Cheese Scones: the effortless recipe for light, fluffy scones

If you love savory scones then this homemade cheese scone recipe is sure to be a new favorite. These easy cheddar cheese scones are perfect for breakfast or served as a side to your favorite dinners. Made with cheese, ham, green onions mixed with flour, butter, and other key ingredients, cheese scones are easy to prep and bake, requiring little time and effort on your part. They're a great make-ahead recipe you can whip up on the weekend and enjoy throughout the week.

Cheese Scone Ingredients

Full of hearty ingredients like cheese and ham, these scones are surprisingly light, fluffy, and tender. Green onions and a little mustard bring extra flavor, while butter gives them a rich, flaky texture. Cheddar cheese is the go-to cheese for this scone recipe. Use mature or sharp cheddar for the best flavor.

How to Make Cheese Scones

Cheese scones are fantastic for breakfast and only take about 15 minutes of active prep time, plus another 20 of baking. To make them, mix the dry ingredients, then chop in the butter until a crumbly dough begins to form. Pour in the milk and stir to combine, but be sure not to overmix it! Then fold in the ham, cheese, and green onions. Continue to mix the dough until it comes together, then wrap it in cling film and allow it to rest for at least 1 hour. Whisk the mustard with 1 tablespoon of milk and brush it over the top of the dough. This will help your scones to turn a rich golden brown while baking. Then simply divide the dough into 8 equal pieces and bake for 20 minutes. That's it! Beautiful, delicious fresh scones to start your day the right way.

Cheese Scone Variations to Try

Add other ingredients to your scones like olives, pancetta, bacon, turkey bacon, chopped chives, paprika, cayenne, or anything you like! You can also use different cheeses. Gouda, parmesan, manchego, or a 4-cheese blend would be amazing in this recipe.

Tips for Making the Best Cheddar Cheese Scones

– The secret to great cheese scones is to use cold ingredients. This will help them to hold their shape as they're baking and stay tender.

– For a richer scone, add an egg to the batter. You can also use buttermilk instead of whole milk for scones that are more moist and tender.

– To keep your scones fluffy instead of dense, don't overmix the dough.

– You can make these scones gluten-free by using gluten-free flour instead of all-purpose flour. Make them vegan by substituting out the ham, butter, and milk. If you don't want to use butter, choose a butter substitute: oil will work instead, while non-dairy milk can be used in lieu of cow's milk.

– Aim for a 3-inch thickness for your scones.

– If you don't want to use the mustard and milk mixture, you can also brush your scones with water or an egg wash to achieve that same deep golden brown color.

How to Store Cheese Scones

Place leftover scones in an airtight container and store them at room temperature for up to 4 days. They can be reheated in the microwave for 10 to 20 seconds on high, or in the oven at 300°F for 5 to 10 minutes.

Instructions

Sift flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt into a bowl. Whisk to combine.

Add in the butter and chop it into the flour until you get a coarse, crumbly texture.

Mix in the milk.

Once a dough begins to form, add in the ham.

Add in the green onions.

Fold in the cheese. Stir to combine.

Turn the dough out and continue to mix until the ingredients are evenly distributed throughout the dough.

Shape the dough into a large rectangle about 3-inches thick. Wrap the dough and let it rest for 1 hour up to 12 hours.

Whisk 1 tablespoon of milk with Dijon mustard.

Use a sharp knife to cut the dough into individual scones. Place the scones on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

Brush the mustard mixture over the top of the dough.

Bake them for 20 minutes or until golden brown.

Notes

Serve these scones with butter as part of a hearty, savory breakfast.