Chocolate Cherry Scones and Your Heart

I've got your heart in mind - literally - as we approach Valentine's Day! I want to share with you this YUMMY - and I mean incredibly so - recipe! I plan to use this recipe in my February tea, a celebration of friendship, on Feb. 22nd. The recipe calls for this to be served with almond butter, but I don't plan to do that. In fact, I will serve them warm and naked. Any kind of topping would just compete with the flavors. They don't need a single thing.

You can find the original recipe in the current edition of Tea Time magazine. My version, however, has been completely overhauled. This is where I have your heart in mind! :0) I replaced the butter with olive oil, replaced some of the white flour with whole wheat, cut back on the sugar, added flax seed meal, replaced the heavy cream with skim milk, cut out the salt and replaced the cream cheese with neufchatel. The result is a heavenly scone that is better for your heart and that makes my heart warm. The new recipe looks nothing like the original, but it tastes fantastic! I was delighted with the results.

Stephanie's Version of Chocolate Cherry Scones

1-1/2 cup of all-purpose flour
1 cup of whole wheat flour
1/4 cup of sugar
2 tablespoons flax seed meal
1 tablespoons baking powder
1/2 cup olive oil
3 oz neufchatel cheese (or light cream cheese)
3/4 cup dried cherries, roughly chopped
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
1/3 cup skim milk
1 tsp. vanilla or almond extract

1. Preheat oven to 375. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. (I actually used a baking stone instead.)
2. Combine flour, sugar, flax seed meal and baking powder.
3. Cut the neufchatel into chunks and add to the dry ingredients. Using a pastry blender, cut in the neufchatel as if it were butter. Mixture will be crumbly when you are done.
4. Add dried cherries and mini chocolate chips; mix.
5. In a separate bowl, combine milk, olive oil and extract. Whisk together then add to dry ingredients.
6. Stir just until moistened.
7. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface (I use my Tupperware pie shell guide instead.) Shape the dough into 3/4 inch thick square or circle. This is important! Don't make it any thinner. You may need to sprinkle a little water here and there to get the dough to stick together.
8. Using a heart-shaped cookie cutter, cut out hearts and place on baking stone or sheet.
9. Bake ~13 - 15 min. ENJOY with a cup of tea!
   

Dough is 3/4" thick

Scones ready to go into the oven

The final product

The only problem with these scones is that you'll have to refrain from eating them all!