Fresh Cherry + Dark Chocolate Chunk Scones.
Which is totally typical of my stubborn self, you know. It’s sort of like how I buy $100 of groceries then stuff as much as I can into 5 plastic bags which inevitably rip once I’m in the parking lot, splattering their contents all over the concrete because I’m too headstrong to use the correct amount of bags that require pushing a shopping cart.
Or like when I go ahead and force myself to use a sixth bag instead of just the typical five, which make it past the parking lot and into my car, but are waaaay to heavy to carry upstairs into my kitchen, which I attempt anyway because um, WHO wants to walk up the steps again? Yeah yeah… groceries all over the basement floor. Sweet.
It’s also reminiscent of how my clean yet unfolded laundry remains piled in a laundry basket until used and the clean dishes remain in the dishwasher as long as they possible can, because I “forgot” to unload them. Lies. All lies.
So yeah, I can’t stop turning on the oven. It’s consistently 90 degrees and up, and I’ve been roasting chickens and frying donuts and baking cookies and baking scones. I’m a rebel without a cause.
Oh but I did eat an entire cantaloupe last night. That makes up for all the oven use and what not. And… it was SO good. So juicy. So sweet.
It’s just like… the fact that it’s so hot out and I’m not SUPPOSED to turn on the oven makes me what to turn it on even more. The fact that I SHOULD be craving crisp salads and fresh strawberries makes me adamantly decide to have the kind of creamy mac and cheese that gets so hot and bubbles over the edges onto the oven floor with an encore of hot blueberry crisp. WHY CAN’T I JUST BE NORMAL?
It’s like I’m such a bratty toddler. Whatever you tell me to do, I’m doing the exact opposite. And whatever you tell me not to do, I’m crawling out of my skin until I can do that exact thing immediately. And this sorta kinda maybe applied to pushing the fire alarm in the parking garage during my sophomore year of college. I mean, I was way too much of a wimp to do it, and I’m definitely not cool enough to try and get in trouble on purpose… but yeah. I may have been involved. Or made my best friend do it.
What I’m trying to say… short story long… is be a rebel and bake some scones in this heat wave. Fresh cherries (you know, the kind that you eagerly grab in the grocery store, that appear to be *on sale* for $6.99, only to find out at the checkout counter that they are $6.99 a POUND and you bought 3.2 pounds… I mean who the heck has time to read the fine print?!) and huge chunks of rich dark chocolate oozing out of dough… it’s like it was meant to be. These are seriously addicting and seriously delicious. Especially when it’s 90 degrees out.
Fresh Cherry + Dark Chocolate Chunk Scones
[adapted from my favorite scone recipe]
makes about 16 scones
3 1/4 cups flour
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cups cold butter, cut into pieces
1 cup buttermilk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups fresh cherries, pitted and chopped
6 ounces high-quality dark chocolate, chopped
melted butter for brushing
Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
In large bowl, combine flour, sugar, salt, baking soda and powder. Using your fingers, a fork or a pastry blender, cut in butter until it forms coarse crumbs. Stir in buttermilk and vanilla, just somewhat combining, then fold in chocolate and cherries. Stir with a spoon until a dough forms, using your hands to bring it together. Turn onto a lightly floured surface and knead gently, adding a bit more flour if sticky.
Divide in half and pat into 7 inch round circles. Brush each dough round with melted butter. Cut into 6 or 8 wedges, or use a biscuit cutter to make smaller rounds.
Bake for 12-14 minutes (wedges) or 9-11 minutes (rounds). Top with fresh cherry glaze!
Fresh Cherry Glaze
1 cup fresh cherries, pitted and chopped
2 teaspoons water
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups of powdered sugar
Add cherries and water to the bowl of a food processor, blending until smooth (or almost smooth). Transfer puree to a large bowl, add in vanilla, then stir in powdered sugar. The amount of sugar you need to add is highly dependent on how juicy your cherries are. Ideally, you want a runny glaze. If the glaze seems TOO runny, add more sugar, whisking continuously until smooth. If it seems too thick, add in more water one tiny drop at a time, whisking constantly. Drizzle on top of scones while warm, and grate additional chocolate on top if desired.
Summatime WHAT.
78 Comments on “Fresh Cherry + Dark Chocolate Chunk Scones.”
You’re a rebel. In this heat and humidity I have resorted to covering my oven in a thick blanket so I won’t see it and cry. Even with my box AC running all day, it barely stays under 80 and I’m dying! Ugh
If I didn’t need to feed my boyfriend every now and then, I wouldn’t use the stove either. I’d just live off of fruit, cereal, and chocolate covered cashews. That’s pretty balanced, right?
I’ve been using my oven – or worse, my stove – almost every day and it’s killing me. I really don’t think I even stop sweating til it’s time for bed and I’ve literally sat in front of an A/C vent for at least 2 hours!
