I've been on a baking binge!

I guess there are worse things!  It just means all my neighbors and friends have to step up to the plate (ha!) and share my bounty! This last weekend I went a bit crazy in that I first made these lovely little chocolate chip scones that I haven't made in years... then the next day it was Hazelnut Chocolate cakes - did I mention I realized I have WAY too many chocolate chips in my cupboard? And if that wasn't enough I did a Swedish Cardamon Braid - whew! back to my regularly scheduled work week now... and that braid made some amazing french toast on sunday... did I mention that I bought way to many eggs this weekend too?? I can't resist a sale - and those hens were a-laying! 

Mini Chocolate Chip Scones

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup sugar
• 2 cups Flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup butter
• 3/4 cup mini chocolate chips
• 1 egg
• 3/4 cup buttermilk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Takes 30 min., serves 2 dozen.

Instructions

1. In a large mixing bowl combine all dry ingredients.
2. Cut in the cold butter until it resembles a coarse meal.
3. Toss in the chips.
4. Mix egg, buttermilk and vanilla together.
5. Pour into bowl and mix until just moist.
6. Drop batter in large tablespoons onto a slipat mat or parchment paper lined sheet pan and sprinkle the tops with a little bit of sugar to give them a crunchy top.
7. Bake at 400 degrees for about 12 min.

Now - just to keep it interesting I have a couple variations for you -
1. I just bought this Fiori di Sicilia flavoring from King Arthur - it is like a combination of vanilla and orange zest - very fruity and fun - so today I added just a few drops of this - a little goes a long way - along with the vanilla and it was lovely - just a bit orangy - if you don't have this maybe try a bit of orange zest to the batter.
2. Another good addition I've done in the past is minced crystalized ginger - I was going to do this today - but mine was sadly to hard - so I tossed it and moved on - but if you have some nice bits, just finely chop and add about 2 tablespoons to the batter.
3. And of course you could add some nuts! I always say nuts make things better : )

Chocolate Chip Hazelnut Mini Cakes

Just love this! Made amazing French Toast!