Ham and Cheese Scones
Total Time
35 minutes
Prep Time
15 minutes
Cook Time
20 minutes
Rating
4.98 out of 5 stars
(43)
Ingredients
8 servings
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter, cut into cubes
- ¾ cup buttermilk
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ⅓ cup diced ham
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
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Preparation
Step 1
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat; set aside.
Step 2
In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, garlic powder, and salt. Add cold butter, using your fingers to work the butter into the dry ingredients until it resembles coarse crumbs.
Step 3
Stir in buttermilk, cheese, ham, and chives until a soft dough forms.
Step 4
Working on a lightly floured surface, knead the dough 3-4 times until it comes together. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough into an 8″ circle, about 1-inch thick, and cut into 8 wedges.
Step 5
Place scones onto the prepared baking sheet. Place into oven and bake for 18-20 minutes, or until firm to the touch and lightly browned.
Step 6
Serve warm.
Step 7
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Chef's notes
Start with cold butter. Using chilled butter is ideal, contributing to a better rise and softer, crumbly scones. If using warm butter, it will melt too quickly during mixing. We want the butter to melt in the oven for those super flaky layers.
Use buttermilk. While adding a slightly tangy flavor, buttermilk is an important ingredient here yielding light, moist, and fluffier scones. Using milk will lead to more neutral flavors and a drier consistency. You can also make a buttermilk substitute using milk, adding 1 tablespoon lemon juice or vinegar to 1 cup milk.
Use your favorite cheese and herbs. This is a great recipe to use your favorite cheese and any extra herbs you have leftover.
Avoid overworking the dough. Knead the dough just until it comes together. Overworking the dough can lead to dense, dry scones.
Mix it up. Swap out the ham for pancetta, sausage, or bacon.
Freeze before baking. Although scones can be frozen before or after baking, freezing before baking is preferred to preserve texture and for optimal freshness.
