Sometimes, especially on weekends (and especially in winter), I like to stay in my grey and yellow-striped flannel pajamas well past what is considered acceptable and/or appropriate. When this happens someone almost always knocks on the door. Refusing to be seen in my nighttime garb with tousled hair standing at attention- giving me the appearance of a walking q-tip, I hide. There is a rather large window that people can easily squint into during the day, so I quickly crawl to the safety of my kitchen, artfully weaving between chairs and a coffee table that seems to be in love with my knees and ankles.
Because of this my cats adore me and view me as one of their peers, and my mailman must think I belong in a padded room.
Sometimes I just need to hibernate and hide. It's rejuvenating, and it helps me find myself again. The same applies to blogging.
I took a few weeks off. (Apologies for not saying anything ahead of time.) It felt good to not have to worry about rising at the crack of dawn to get photos taken before the 4pm evening darkness settles in, and to not fret over my p&s camera shutter getting stuck as soon as everything else is ready to go. I Love baking. It's the photography bit that occasionally wears on me like an albatross...that and my computer's lackadaisical attitude.
I'm going to wade, slowly, back into the food blogging pool. And honestly, is there any better way to to that than with Nutella as the tasty lifeguard?
Scones are okay. If I'm desperately hungry and feel guilty about "buying" a cookie, I'll grab a scone from the local coffee house. But they are never my first choice. I don't dream about scones the way I do about doughnuts or lemony things.
However, I am officially in love with this particular recipe (and may or may not have enjoyed more than one with my morning coffee). These are not your ordinary scones. Not only are they soft (far from the typical dry scone), they're also bursting (literally!) with Nutella.
You may not achieve the perfect isosceles scone triangle with this recipe, but who cares? After one bite I'm sure you will be as smitten as I am.
Happy 2013, everyone!
Nutella-Toffee Scones
makes about 6-8 scones
ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 Tablespoon baking Powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
6 Tablespoons cold, unsalted butter, cut into chunks
1 egg
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup toffee bits
1/2 cup Nutella, divided
method
Preheat the oven to 375 F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Toss in the chunks of cold butter and use your fingertips to work the butter into the dry ingredients until you're left with pea-size pieces and a course mixture.
In a separate small bowl, whisk together the egg and heavy cream. Slowly add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and, using a large rubber spatula, stir until the dough just comes together. Use your hands to gently and briefly knead the dough- just to make it cohesive (don't overwork the dough). Add the toffee bits and knead gently to incorporate.
Flour a large working surface and flatten the dough into a rectangle that's about 6 x 12-inches. (Don't worry if you can't make it quite that large.) Spread 1/4 cup of the Nutella on top of the dough. {Note: If it's too stiff to spread, place the Nutella into a microwave-safe bowl and heat for about 10 seconds.} Roll the Nutella covered dough up to make a cylinder- about 6-inches long. Turn it on it's end and gently flatten it into a disk that's about 1 3/4-inches high. (Again, try not to overwork the dough as you're doing this.)
Cut the disk of dough into 6 or 8 wedges and place them on the prepared cookie sheet- leaving about 2-inches of space between each wedge. Bake for 18-20 minutes (rotating about halfway through) until a toothpick inserted into the center of a scone comes out clean. Remove the pan from the oven and allow the scones to rest for about 5 minutes before carefully transferring them to a cooling rack.
Nutella topping: Heat the remaining 1/4 cup of Nutella in a microwave safe bowl until it's thin enough to drizzle- about 10-15 seconds on high. Use a fork or small whisk to drizzle the Nutella over the cooled scones. Feel free to use more than 1/4 cup! ;-)
Well-covered, the scones will last for about two days.
Recipe adapted from Baked Explorations
Seriously that looks incredible! I am like you as well. I don't dream of scones and have never made them either but if they turned you around, I might seriously have to try this recipe. I also stay in my pjs a bit too long on the weekends as well.
ReplyDeleteOh my lord, those look evil! What a devilish treat....
