Hey friends! Ever have a bit of cheese, fruit, or herbs left in the fridge and wonder what to do with it? These herby cheese scones are the perfect answer! They’re fluffy, flavorful, and super fun to make. You can even mix in chopped fruit or nuts if you’re feeling fancy. Whether you’re making these for breakfast, a snack, or a weekend treat, they’re a cheesy dream!
Method
Prep the Goodies
First, take your leftover cheese and fruit and chop them up. If you’re using harder cheese like cheddar, it’s a good idea to grate some of it to sprinkle on top of the scones later. You can also prep any extras here like herbs, chopped nuts, or seeds. Get everything ready before you move on to mixing.
Make the Crumb Mix
In a large mixing bowl, add the self-raising flour, baking powder, and cold, cubed butter. Use your fingers to rub the butter into the flour gently. Keep rubbing until the mixture looks like light breadcrumbs. This step helps make the scones soft and flaky.
Add the Flavor
Now it’s time to bring in all the tasty bits. Add your chopped cheese, fruit, and any optional herbs, seeds, or nuts into the flour mixture. Don’t forget to sprinkle in the salt and pepper too! Gently stir everything together, making sure all the add-ins are spread out evenly.
Wet the Dough
In a separate smaller bowl, crack the egg and pour in the milk. Whisk them together until the mixture looks light and frothy. Then slowly pour most of this wet mix into the center of your dry ingredients. Save a little bit of it to brush the tops of the scones later. Use your hands to mix everything together. Gently squeeze and fold the mixture until a soft dough forms. Be careful not to overmix it should come together without being too sticky or too dry.
Roll & Cut
Lightly flour your clean work surface and turn the dough out onto it. Knead it just a few times to help it hold together. Try not to press or fold it too much we want the scones to stay light and airy. Sprinkle a little extra flour on top if it’s sticky, then roll out the dough until it’s about 2 centimeters thick. Use a round cutter (or a cup if you don’t have one) to cut out about 12 scones.
Bake Time
Place the cut scones onto a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Take the leftover milk and egg mix and brush it gently on the tops of each scone. If you want, you can sprinkle on a bit of grated cheese or some seeds for extra crunch and flavor.
Into the Oven
Now it’s baking time! Put the tray in a preheated oven at 190°C fan (or 210°C in a regular oven). Bake the scones for about 12 to 15 minutes. They should turn golden brown and smell amazing.
Cool & Serve
Once they’re baked, remove the scones from the oven and let them cool on a wire rack. Serve them warm if you can maybe with butter, jam, or cream cheese. You can also let them cool completely and freeze them for later. Just warm them up in the microwave or oven when you’re ready to enjoy.
Necessary Tools
- Mixing bowl
- Whisk or fork
- Knife and chopping board
- Rolling pin
- Pastry brush
- Baking tray
- Parchment paper
- Wire rack
Herby Cheese Scones (with Optional Fruit!)
Cuisine: ScotlandDifficulty: Easy12
servings15
minutes15
minutes30
minutesIngredients
300g self-raising flour
1 tsp baking powder
80g butter (cold, cut into cubes)
½ tsp sea salt flakes
½ tsp black pepper
175ml milk
1 medium egg
Leftover cheese (any kind you have!)
Optional: chopped fruit, herbs, seeds, or nuts
Directions
- Prep the Goodies: Chop up any leftover cheese and fruit. If using a hard cheese like cheddar, grate some to sprinkle on top later.
- Make the Crumb Mix: In a big bowl, rub the flour, baking powder, and butter together using your fingers until it looks like breadcrumbs.
- Add the Flavor: Gently stir in the chopped cheese, fruit, salt, pepper, and any herbs, nuts, or seeds you’re using.
- Wet the Dough: In a separate bowl, whisk the egg and milk until frothy. Slowly pour it into the dry mix, saving a bit for brushing the tops. Use your hands to gently bring the dough together.
- Roll & Cut: On a floured surface, knead the dough gently (don’t squish it too much!). Roll it out to about 2cm thick and cut out about 12 scones.
- Bake Time: Place the scones on a lined baking tray, brush the tops with the egg mix, and sprinkle on grated cheese or seeds.
- Into the Oven: Bake at 190°C fan (210°C regular oven) for 12–15 minutes until golden.
- Cool & Serve: Cool on a wire rack and enjoy warm or reheat later!
Notes
- Don’t overmix the dough too much kneading makes the scones tough.
- Make sure your butter is cold; it helps the scones stay flaky.
- Only add a little milk-egg mix at a time so the dough doesn’t get too wet.
- Keep your dough thick when rolling thin dough won’t rise much.
Serving Suggestions
- Serve warm with butter, jam, or cream cheese.
- Add them to your lunchbox with fruit and yogurt.
- Use them for a fun twist on sandwiches!
Fun Fact
Scones originally come from Scotland and were made on griddles, not in ovens! They’ve come a long way and now we’re stuffing them with all kinds of goodies like cheese, herbs, and fruit.
Conclusion
These herby cheese scones are cozy, cheesy, and packed with flavor. I love how easy they are to change up depending on what’s in the fridge. Try them warm, share them with friends, or freeze a few for later. However you make them, they’ll bring a smile to your face and probably a cheesy crumb to your shirt!