WOWZA do these look good – love the combination of cherry & chocolate.
Keep turning on the oven, please – you always have amazing creations emerging from it!
I am totally in love with this! It looks sooo soooo good!
These sound delicious and those cherries look like summer perfection!
Wow! Slurp!
I guess I’m a rebel with you, because I’ve been doing the same thing! I figure we have central AC for a reason … so that I can heat up the place with all of my cooking, and we can get cooled right back down again! ;)
Wow, these look AMAZING!!!! I want them all now!!
I get caught on the non-cart stubbornness as well. I find myself lugging around baskets that are at near breaking point, because my “few items” turn into 20+ too many. Somehow in my mind being that awkward guy leaning and swaying down the aisle awkwardly still looks cooler than a cart.
and I don’t think you’re too weird for the scones, they look too good to only be enjoyed in non-disgusting weather (sorry about that).
Haha – I do the same exact thing with the bags. There’s just no winning with lugging groceries home. Love the cherry/dark chocolate combo in these…you can’t go wrong with those two flavors!
can you freeze some of the scones before you bake them and then bake them later? I did this with another recipe for scones and it worked amazing. i just threw one of the frozen ones in the oven while i was getting ready for work and boom, real breakfast when i don’t have enough time to make it
I think that would work!
I’ll make some this weekend and let you know how the freezing works out!
Lol – ditto on the ‘on sale’ cherries. It just goes to show that something can be supposedly ‘in season’, yet they can still charge stupid prices for it and silly people like me actually buy them. Whatever… but I really need to invest in a cherry pitter at this rate! And I think we need to get you some sturdy reusable grocery bags… I used to be a plastic grocery bag stuffer like you (hello cracked watermelon EVERYWHERE) but once I got in the habit of actually remembering the reusable ones, I found out that they hold SO much more!
Oh don’t worry… I have like 10 of them. I just ALWAYS FORGET THEM. Ugh.
So you managed to combine two of my favorite things in the world (cherries and chocolate) into one breakfast-acceptable item?? Lovelovelove you.
And yeah, I do the same thing with my laundry. And my dishwasher. And my grocery bags (except I bring reusable ones and proceed to shove as much as I can into the one huge tote because I can’t bring myself to have to take a second, plastic bag).
Separated at birth, I tell ya.
Haha.. It was just Canada Day long wknd here, and after dinner last night I made us hot chocolate and was eating leftover danish watching The Family Stone (it was on tv, couldn’t resist!) and was like to my boyfriend.. is this the weirdest??! Shouldn’t I be eating fruit and/or drinking beer outside somewhere?? These scones look INcredible!
Even bratty toddlers are cute…and funny…and usually adorable…just like you. :)
I have cherries in the refrigerator now, I know exactly how I plan to use them!!
I swear we live almost the same life!! Every time I read a post I’m like, yup… I hear that. Last week… groceries… SPLAT all over the side walk. Why didn’t I just pay the extra 5 bucks and get them delivered? Well… that would cut into sample sale shopping money. Silly=ness. As for you, and these scones, I’m so glad you keep cranking on your oven!!
Whoa, whoa, whoa. You can pay to have your groceries delivered?! I wish that brilliant idea would make its way to my dinky town in Arkansas. Ding dang, I’m super jealous.
Scones…yum! The best one I ever had was actually from Whole Foods bakery (of all places) and it was almond poppyseed…it was amazing. Probably because I could literally taste the butter in every bite! :)
They always trick you with the “per pound” fine print. I just want to sit down and eat a huge bowl of cherries, but I don’t want to spend $30 to do so! :)
i’ve been doing the same thing lately. 100+ outside? PERFECT time to roast a chicken. uh, not. but i do it anyway.
i don’t think i’ll ever learn!
My mouth is waaatering…these look fantastic! And now I’m craving mac and cheese too, haha.
I used to loathe scones (too dry) but all of the ones I’ve been seeing over the blogworld look SO delicious. I’ve never made my own but the dark choc + cherry mix is preeeeeeeeeeeetty tempting.
YOWZA!!!! This combination sounds incredible!!! I’ll take 4 please (trying to watch my girlish figure – after all.l I am a year older today :-/ )!
You, rebel, you. I was seriously holding my breath waiting for you to tell us that YOU pulled the fire alarm. I would have been quite impressed knowing that you had that kind of a streak in you! But don’t worry, Jessica, I couldn’t do it either. It sure is fun to think about doing it, but the consequences of getting in trouble terrify me – so just let a friend do it! haha
Obviously these look so good that I am barely able to control myself. I am glad you are enjoying your *Washington State* Cherries! They are growing by the boat full in my back yard. If you were “normal”, we wouldn’t all be sitting here hanging on your words :)
Oh my goodness. These look FANTASTIC! I just made a dark chocolate cherry pie and it was a bit rich… having these flavors in a lighter, less dense way would be great–I love these scones!
