The ultimate cheese scones
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Easy
- October 2017

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Makes 6
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Hands-on time 10 minutes, oven time 14 minutes
These light and fluffy cheese scones are easy to make and topped with a toasted cheese crust. They make a delicious savoury treat for afternoon tea.
Prefer your scones sweet with jam and cream? Make our classic scones instead.
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Vegetarian recipes
- Calories
- 287kcals
- Fat
- 14.6g (8.8g saturated)
- Protein
- 8.5g
- Carbohydrates
- 29.5g (0.7g sugars)
- Fibre
- 1.5g
- Salt
- 1.4g
Ingredients
- 225g self-raising flour, plus extra to dust
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp cayenne pepper
- 1½ tsp mustard powder
- 55g chilled salted butter, cubed
- 100g mature cheddar, finely grated, plus 50g grated
- 60ml warmed mixture of whole milk and water, plus extra milk for brushing
You’ll also need…
- Heavy-duty non-stick baking sheet
- Round 6cm plain or crinkle pastry cutter
Method
- Put the baking sheet in the oven and heat it to 220°C/200°C fan/gas 7.
- Meanwhile, sift the flour, baking powder, salt, cayenne pepper and mustard powder into a food processor. Add the cubed butter and process briefly until the mixture resembles very fine breadcrumbs. If you don’t have a food processor, put the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl, add the butter and rub it in with your fingertips until the mixture resembles very fine breadcrumbs.
- Tip the mixture into a large mixing bowl (if it’s not already in one), then mix in the 100g finely grated cheese.
- Add the milk and water mixture to the bowl and, using a dinner knife with a cutting motion, mix everything together quickly and evenly. Bring the mixture together quickly with your hands into a smooth ball, then put on a lightly floured work surface. Resist the temptation to knead it.
- Gently press out the mixture using the heel of your hand to 2.5cm thick. Cut out 4 scones using your cutter. Gently press the offcuts together and cut out 2 more scones. Shape any remaining dough into a small disc (the cook’s perk!).
- Brush the tops of the scones with milk and sprinkle with the remaining 50g grated cheese. Remove the hot baking sheet from the oven, put the scones on it, spaced well apart, then bake for 12-14 minutes until richly golden and cooked though.
- Remove the scones from the oven and serve as soon as possible after baking, ideally spread with a little butter.
FAQs
Can I use self-raising flour to make these cheese scones?
Yes, the recipe already uses self-raising flour.
What do you have on cheese scones?
Butter, marmite, more cheese all work well. Or treat your scone like a mini sandwich with added ham, smoked salmon and cream cheese etc.
How should you serve cheese scones?
Serve them warm with butter or your favourite savoury toppings. Or as a side to winter soups.
What cheese should I use?
Cheddar and gruyere make good choices or a combination of both.
What is the secret to making good scones?
Keep everything as cold as possible, mix/work the dough as little as possible and preheat the baking tray (this helps kickstart the baking for good rise and crusty base).
Are these scones suitable for freezing?
Yes, cook, cool and wrap well before freezing. Defrost at room temperature then reheat in a low oven for 5-10 minutes to refresh and warm through.
delicious. tips
Watch how to make them here:
The scones are best eaten warm the day they’re made but will keep in an airtight container for up to 24 hours or in the freezer for up to 1 month. Defrost thoroughly.
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Great recipe; can’t go wrong with Delicious Magazine! I did add a little parmesan after a recommendation from a friend and they were amazing!!
Thanks for the feedback Elspeth, so glad you loved our cheese scones!
I found the measurements to be just right – the mix came out doughy but not sloppy.
I added about 1/4 of a greated onion.
delicious ♥ warm with butter.