Super Simple Scones

Quick and Easy Chocolate Chip Scones

This is a super simple recipe for chocolate chip scones. It only takes about 30 minutes from start to finish, and is easy and fun enough to do with kids. I first started making these about 5 years ago, and since then they've become my most requested baked item. They work great as either a breakfast or a simple dessert.

For 12 regular or 24 mini scones:

2 1/2 c. all purpose flour

1 t. baking powder

1/4 t. salt

8 T (1 stick) butter, chilled

1/3 c. sugar

1/3-1/2 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips

2/3 c. milk

Preheat the oven to 425° F (~220° C)

1. Mix flour, baking powder and salt in a large mixing bowl.

2. Cut in the butter, and incorporate it until the mixture maintains its shape for a couple seconds when squeezed. I've found that the best way to cut in the butter here is to use a cheese grater. It gets tricky towards the end of the stick, but it makes incorporating it so much easier.

3. Mix in the sugar and chocolate chips. You can add more or less chocolate chips to taste, but I've found that somewhere between a third and a half cup works best.

4. Pour in the milk, and stir in using a metal fork.

In the end, the dough should be very soft but dry to the touch. If it's sticky, try adding an extra tablespoon of flour.

Form the dough into a ball. If you're making full sized scones, split it in half. For mini scones, split it into four pieces.

Lay out the pieces on a single baking sheet, then cut each ball into six wedges. Pull the wedges out so that they're about 1 cm apart. At this point, you can sprinkle some sugar on top if you want your scones to have a crispy shell, but most of the time they're just fine without.

Bake at 425° F for 12-15 minutes, or until golden brown on the edges. Remove and let cool for about 10 minutes. Enjoy with a glass of milk or a cup of coffee. This works great as a simple breakfast pastry or a potluck dessert item.

Scones will typically last 1-2 days in the open or 5-6 days in a sealed container.

One of the best things about this recipe is that it is super forgiving and easy to modify.

For other sweet pastries, replace the chocolate with dried cranberries or any other type of chip. You can replace 1 cup of flour with almond meal for a richer, nuttier pastry, or sprinkle some orange zest on top to give it some bite.

It's also easy to make savory scones. If you get rid of the sugar and add green onion and shredded cheddar you can make a delicious cheesy dinner biscuit.

If you try something new, share the results below!