Awesome Almond Scones

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, chilled and coarsely chopped
• 3 tablespoons almond paste, broken into pieces
• 3/4 cup chopped almonds
• 1 egg
• 1 egg yolk
• 2/3 cup cream
• 2 tablespoons cream

Directions

1. 1

   Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

2. 2

   Line baking sheet with parchment paper and lightly spray paper with nonstick cooking spray.

3. 3

   Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, butter, almond paste and almonds in food processor.

4. 4

   Pulse until mixture has the consistency of coarse crumbs. Put in a large bowl.

5. 5

   Whisk together egg, egg yolk and 2/3 cup cream until blended. Stir the egg mixture into the flour mixture until dough just begins to hold together.

6. 6

   Add dough to lightly floured surface. With lightly floured hands, pat dough to 1/2" thickness.

7. 7

   Cut scones using a 2" diameter heart-shaped cookie cutter or round biscuit cutter. Gather excess dough and repeat process. Place scones 3" apart on prepared baking sheet.

8. 8

   Lightly brush surface of scones with remaining 2 tablespoons of cream.

9. 9

   Bake 15-20 minutes, or until puffed and golden brown.

10. 10

    Remove from oven and cool on wire rack.

11. 11

    Now: I add about 1/2 teaspoon of almond extract or so to my cream and egg mixture. I do not cut these with a cookie cutter and re-roll. I usually just cut them in squares and then into triangles.

12. 12

    I also freeze them on a wax-paper lined sheet for several hours before baking and add about 3-4 minutes to my baking time.