Cheddar Herb Scones

Cheddar Herb Scones are a cross between traditional scones and cheddar biscuits. They pair excellently with Jambalaya, Stews, and other hearty meals. Baked on a cast-iron griddle, they have a crunchy bottom and a fluffy, tender interior filled with cheddar cheese, herbs, and spices.

Cheddar Herb Scones

Scones – a Quick Bread

Like herb and cheddar biscuits, scones are a quick bread made with baking powder or baking soda instead of yeast. The dough itself is more on the wet side and rather shaggy. The result is a beautifully rustic side dish to any dinner.

Scones are a staple of British cuisine and have been enjoyed for centuries. Traditionally, they are made with flour, butter, sugar, and milk and can be sweet or savory. Cheddar and herb scones are a delicious variation of the classic recipe and are perfect for breakfast, brunch, or as a side dish with dinner.

Understand cultures through food

I used to not care about the history of food. I just wanted it to taste good. I’m a big fan of new inventions, fusions, and combinations in the culinary world. But over the past year or so, as I’ve been on this culinary journey in school, I’ve realized that I really want to understand the authentic variations of foods before messing with them.

I want to taste what the culture made each recipe to be, and understanding the history of the culture at that time really helps to understand the chefs and home cooks of that time. It’s just making me a lot more appreciative of the food, and paired with the science behind it all…. I don’t know, it’s just making me a lot more grateful and ready to pay respect to the chefs who have come before.

The Origins of Scones

The origins of scones are not entirely clear, but they are believed to have originated in Scotland in the early 1500s. The word scone comes from the Middle Dutch word schoonbrot, which means “beautiful bread.” Scones were initially made with oats and baked on a griddle, similar to a pancake. This is, in part, much like Irish Soda Bread because it was cooked over an open fire or some type of woodstove.

Over time, scones evolved and became made with flour, butter, and milk. They were often served with tea or coffee. Scones became popular in England in the 19th century and were often served with clotted cream and jam, a tradition still enjoyed today.

Cheddar Herb Scones Ingredients

The full recipe with ingredient amounts and instructions is at the bottom of this post. You can save a tree and the recipe to your personal and private recipe box here on Call Me PMc. This way, you’ll never misplace it.

• Self-Rising Flour or All-Purpose Flour
• Sugar
• Salt
• Baking Powder
• Butter
• Milk
• Cheddar Cheese
• Dried Parsley
• Garlic Powder

How to Make Cheddar Herb Scones

Start by sifting all the dry ingredients together through a fine mesh strainer into a large bowl.

Dice the cold butter into small cubes before adding it to the dry ingredients. Using a pastry cutter or gloved hands, work the butter chunks into the dry ingredients until it resembles a course sand with some butter chunks visible.

Add the cheese and milk to the bowl and mix well with hands until a shaggy, sticky dough is the result. More or less milk may be required based on your environmental factors.

Once the dough has come together, scoop it out onto a lightly floured surface and shape it into one or two large circles using your hands and a rolling pin until about 1/2 inch in thickness.

Use a sharp knife or biscuit cutter to cut biscuits or scones. You can also form the scones freehand or using a scone mold. Once the scones are cut, possibly in batches, place them on the griddle with about an inch of space between each, as they will expand quite a bit during baking.

Use melted butter, milk, or egg wash on the tops of the scones before baking at 375F for 20-25 minutes, depending on thickness. If splitting into two batches, check the scones at 15 minutes. For thick, large scones like the picture, you’ll wait more towards the 25-minute mark.

How to Make Cheddar Herb Scones

Tips and Tricks for Baking Cheddar Herb Scones

1. Use cold butter: Cold butter is essential for creating the flaky texture of scones. To prevent too much from melting, cut the butter into small cubes and only roughly work it into the dry ingredients with gloved hands or a pastry cutter.
2. Don’t overwork the dough: Overworking the dough can result in tough, dense scones. Be gentle when kneading the dough, and handle it as little as possible. Mix everything about 90% of the way in the bowl, but then finish mixing while also shaping on the countertop.
3. Use a sharp cutter: A sharp cutter is important for cutting the scones evenly and preventing them from sticking to the cutter. If you don’t have a sharp cutter, you can use a knife to cut the dough into wedges. Shaping the dough on a lightly floured surface or parchment will help keep the scones from sticking.
4. Do not preheat your griddle. The griddle will get nice and hot during baking, and preheating it could result in burned bottoms.
5. Brush with egg wash or butter: Brushing the tops of the scones with beaten egg before baking will give them a shiny, golden brown finish. Brushing the tops of the scones with melted butter will give them a dull, tan color but have a buttery emphasis on taste!
6. Use a scone mold: A scone mold can help give your scones a more uniform shape and size. If you don’t have a scone mold, you can still shape the dough into a disk and cut it into wedges. This recipe creates very large scones. You can split the dough in half, shape, and cut to double the amount of scones for still good-sized scones. You can also cut these into biscuits and bake them in a skillet.

Cheese Options for Scones

While cheddar cheese is a classic choice for scones, many other types of cheese can be used to add flavor and texture to your scones. Here are a few ideas:

1. Parmesan: Parmesan cheese has a strong, salty flavor that pairs well with herbs and can add a nice crunchy texture to scones.
2. Gouda: Gouda cheese has a nutty, buttery flavor that can add richness to scones. It also melts well, making it a good choice for cheesy scones.
3. Blue cheese: Blue cheese has a bold, tangy flavor that can add a unique twist to savory scones. It pairs well with herbs like thyme or rosemary.
4. Feta: Feta cheese has a salty, tangy flavor that can add a Mediterranean flair to scones. It also pairs well with ingredients like olives or sun-dried tomatoes.

Cheddar Herb Scones FAQs

How to Store Leftover Scones

Store leftover scones in an airtight container or bag for 1-2 days at room temperature. After that, they will start to dry out. You can reheat them in a microwave wrapped in a damp paper towel for 30 seconds to rehydrate slightly. But do not throw them away if they are on the drier side, simply serve with a hearty chili or soup and they will soak up excess liquid, becoming tender again.

You can also store these wrapped and in the refrigerator for about a week.

Leftover scones can be frozen for later use. To freeze scones, allow them to cool completely and then wrap them tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Place the wrapped scones in a freezer-safe container or bag and store them in the freezer for up to three months.

How to thaw Cheddar Herb Scones

To thaw frozen scones, remove them from the freezer and let them come to room temperature for about an hour. You can also reheat frozen scones in the oven by preheating the oven to 350°F (175°C), placing the scones on a baking sheet, and baking them for 10-15 minutes or until heated through.

Remember that frozen scones may not be quite as tender and flaky as freshly baked scones, but they are still a great option for a quick and easy breakfast or snack.

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