Me, I just don’t like being told what to do. Like, if I’m at my sister’s or out (!) with friends and hubby dares to enquire as to when I’m coming home, you can be darn sure I’m staying out another hour even if I was just about to head home lol. Immature? Maybe, but as I keep saying, he’s my husband not my father. Or as my friend tells hers, “you’re not the boss of me!”
I have a “friend” who as been on a scone kick… totally need to make these now.
OMG, yum!!!! First off, seriously, why the eff are fresh cherries so dang expensive?!? And like, it’s not like you can’t buy them! You have too. Grumble. Hiss. Spit. Secondly, I am so with you with the oven and cooking non summer-esque foods. Apparently it was fall in my house last night b/c I totally made sweet potato gnocchi and baked apple crisp for supper…oh, and watermelon sorbet b/c that makes sense, right?!? Ha!
Hahahaha love it.
Those are a mess. A beautiful, delicious mess.
These look absolutely FABULOUS, and I just wanted to let you know that you are NOT alone in turning the oven on in the summertime. I live in the deep, deep South and am the same way… even when it’s 100 degrees outside. Because, for me, baked treats are the way to go and something I love way better than crisp fresh salads, fruits and other stuff. True story…
You’ve been torturing me all summer with your rebelry! I totally crave hot, straight out of the oven baked goods all summer long too but if I tried to turn my oven on right now I’m pretty sure I’d melt. Like actually melt. It could be worth it though for these scones…they look insane.
I love this!! I hate turning the oven on during the summer – it’s in the 90’s here and it’s just torture!
I’m SUPER stubborn too, so I understand. And these.. look phenomenal.
Uh, that’s totally worth turning the oven on for. What a mountain of awesome!
I’m notorious for overloading the grocery bags because I hate going up and down the stairs more than necessary! It’s like a challenge, testing the tinsel strength of those bags!
Holy crap, this scone blows every other scone I’ve ever seen out of the water. It’s melty and fruity and chocolatey and is way better than a normal non melty chocolatey scone! If it’s any consolation about being stubborn and headstrong, I’ve been eating soup like nobody’s business in spite of the heat. Hot…steamy…comforting soup. I like your stubbornnes…it makes amazing scones!
I’m seasonally challenged with foods lately, too. I made peppermints in june (perfect Xmas candy), I made this great casserole/hotdish chili thing (perfect fall tailgating food)…so just keep up with all your projects. Love em!
Holy COW, those look luscious!
Damn.
There goes my diet.
Who needs to wear a bikini anyway, right?
Do these count as breakfast or desert?
Cherries can be so overpriced! And then most of the time, I end up not eating the whole bag before they go bad. I need to bake with them more, but I hate pitting them. I’m so lazy!
I wish I could say I am going to make these, but I just finished eating whole big bag of cherries. Must buy more. I have not had scones in a while.
They’re 1.99/lb at Giant Eagle this week! :)
I have a serious problem with cherries right now. Can’t. Stop. Eating. Them.
Yep, and once again you’ve brought us all down with you……
Although please don’t count that as comlaining. ;)
Ooo! Ooo! Ooo! I have just the thing for you. I HATE taking second trips to unload groceries, and I’ve had multiple spills/breaks/stripey arms/awkward moments trying to get the door open because of it. My friend got me this grippy thing that links all your bags together (I think it may have been a joke), but I use it all the time! Awesome. And cheap too! No more spills! (unless you can’t handle carrying the one clip…then there may be other issues.)
Here it is on Amazon.
http://www.amazon.com/One-Trip-Grip-4050/dp/B000RZ6XL8
I overload bags as well and attempt a Heman type maneuver.
I want to put that glaze over everything in my fridge right now!
I tend to overload my groceries too – I refuse to take more than one trip from the car to the house, so I need to stuff as much food into as few bags as possible. Needless to say, it doesn’t always turn out pretty.
Holy shit I love your blog. It made me burst out singing ‘How sweet it is to be loved by you’ several times. Food + singing obnoxiously loud = things I look for in a blog. Tres bien.
Those per pound signs always get me, then I spent $50 on something that was supposed to be a snack. Then I rationalize it by saying I’ll eat it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for like 4 days. That’s like $4 a meal. That’s a deal. Except I eat it all on the first day and regret everything.
I know what you mean! the hotter it seems to get here, the more likely I am to bake something or whip up another batch of doughnuts, oops! :)
I’m pretty sure my husband won’t complain about me heating up the kitchen when i bring out these bad boys tho! thanks!
Ugh, I keep doing the same thing! It’s been 100+ degrees here in TX and I can’t get it through my thick skull to maybe make dinners NOT involving the oven! Oh well… I think it’s worth the suffering… especially for those lovely scones! :)