Gran’s Easy Cheese Scones Recipe

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This cheese scones recipe yields the most beautifully light and flaky golden bites of heaven! Easy to follow with perfect results, my Gran’s cheese scones recipe is one that you’ll make again and again! Keep reading for the full step by step recipe, tons of helpful info, tips and much more…

One thing that’s really hit home in the last few weeks is that we don’t live forever. We all have an expiry date and we never know when that will be. Rather than dwell on the negative I’ve decided to turn this into a positive.

Realising this makes you appreciate what you have a lot more. For me? That’s my Gran. My Gran is one seriously incredible woman. Not only is she one of my favourite people in the WHOLE world, but she lived through war rationing. This meant that she grew up with a strong ‘waste not want not’ attitude – something I very much admire. (Our society is far too wasteful nowadays!)

I swear she can make anything out of nothing and it’s incredible to witness. Remember when she shared her ham and cheese quiche recipe then made custard tarts for pudding from the leftover scraps of pastry? (That most people would just throw away?!)

If you want to become an experience baker like my Gran, start with the basics. Read through baking for beginners and see where it leads you!

So I decided that I would use this time we’ve been given to absorb as much awesomeness and knowledge from her as possible. I’ve phoned her a lot during the last few weeks. She’s shared her recipes and tips with me, and I’m even learning how to knit thanks to her! So I thought I’d share her wisdom with you too.

This cheese scones recipe makes one of the greatest savoury snacks of ALL time. And I promise you, they are bring you to your knees delicious while still warm, fresh from the oven!

I don’t mind sharing with you that scones have always been a baking weakness of mine. I don’t know what it is, they’ve just always turns out rubbish! But this cheese scones recipe? My Gran made it SO easy, even I couldn’t mess it up!

Cheese Scones – Recipe Summary

It really is very simple…

1. Rub together flour, baking powder, salt & pepper, mustard powder and butter.
2. Mix through some grated strong cheddar cheese.
3. Add egg and a little milk and bring together with a fork.
4. Gently bring together and roll out to a circle.
5. Divide into 8 triangles.
6. Brush with milk and sprinkle a little cheese on top.
7. Bake and cool.

Cheese Scones Recipe Ingredients

Not sure what ingredients to buy for cheese scones? Here’s everything you need to know…

• Flour – I use plain/all purpose flour and baking powder. You could leave out the baking powder and use self raising flour instead if that’s what you have.
• Baking Powder – Used to leaven the scones and make them light and airy. Don’t switch this for bicarbonate of soda! They react differently as they’re on opposite ends of the PH scale.
• Salt & Pepper – Anything you have in the cupboards will work fine here, just don’t leave them out as it really helps with the overall flavour.
• Mustard Powder – Cheese and mustard are a classic combo! This really adds to the overall flavour. Don’t switch for the liquid variety though as it will upset the balance of ingredients.
• Butter – You can use margerine if you don’t have butter. I like to use softened unsalted butter for the best possible flavour though.
• Cheese – Only extra mature cheddar will do here. You want BIG flavour and mild cheese just won’t achieve that.
• Egg – I say it every time, free range organic is my favourite. You may need more or less milk depending on the size of your egg though.
• Milk – Any milk (other than a sweet varitey like vanilla) will be fine here. I used rice milk as that’s what I had but cows milk will work fine too.

Cheese Scones Recipe Tips

I’ve fallen down many times when making scones! Here’s a few helpful pointers so you get it right first time.

• Invest in a pastry blender. They’re cheap, much quicker and less messy when ‘rubbing’ ingredients together. Trust me, you won’t regret it!
• Use cold butter. Warm butter just gets very messy very quickly.
• Using your hands to make the dough? Run them under cold water first. Warm hands heat up the butter and things get messy fast.
• Don’t overwork the dough! The less you touch it the better. 
• Only use strong cheddar cheese for the best flavour. You won’t really be able to taste a mild cheese.
• Try and cut all your slices the same size so they bake evenly.
• Scones gone a little stale? Warm them up in the oven and enjoy with some butter to bring them back to life.

Other Recipes You Might Like…

• Gran’s incredible ham and cheese quiche – more of my Gran’s wisdom
• The best homemade sweet chilli jam – a perfect combo with these cheese scones!
• Cheese Biscuits – more cheesey goodness.
• Garlic & thyme baked camembert – A great cheesy sharer.
• Spicy rosemary thins – another tasty savoury treat.

Gran’s Cheese Scones – Step by Step Picture Recipe

Here is what you will need to make 8 scones.

