These Ham and Cheese Scones are irresistable and perfect for any weekend or holiday brunch. Scones are usually though of as a sweet treat but thanks to a generous amount of diced ham and sharp cheddar cheese this savory scone recipe is bursting with flavor. My recipe for Ham and Cheese Scones is easy and makes fluffy, tender scones every time.
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Scones are a type of quick bread originating in Scotland though they are popular throught Britain and Ireland as well. Using baking powder as a leavener (as opposed to yeast) to obtain rise the method for making scones is pretty similar to southern style American biscuits. Whether I’m making them for weekend breakfast, a holiday brunch ( I especially like making scones for Easter and Christmas) or to go with a spot of afternoon tea scones are one of my favorite things to bake. While scones are frequently thought of as sweet ( take a look at my other scone recipes like my popular Apple Scones with Maple Glaze and Cranberry White Chocolate Scones) or simply served with clotted cream and jam, savory scones are delicious and can be found in many flavors.
These scones are a great way to use up leftover ham , or you can find diced ham, deli slices or a ham steak in the deli section of your super market. While this scone recipe is delicious as is you can customize your scones by adding black pepper, using your favorite cheese (gruyere, gouda, feta and pepper jack would all be great), substituting cooked bacon or sausage for the ham or using your favorite herbs such as fresh chives, parsley, or green onion.
Ingredients
- All purpose flour
- Baking powder
- Kosher salt
- Garlic powder
- Smoked paprika
- Unsalted butter, frozen and grated
- Buttermilk
- Large eggs
- Ham, diced
- Cheddar cheese, shredded
- Water
How to Make Ham and Cheese Scones
The secret to making good scones with lots of tender layers is making sure you have your butter as cold as possible. To do this I place my butter in the freezer for 15-20 minutes and then grate it using a box grater. This ensures that the cold butter is evenly mixed throughout the dough. This is a technique I also use for making pie crust and southern style biscuits like my Jalapeno Cheddar Biscuits.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. In a large bowl whisk together the flour, 1/2 teaspoon each of baking powder,salt, garlic powder, and 1/4 teaspoon of smoked paprika. Add grated butter and mix together with your hands until flour mixture is crumbly taking care not to overwork the scone dough.
In a separate bowl whisk together buttermilk,and 1 large egg, then stir in the diced ham and shredded cheddar cheese. Pour this into the other bowl with the flour mixture and stir together until everything is just combined.
Turn the dough out onto a baking sheet lined with a silicon baking mat or parchment paper and using floured hands (the dough will be sticky) shape the dough into an 8 inch circle. Using a bench scraper or knife coated in cooking spray or oil cut the dough into 8 wedges. In a small bowl bowl beat together the remaining egg with 1 tbsp of water to create an egg wash and brush the tops of the scones .
Transfer the baking sheet to the oven and bake the scones for 22-25 minutes or until the tops of the scones are golden brown. Remove from the oven and let cool for at least 5 minutes before serving.
If you like these Ham and Cheese Scones be sure to take a look at some of my other recipes!
Pasta with Prosciutto and Peas
If you make these Ham and Cheese Scones please be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Be sure to follow me on Youtube, Facebook and Pinterest for my latest recipes. Also, if you do make this recipe please tag me on Instagram, I’d love to see what you guys are making!
Ham and Cheese Scones
Equipment
- 1 Baking Sheet
- Parchment Paper or Silicon Baking Mat
- 2 large mixing bowls
- 1 box grater
Ingredients
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 tbsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter frozen and grated
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 2 large eggs divided
- 1 cup diced ham
- 1 cup cheddar cheese shredded
- 1 tbsp water
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. In a large bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder,salt, garlic powder, and smoked paprika. Add grated butter and mix together with your hands until flour mixture is crumbly taking care not to overwork the dough.
- In a separate bowl whisk together buttermilk,and 1 large egg, then stir in the diced ham and shredded cheddar cheese. Pour this into the other bowl with the flour mixture and stir together until everything is just combined.
- Turn the dough out onto a baking sheet lined with a silicon baking mat or parchment paper and using floured hands (the dough will be sticky) shape the dough into an 8 inch circle. Using a bench scraper or knife coated in cooking spray or oil cut the dough into 8 wedges. In a small bown bowl beat together the remaining egg with 1 tbsp of water to create an egg wash and brush the tops of the scones .
- Transfer the baking sheet to the oven and bake the scones for 22-25 minutes or until the tops of the scones are golden brown. Remove from the oven and let cool for at least 5 minutes before serving.
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Crystal says
These scones were a hit at my book club!
Dana says
Love these! The bits of salty ham throughout is delicious.