White Chocolate Almond Scones

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup butter
• 1 3/4 cups flour
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 egg, beaten
• 6 tablespoons half-and-half (can use milk, but 1/2 and 1/2 is better)
• 1 teaspoon almond extract
• white chocolate chips (as many as desired)
• sliced almonds (optional)
• 1 egg white (just the whites)

Directions

1. 1

   Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cut butter into flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt with a pastry blender until mixture resembles fine crumbs.

2. 2

   Stir in one egg, almond extract, and half and half. (Can add more half and half if the dough isn't coming away from the bowl.)

3. 3

   Add white chocolate chips and almonds. I find it easiest to mix the dough with my hands.

4. 4

   Take the dough in your hands and form 8 large balls. Set the balls on an ungreased cookie sheet. They don't have to be smooth -- the dough will be sticky to work with.

5. 5

   Brush scones with egg white.

6. 6

   Bake for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.

7. 7

   Immediately remove from the cookie sheet and cool on a cooling rack.