(For a printer friendly version, see the recipe card at the end of this post)

Ingredients

• 170g (1 + 1/3 Cup) Plain Flour *
• 3 tsp Baking Powder *
• Salt & Pepper
• 1/2 tsp Mustard Powder
• 30g (1/8 Cup) Unsalted Butter, cold & cubed
• 125g (1 + 1/8 Cup) Grated Strong Cheddar Cheese, divided
• 1 Medium Egg
• 2-4 tbsp Milk

Essential equipment

• Large Mixing Bowl
• Fork
• Baking Tray
• Pastry Brush

*If you don’t have plain flour, you can switch it for self raising flour and remove the baking powder instead.

Instructions

First, preheat your oven to 220°C/Fan 210°C/428°F.

Mix the flour (170g | 1 + 1/3 Cup), baking powder (3 tsp), salt and pepper and mustard powder (1/2 tsp) together in a bowl.

Next, rub the butter (30g | 1/8 Cup) into the flour mixture until it becomes like very fine crumbs. You can either use cold hands or a pastry blender.

Now it’s time to add in the flavour! Briefly mix 100g | 7/8 Cup of the grated cheese into the mixture and reserve the rest (25g | 2/8 Cup) for later.

Then make a well in the centre and add the egg (x 1) and 2 tbsp of the milk. Mix with a fork to bring it all together. You want a soft and pliable dough that’s not sticky. There’s a fine line between the two. So start with 2 tbsp and add more, 1 tbsp at a time, until the dough just comes together. 

Next, tip the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface and bring it together gently to form a ball. Try your best not to mess around with it too much – an overworked dough usually doesn’t make the best scones.

Gently roll/press it out into a circle about 1″ thick.

Then cut into 8 triangles roughly the same size.

Place them onto a baking tray. Brush the tops with a little milk and scatter with the remaining cheese (25g | 2/8 Cup).

Bake in the centre of the preheated oven for 10 – 15 minutes until a beautiful golden colour. Remember that every oven varies so keep an eye on your scones in the last 5 minutes of baking. (For mine it was 11 minutes.)

Allow to sit on the tray for a few minutes until cool enough to handle, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. (Although I highly recommend trying one with a little butter while they’re still warm!)

And there you have it! Beautifully light and flaky cheese scones with the best flavour EVER!

Store your scones in an airtight container (I prefer metal) ar room temperature and consume within 3 – 4 days.

Have you made this recipe?

Will this beautifully moist and delicious lemon traybake cake be making it’s way into your home? I’d love to know if it is! Send me your pics, comments and questions on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or email me at emma@kitchenmason.com.

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Gran's Cheese Scones - Printable Recipe

Yield: 8

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

My Gran's incredible cheese scones recipe yields the most beautifully light and flaky cheese scones EVER! Golden bites of heaven...

Print

Ingredients

• 170g (1 + 1/3 Cup) Plain Flour *
• 3 tsp Baking Powder *
• Salt & Pepper
• 1/2 tsp Mustard Powder
• 30g (1/8 Cup) Unsalted Butter, cold & cubed
• 125g (1 + 1/8 Cup) Grated Strong Cheddar Cheese, divided
• 1 Medium Egg
• 2-4 tbsp Milk

Essential Equipment

• Large Mixing Bowl
• Fork
• Baking Tray
• Pastry Brush

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 220°C/Fan 210°C/428°F.
2. In a large bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, salt & pepper and mustard powder.
3. Add the cubed butter and rub into the flour using either your forefingers and thumbs or a pastry blender. It should form very fine crumbs.
4. Mix through 100g | 7/8 Cup of the grated cheese and reserve the rest for later.
5. Make a well in the centre and add the egg and 2 tbsp of milk. Mix the dough with a fork to bring it together. If it's too dry, add a little more milk 1 tbsp at a time. You want it soft and pliable, not sticky.
6. Tip the dough out onto a floured surface and bring together to form a ball.
7. Flatten or roll the ball into a circle about 1" thick then cut 8 even triangles.
8. Place onto a baking tray and brush the tops with a little milk and sprinkle over the reserved grated cheese.
9. Bake in the centre of the oven for 10-15 minutes until a deep golden colour.
10. When cool enough to touch, transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Notes

*If you don’t have plain flour, you can switch it for self raising flour and remove the baking powder instead.

Store in an airtight container and consume within 3-4 days.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 153Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 39mgSodium: 295mgCarbohydrates: 18gFiber: 1gSugar: 2gProtein: 4g

Nutritional information on kitchenmason.com should only be used as a general guideline, I am not a certified nutritionist. Please always check labels for allergens where applicable.

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