dough will be very sticky.
• Dump the dough out onto a very well-floured surface and knead it a few times to be sure the chocolate and pecans are well distributed, adding a little flour so the dough doesn't stick to the board. Flour your hands and a rolling pin and roll the dough 3/4 to 1 inch thick. You should see lumps of butter in the dough. Cut the dough with a 3-inch plain round cutter and place the scones on the prepared sheet pans. Reroll the scraps and cut out more scones. Brush the tops with the egg wash, sprinkle with sugar, and bake for 20 minutes, switching the pans halfway through, until the tops are lightly browned and the insides are fully baked. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Steps:

• 1. Put the first 5 dry ingredients into the bowl of your food processor or just a large bowl. Blend briefly or pulse a few times to mix.
• 2. Add the cubed, cold butter into the bowl of the processor and pulse until the butter is small pieces, smaller than peas, but not sandy. Or use a pastry cutter and cut butter in. Last, add the cherries and nuts. Pulse briefly.
• 3. Add the buttermilk and pulse until the dough comes together into a kind of ball. Remove from the processor bowl, scooping the dough out onto a floured counter or mat. If it is real sticky, sprinkle liberally with flour. A little sticky is good. Fold over itself about 4 times, just to bring it together. You do not want to develop the gluten. Shape it with your hands into either a large round disk or two smaller round disks, about 1" high. Place them on a piece of parchment paper on the baking sheet. Cut like a pizza into 8 wedges. (They will be either 8 large wedges, or in the case of 2 disks, 16 small ones.) Pull each wedge out a little from its neighboring wedge, but still forming a circle. Cover with plastic wrap. (I use bread bags with the side and bottom cut open) and put into the freezer while the oven heats to 425 degrees. Or you can freeze them overnight, then wrap in plastic wrap and put into a zip lock bag for a later date.
• 4. Once the oven is nice and hot, remove the scones. You have the option here of brushing them with cream, milk or melted butter, but plain works too, because you will be glazing them soon. I like to double pan them at this point, setting the baking sheet inside another baking sheet, so the bottoms are safe from burning.
• 5. Bake until nice and golden on top, about 25 minutes. Just before they are done, in a small saucepan, melt the butter and honey together, whisking occasionally until warm and liquid. As soon as the scones come out of the oven, brush them with the honey glaze. Wait another 10 minutes and brush them again with glaze. Voila! Done.

Steps:

• Preheat oven: 325 degrees F.
• Combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Cut in butter with pastry blender. Combine wet ingredients and mix into dry just until moistened. Add cherries. Mixture will be very sticky. Turn onto floured surface and knead 4 to 5 times with floured hands. Pat out to 1/2-inch thick and cut circles. Brush tops with egg wash. Sprinkle tops with sugar and sliced almonds. Place on greased baking sheet. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes.