Valentine’s Day Cherry Chocolate Scones

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease a baking sheet.

Cut cherries into eighths and set aside. Mix the first 5 ingredients (flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, sugar) in a large mixing bowl. Cut in butter with a pastry blender until crumbly. Add buttermilk, chocolate chips, and cherries (and food coloring if using), stirring until all of the flour mixture is well combined. (If still very dry, add a more buttermilk a tablespoon at a time.) Dough will be slightly sticky.

Put dough on a lightly floured surface (better yet, a Silpat) and pat into a circle about 1/2 inch thick. Use a 1-2 inch round or heart-shaped cookie cutter and cut out scones. Place 1 inch apart on a lightly greased cookie sheet. Bake at 400 degrees for 12-15 minutes until the edges are very lightly browned.

You can serve this with butter, clotted cream, or jam. Keep in an airtight container for 3-4 days. Best if warmed in the microwave for a few seconds before eating to melt the chocolate.

Makes about 1.5 dozen medium-sized scones.