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Rosa
happiest of 2013 to you! what a lovely post to return to on your space.
ReplyDeletetake heart, sometimes when i'm feeling anti-social, i like to shower, blow dry my hair, lotion up and then put on a clean flannel pj set to sit on the couch with a cup of coffee & that is where i will sit for the duration of a saturday. BLISS.
I totally understand about your need to hide - I feel like that sometimes too! (Whether or not I'm in my pajamas.)
ReplyDeleteI have no idea what you're talking about relative to your photography. Your pictures are gorgeous! If that's your weak point, then you must be brilliant. Visit my blog any time you want to see what good writing supported by mediocre food photography looks like.
I can't think of a better way for you to return that with Nutella and toffee! I'm drooling... I think I need one of these for lunch :).
ReplyDeleteWelcome back. I knew you were just recentering. I think that's awesome, needed sometimes, and very smart of you. I love love solitude and alone time and quietness like no other. I do not thrive in chaos, ever. I love peace and quiet!
ReplyDeleteAnd to come back with these nutella gems. Yes, oh yes. Nutella and toffee are two of my fave things.
I absolutely love scones. And pajamas. So this post was right up my alley :) Pinning these!
ReplyDeleteI was wondering what happened to you... so glad you're back!! And what a way to come back with these scones. Loves it!
ReplyDeleteI can totally feel you on the taking a photo thing before 4 pm... I have to schedule everything around that 2:30 to 3 pm window.
BUT, I LOVE your photos...so keep on truckin'. I mean photographing. ;-D
If I can find toffee bits at my grocer's I'll try this one this weekend. Thanks
ReplyDeleteAt first glance I thought these were double layer scones...they are so tall and decadent!
ReplyDeleteValerie, Happy 2013 to you! So good to see a post from you, and what more its nutella! This is good, good stuff, so 'refreshing' rather than all the healthconscious foods floating in the blogs in January:P..btw-i am guilty as charged for wearing pjs until late evening too!
ReplyDeleteWow this looks stunning...loving it:)
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year, Val!!! I am seriously in agony right now, wanting one of these scones! Love your post, Jen...you always hold me to the last word!
ReplyDeleteOh man, that's nothing. Ever since I started working from home there are days where I don't get out of my pajamas until right before the hubby comes home from work. Who's gonna see?
ReplyDeleteThese scones look amazing.
oh my gosh, nutella in a scone sounds so good. so good. and i totally relate to hibernating! sometimes - ok most of the time - i need pajamas, peace and quiet, and no people around. you really shouldn't worry about your photos, they are wonderful. i always feel like i'm being pulled into a delicious dreamy world full of amazing baked goods.
ReplyDeletei am at a loss for words by how delicious these scones look.lol. i am a big nutella junkie so i want to get those scones in my tummy asap ;)
ReplyDeleteI hope you had a wonderful time to yourself! These look absolutely amazing. Most bakery scones are just dry and not all that flavorful... this looks the opposite.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE scones! These look so decadent, I am thinking Sunday breakfast :)
ReplyDeleteWait, you use P&S camera? But...your photos look totally awesome! The quality and the clarity of your images - fantastic! You know what else is fantastic? Nutella and toffee scones! How do I get one of these in my kitchen for Sunday breakfast??? LOL. Mmmmm, perfect with pajamas...
ReplyDeleteThese look like very special scones. I understand perfectly about crawling across the floor to escape people. I too need to be alone to restore my energy levels. I love your description of it all, including the cats and postman.
ReplyDeleteLove your honesty in this post. I feel the same way sometimes, especially regarding doing the photos. These scones do look wonderful. Can't go wrong with chocolate and hazelnut. Such good flavors. Bring on the Nutella!
ReplyDeletehey girl
ReplyDeleteyou were missed
i need a vaca
well actually i need sun
the winter months here on cape cod mean no sun, and time for SAD
i finally ordered one of those sunlights for therapy
i hope it works!
love the scones and glad youre back