Cheddar And Fresh Black Pepper Scones Recipes

CHEDDAR AND PEPPER SCONES

Steps:

• Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, sugar and salt into a large bowl. Cut in the butter and cheese. Stir in the pepper.
• Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 400°F and set a rack on the upper-middle level. Grease a heavy baking sheet or line it with parchment paper.
• Gently stir enough buttermilk or yogurt into the flour mixture to make a soft, sticky dough. Gather the dough into a ball with your hands. On a well-floured surface, roll or pat the dough into an 12-x-8-inch rectangle approximately 3/4 inch thick. Try not to handle the dough too much, and don't worry if it looks rough.
• Using a large spatula or a couple of spatulas, transfer the dough to the baking sheet. Use a dough scraper or knife to cut the dough into 40 squares, each 1 1/2 inches. Separate the squares slightly on the baking sheet. Brush each square with a little milk. (Or cut circles out of the dough with the rim of a glass or a biscuit cutter and transfer them to the baking sheet.)
• Bake the scones for 15 to 20 minutes, or until they are brown on the bottom and very lightly brown on top. Don't overbake; break one open to test for doneness. Transfer to cooling racks to cool briefly and then serve as soon as possible.
• To serve: The scones are still good when cool, but they are best when just out of the oven. Butter and scrambled eggs are appropriate accompaniments.

CHEDDAR AND FRESH BLACK PEPPER SCONES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400.
• In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and sugar.
• Cut in the butter and cheese.
• Stir in the black pepper.
• Refrigerate the dough for half an hour.
• Gently stir in the buttermilk or yogurt.
• Gather the mixture into a ball with your hands, and on a well-floured surface roll or pat the dough into a 12 x 8-inch rectangle approximately 3/4-inch thick.
• Grease a baking sheet.
• Using a large spatula, or a couple of spatulas, transfer the dough to the baking sheet.
• Use a dough scraper, baker's bench knife or a knife to cut dough into 1 1/2-inch squares.
• Separate the squares slightly on the baking sheet.
• Brush each square with a little milk, if using.
• Bake the scones in oven for 15 to 20 minutes, or until they're very lightly browned.

GRUYèRE AND BLACK PEPPER SCONES

Steps:

• Set a rack in the center of the oven and heat the oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• In a large bowl, add the flour, sugar, baking powder, black pepper and salt, and stir to combine. Add the butter to the bowl and toss to coat the cubes in the flour.
• Use your fingers to smash each cube of butter into a flat sheet, tossing to coat in flour and break up the butter a bit as you go. You will have some flat pea-size pieces of butter, and some will be worked into the flour completely. Add the cheese, walnuts and chives, and toss to combine.
• Make a well in the center of the butter and flour mixture, and add the buttermilk. Very gently stir until just combined and shaggy, but don't overmix. If the mixture seems very dry, add another tablespoon or two of buttermilk. If the mixture seems very wet, add a tablespoon or two of flour.
• Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and pat into a 1/2-inch-thick rectangle. Fold the rectangle in half, then shape it into an 8-inch circle. Cut the dough into 8 equal triangular wedges, and carefully transfer them to the baking sheet; they will be fragile. Brush the tops of the scones with the dregs of buttermilk left in the measuring cup (add a little more if necessary), then sprinkle the scones with flaky salt and more pepper.
• Bake the scones until golden brown, 19 to 23 minutes. These are best the day they are made, but will last a day or two on the counter in an airtight container. Alternatively, let them cool completely, then transfer to an airtight container and freeze for up to a month. In either instance, warm before serving.

CHEDDAR CHEESE SCONES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, stir together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cayenne pepper and salt.
• Using a pastry blender or two knives, cut in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
• Stir in the cheese.
• Add the buttermilk all at once, stirring with a fork to make a soft, sticky dough.
• With lightly floured hands, press the dough into a ball.
• On a lightly floured surface, knead gently 10 times.
• Pat out the dough into a 3/4-inch thick round.
• Using a 2-1/2-inch floured cutter, cut out rounds.
• Place on a ungreased baking sheet.
• Gather up the scraps and repat dough once; cut out more rounds.
• Brush the tops of the scones with egg.
• Bake in a 425 degree F oven for 12 to 15 minutes or until golden.