Apple-Cranberry Pie

There are cake people, and then there are pie people.  Although I treat myself to a cupcake now and then, I am-when forced to choose-a pie person.  After all, how can you deny a plateful of just-from-the-oven apple pie, topped with a big scoop of vanilla bean-flecked ice cream? Answer: you can’t.

Naturally then, when my friend came over to bake yesterday, I couldn’t help but be thrilled with his desire to bake pie.  Not to mention that he had all the ingredients for one of my favorite pie pairings: apple and cranberry.  There’s something about the way those bouncy and bright little cranberries make the filling really pop.  And the crust, OH THE CRUST, it’s perfectly buttery, with a hint of lemon and a little crunch.  Serve up a slice warm from the oven, with a big scoop of ice cream, and you’ll never find it difficult to choose between pie and cake again.

Chocolate Cranberry Scones

It seems that scones are always hit-or-miss.  The good ones crumble when you try to tear off a piece, are moist without being gummy, and have a touch of sweetness, without being a cookie.  Although I have a favorite, go-to scone recipe (which I will post about in the upcoming month), I decided to try something new.

 

This chocolate scone recipe has been bookmarked for a while; I simply did not find the right occasion to make them…until last week that is.

 

The recipe is a breeze to make, and you probably have most (if not all) of the ingredients in your kitchen.  The utterly rich, chocolate-studded scone dough is balanced by the tart bite of the fresh cranberries.  These scones would make a great breakfast treat for holiday guests.