Healthy Recipe: Chocolate Chip - Orange Scones

I saw this recipe in my Weight Watchers Best Ever Desserts cookbook and really wanted to try it. I love scones, but they usually throw off my healthy eating plans so I save them for special occasions. Now I can have them anytime!

Chocolate Chip - Orange Scones

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1/2 cup mini semisweet chocolate chips
3/4 cup low-fat buttermilk
1 large egg
1 tablespoon grated orange zest (about 1 orange)
1 cup powdered sugar
4 teaspoons fresh orange juice

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Spray a large baking sheet with nonstick spray.

2. Whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. With a pastry blender or 2 knives used scissor-fashion, cut in the butter until the mixture resembles fine crumbs with some small pieces of butter remaining. Stir in the chocolate chips. Whisk together the buttermilk, egg, and orange zest in a small bowl. Add to the flour mixture and stir just until a dough forms.

3. Gather the dough into a ball and place on a lightly floured surface. Lightly knead 2 times. With a floured rolling pin, roll the dough to 3/4-in. thickness. With a 1 1/2-in. round cookie cutter, cut out rounds, dipping the cutter into flour between cuts to prevent sticking. Place the scones on the baking sheet about 1 inch apart. Gently gather the scraps, reroll and cut out more scones, making a total of 24 scones. Bake until golden brown, 10-12 minutes. Let cool on the baking sheet on a rack until warm, about 10 minutes.

4. Stir together the powdered sugar and orange juice in a small bowl until smooth. Place a sheet of wax paper under a rack. Dip the tops of the scones in the glaze; place, glaze side up, on the rack. Let stand until the glaze sets, about 1 hour.

per scone: 104 cal., 3 g fat, 0 g fiber, 2 WW pts

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When I made these, I must have used a little too much liquid because I had a batter rather than a dough and didn't want to take time trying to add more flour or chill the batter. So I just dropped spoonfuls of scone batter. They spread out and ended up looking more like cookies, but they were still good! They have a cake-like texture and a mild orange flavor. Perfect to go with a cup of tea!

*I made them again and had the same issue with the batter - was not a dough that I could knead.  Just dropped and shaped 24 small scones, but then let them rest on the baking sheet in the refrigerator for 20-30 minutes.  They definitely rose higher and looked nicer so I put the updated pic above now!

If you try them, let me know what you think!

I'm linking this up to Tasty Tuesday at Balancing Beauty and Bedlam! Stop over there for lots of good recipes, including Jen's Baked Oatmeal!

Lisa :)