A Simple Cheese Scone

So cheesy, so delicious

There is nothing I like better than eating some deliciously fresh baked goods, especially scones. The are a really simple to make and usually you have everything on hand. I have a hard time going out to buy things at a bakery when I have yummy things like this at home. In this case I don’t mimic my Nana in my WWND (what would Nana do) challenge, as I’m sorry but Nana’s scones were rock hard! The trick is to not over-handle the dough.

I love scones sooooo much.  I love baking them, I love eating them.  They are a simple food that can fill the gap quickly made from ingredients most people have in their cupboard.   No bread to go with the soup?  Bake some scones!  Nothing to feed a friend dropping over - whip up some scones!  Everyone appreciates fresh fluffy scones.

I make New Zealand-style scones, which are more like American biscuits (biscuits in New Zealand are cookies).  We don't use egg, and if we add sugar, it is sparingly.  I have tried lots of different recipes but this version is my favourite - yes, cream (and indeed fizzy lemonade) does make a lovely scone, but it isn't something I have in the fridge very often, so I have a recipe that uses milk.  It is based on the famous NZ Edmonds Cookery book Recipe, but tweaked - I dislike the taste of baking powder so I've gotten the lowest amount in the recipe without it making a difference to the scones rising.

Ingredients

• 3 cups of plain flour

• 4 tsp of baking powder

• 1/4 tsp of salt

• 75gm / 2.65oz butter

• 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, grated (like an Irish or New Zealand cheese)

• 1 1/3 cups milk

• 3 tbsp extra grated cheese

• A little extra milk

Getting Ready

Preheat the oven 220C or 430F.  Move an oven rack to the middle of the oven.  Line a baking tray with paper and dust with flour.  Grate the cheese.  

Mixing

1. Sift the flour, salt and baking powder into a bowl.

2. Cut or rub the butter into the flour, until it resembles large breadcrumbs.

3. Mix in the cheese.

4. Mix in the milk quickly with a table knife to form a slightly sticky soft dough.  Pull the mixture together with your hands and knead a few times.  

5. Tip onto the baking tray and press out into a rectangle, then cut into 12 even-sized pieces.  Leave 1 inch space between the scones.

6. Press some of the extra cheese into the bottom of each scone.  Brush the tops with milk and sprinkle extra cheese on the top.

7. Bake for 13 mins (check after 10 minutes) or until the scones have risen and are golden brown.

To Serve

Delicious served fresh out of the oven with butter.  Mmm.