Coffee-Glazed Chocolate Chip Scones & Iced Cardamom Coffee

105 CommentsSaturday • August 9, 2008 • by Ari

Earlier this week I met an energetic Italian woman in the baking section of my local Barnes & Noble bookstore. After simultaneously reaching for the same book – then laughing because neither one of us was willing to take it (there was only one copy) – we began talking about our favorite recipes. Eventually we hit upon the topic of food & friends, and at this point she said something that still has my wheels turning: “I love America, but after ten years there is one thing I know for sure – Americans don’t know how to enjoy life.” Taken aback, I asked her why she had come to this conclusion. “I give you an example,” she responded. “In Italy, if I invite a friend for pizza or coffee after work it’s no big deal, they’re happy to hear from me and maybe they even bring their friends along. Why not? But in America… in America everyone is so busy! It’s all work, work, work and ‘I can’t go out because I have to get up early for work’ excuses. Coffee dates mean calling weeks in advance and maybe even then they cancel! That’s no way to live. Life is about people, about enjoying yourself. You Americans let life pass you by. Whoosh!”

I wasn’t sure how to respond to this – mostly because I knew there was some truth to what she said, and also because I was guiltily remembering all those times when I had prioritized the things I “needed” to get done. Was everything as urgent as all that? Probably not. Sometimes it’s important to work for that pot of gold. Yet, as writer D. Pagels once remarked, “some of the secret joys of living are not found by rushing from point A to point B, but by inventing some imaginary letters along the way.”

Inspired by my encounter with this Italian who had her priorities straight, I decided to do two things today: First, I was going to finish tweaking my recipe for coffee-glazed chocolate chip scones. Second, I was going to invite someone over.

I was wildly successful with the first task. After modifying the ingredients many times over the past few weeks, the scones finally achieved that balance of sweetness and texture I’d been looking for. As I finished drizzling the coffee glaze over each one I picked up the phone and called a friend, hoping she’d have a free moment to drop by, or that I could go over with some scones. But though she was free she didn’t feel like driving, and no I couldn’t come over because she had to work on a project due Monday. Similar stories emerged when I called friends 2, 3 and 4 – but before you feel sorry for me there is a happy ending. Because while my American friends didn’t understand my zest for getting together, I knew there was one woman who would get it. That’s right! I called my new Italian friend. I’d accepted her business card after we met – just because – and when I told her my tale of baking scones but having no one to share them with, she said: “So American! I’ll meet you at the park in 30 minutes.” I put the scones in a basket, made a batch of iced cardamom coffee, then headed out with a couple glasses. We had a great time, sitting in the warm sun, nibbling on fresh scones, and sipping iced coffee.

I think there are two morals to this story. 1) Next time a friend wants to meet for coffee, say yes, especially if she’s bearing baked goods; and 2) strangers are just friends waiting to happen.

Before I go, don’t forget about the August book giveaway! You can find out more about this new, monthly event by clicking on the photo to the left or by clicking here. Also, many thanks to everyone who responded to my question about additional features you’d like to see on this site. Beastmomma, I’ve definitely got some one-dish & filling recipes to share; and Sil BsAs, I’ll do my best to feature more desserts! (Shucks, right?)

Coffee-Glazed Chocolate Chip Scones (My Recipe)
Ingredients: Makes 8 large scones

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup + 1 tablespoon light brown sugar, both packed
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
• 1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, chilled and cut into small pieces
• 3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 large egg
• 3/4 cup buttermilk
• About 1/4 cup whole milk

For the coffee glaze:

• 3/4 cup confectioners sugar
• 1 tablespoon + 1/2 teaspoon freshly brewed coffee

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a large bowl combine the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt and nutmeg. Add the butter pieces. Use your fingertips to rub the butter into the mixture until it resembles coarse bread crumbs. Stir in the chocolate chips.

In a small bowl, gently whisk the egg and buttermilk together. Add to dry ingredients and mix until the dough comes together in clumps. Coat your hands with flour and gather the dough into a ball. (If the dough is too sticky to handle you can sprinkle flour on it about 1/2 teaspoon at a time, just enough for you to handle it. Don’t add too much or you’ll dry out your dough!) Turn your ball of dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Gently press into a circle about 8 inches in diameter.

Use a medium, round 3-inch cookie cutter to shape the scones. Dip the cookie cutter into some flour, then press into the dough, twisting as you press down. Repeat this process for each scone. You can gather extra bits of dough up into another ball, then flatten and repeat to get a couple extra scones out of the batch.

Brush scones lightly with milk, then bake for 20-24 minutes or until they are golden brown and a tester inserted into the center comes out clean.

While the scones are cooling, in a small bowl combine the confectioners sugar with the coffee. Mix until you can’t see any little lumps of sugar. Then drizzle over the scones and allow 10-15 minutes for the glaze to set. (Of course, you don’t have to wait for the glaze to set, you can just gobble these right up if you want!)

Iced Cardamom Coffee (My Recipe)
Ingredients: Makes 2 servings

• 1/2 cup granulated sugar + 1/2 cup water (for simple syrup)
• 8 tablespoons coffee beans + grinder
• 4 1/2 cups filtered water
• 1/2 to 1 teaspoon whole cardamom pods, depending on how strong you want the cardamom flavor to be
• Ice cubes
• Milk, to taste

In a medium saucepan combine 4 1/2 cups of water with the cardamom pods. Bring to a boil. Lower heat and continue to boil for 5 minutes. In the meantime, grind your coffee beans and place the grounds in your coffee machine or French press.

Use 4 cups of the cardamom water to brew your coffee. If using an automatic machine, remove the pods first. If using a French press you can add the pods to the press along with the water. In a French press, brew for 5 minutes.

While the coffee is brewing combine the 1/2 cup of sugar and 1/2 cup of water in a small saucepan. Cook over medium-high heat, gently whisking the entire time. (You are making what’s called a “simple syrup” which is an excellent way to sweeten cold drinks since sugar does not dissolve well in cold liquid.) When you can’t see the sugar granules anymore and the liquid is clear, the syrup is done. Remove from heat and set aside. (You can store leftover syrup in the fridge for up to 1 week.)

Fill two glasses halfway with ice cubes. Pour coffee over the ice and sweeten with simple syrup. Add milk according to your tastes and enjoy! (I use about 2 tablespoons of syrup & about 1/2 cup low-fat milk per glass. My husband prefers more milk and more syrup.)

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:

• Blueberry-Raspberry Honey-Butter Glazed Scones
• For My Fellow Coffee Lovers, Tiramisu
• Yeasted Chocolate-Chip Pumpkin Bread
• Pumpkin Scones with Autumn Spiced Glaze
• Spiral Coffee Cake with Nuts and Orange Marmalade
• Cinnamon Sugar Scones
• Cardamom Rose Rice Pudding
• Upside Down Cardamom Pear Cake

Posted in: Breakfast, Drinks, Life, My Recipes

Tagged with: Coffee, scones