*Happy New Year!* Milk Chocolate and Walnut Scones

 

Happy New Years!! I love the beginning of each new year.  I always take some time (when I’m not chasing my toddler around) to make a few goals for myself, as well as reflect on any changes I want to make in my life.  One goal I made this year was to start my own new family traditions now that I have a son.

Growing up, New Year’s Day always meant waking up and watching the Rose Bowl Parade.  I still watch it every year, but this year I decided to create a new tradition and make Milk Chocolate and Walnut Scones as a delightful start to this year while we snuggle on the couch and enjoy the parade floats!

This recipe was one of my grandmother’s recipes.  She puts currants in her scones, but I decided to change it up a bit and add milk chocolate chips and chunks of walnuts to make a sweet treat to pair with our morning coffee! 🙂

Let’s start! Preheat your oven to 400*F.  In a large bowl, sift together your flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.  Using a pastry cutter or a fork, cut in the chunks of butter until the mixture is a crumbly, sandy texture.  (Usually after a minute of using the fork, I ditch it to use my hands to cut the butter pieces in!  Your hands are your best tools when baking!)

Stir in the milk chocolate chips and pieces of walnuts until just combined.  In a small bowl, whisk together the egg and evaporated milk.  Add it to the dry mixture all at once.  Be sure to stir it just until the dough is moistened, do not overmix!

Now, on a large counter top (or your dining table) , place a generous amount of flour for us to knead our dough.  Scrape the dough out of the bowl onto your well-floured counter top.  Knead the dough gently 5 or 6 times.  The dough will be fairly solid, and almost look like chocolate chip cookie dough.

Using your hands, press the dough into an 8-inch circle, about 1-inch in thickness.  Place your circle of scone dough onto an ungreased cookie sheet.

Using a sharp knife, cut the dough into 8 even wedges, but do not separate the individual scones!  Sprinkle the top of the scones with granulated sugar and then place those bad boys in the oven!

Bake the scones for approximately 15 to 20 minutes, but check on them at about the 12 minute mark to make sure the tops of the scones are not getting too toasted.  Once the tops of the scones are golden brown and they are fairly stiff (not squishy) to the touch, they are ready to pull out of the oven!

Serve them warm with a nice, hot cup of coffee!  These milk chocolate and walnut scones are such a fun treat for breakfast on New Year’s morning.  I’m already looking forward to next New Year’s to continue this new breakfast tradition with my family!  I hope you and your loved ones enjoy these breakfast goodies and start some new family traditions of your own in 2020!!

 

Milk Chocolate and Walnut Scones

Yields: 8 Scones

Prep Time: 5 Minutes

Bake Time: 15 to 20 Minutes

Ingredients

2 Cups All-Purpose Flour

1/4 Cup Granulated Sugar

1 Tablespoon Baking Powder

1/4 teaspoon Salt

1/4 Cup Unsalted Butter (Cold, Cut into Cubes)

2/3 Cup Milk Chocolate Chips

2/3 Cup Walnuts (Chopped)

1 Egg

5.33 Ounces of Evaporated Milk     (*My grandma’s recipe says a “5.33 oz can”, but the cans were smaller back when this recipe was written.  Now the cans are about 14 oz I believe.  I measured using a food scale to get an accurate measurement, but it was equal to 1/2 cup + 2 Tablespoons!*)

Extra Granulated Sugar For the Top

To Make the Scones

Heat your oven to 400*F.  In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.  Using a pastry cutter or fork (or hands!), cut in the butter until the mixture is crumbly.  Stir in the milk chocolate chips and walnut pieces.  Combine the evaporated milk and egg, then add it all at once.  Stir the mixture just until it’s moistened.  On a well-floured surface, knead the dough gently 5 or 6 times.  Press it into an 8-inch circle, approximately 1-inch thick.  Place the circle on an ungreased cookie sheet.  Cut the dough into 8 wedges, but do not separate.  Sprinkle with granulated sugar.  Bake for 15 to 20 minutes (until the scones are golden brown).  Serve warm with a delicious cup of coffee and celebrate New Year’s (or any) morning with your loved ones! 🙂