Easy Savory Ham and Cheddar Scones: Your Go-To Breakfast & Brunch Recipe
Tired of plain old sweet scones? These Savory Ham and Cheese Scones are incredibly easy to make and offer a delightful twist, perfect for breakfast, a hearty snack, or alongside a steaming bowl of comforting soup! This irresistible savory scone recipe features a tender, flaky texture, bursting with the flavors of sharp cheddar cheese, savory ham, and fresh green onions. Get ready to elevate your baking game with this simple yet sophisticated treat!
Discovering the Joy of Savory Scones
For many, the word “scone” immediately conjures images of sweet, fruit-studded pastries served with jam and clotted cream. While there’s certainly nothing wrong with a classic sweet scone, the world of savory scones offers a whole new realm of delicious possibilities. I’ve been captivated by savory scone recipes circulating online for quite some time, and the idea of transforming this beloved baked good into something wonderfully savory finally inspired me to give it a try.
And oh, what a revelation it was! These Ham and Cheddar Scones have quickly become a new favorite, quite possibly surpassing their sweet counterparts in my kitchen—at least for now! They bring a sophisticated yet comforting touch to any meal. Imagine these warm, cheesy delights as a standout addition to your next brunch spread, perhaps alongside a frittata or fresh fruit salad. They’re equally at home paired with a bowl of piping hot soup, transforming a simple meal into something truly special. Think creamy chicken and noodles, a hearty chicken and rice soup, or even a rich, cheesy soup like beer cheese. The possibilities are endless, and the comforting aroma alone is enough to make your mouth water!
If you’re looking to expand your collection of easy and delicious breakfast and brunch recipes, we’ve got you covered. Be sure to explore some of our other fantastic creations like our Biscuits and Gravy Casserole, Cheesy Corned Beef Hash with Baked Eggs, and our convenient Ham and Egg Breakfast Cups. They all offer delightful ways to start your day or brighten a midday meal.
Why You’ll Fall in Love with These Ham and Cheese Scones
These savory scones aren’t just another recipe; they’re an experience! Here’s why they’re destined to become a staple in your kitchen:
- Unbeatable Flavor and Texture: This isn’t just a good savory scone recipe; it’s the best! Each scone boasts an incredibly tender, light, and flaky interior, beautifully contrasted by a golden-brown crust. The rich flavors of sharp cheddar, smoky ham, and fresh green onions create a perfectly balanced bite.
- Remarkably Versatile: Whether you’re planning a leisurely weekend breakfast, an elegant holiday brunch, a quick on-the-go snack, or a cozy accompaniment to your favorite soup or stew, these scones fit every occasion. They’re fantastic warm from the oven but also delicious at room temperature.
- Loved by All Ages: With their familiar and comforting flavors, these ham and cheese scones are a surefire hit with both adults and children alike. Even picky eaters find them irresistible, making them a great option for family meals.
- Simple, Accessible Ingredients: You won’t need any exotic items for this recipe. It relies on basic pantry staples and common refrigerator ingredients that you likely already have on hand, making it a convenient choice for spontaneous baking.
- Easy to Make: Don’t be intimidated by homemade scones! This recipe is straightforward and forgiving, making it perfect for novice bakers and seasoned pros seeking a quick and satisfying bake. You’ll be amazed at how easily these come together.
Key Ingredients for Perfect Cheese Scones
Crafting the perfect savory scone starts with understanding the role of each ingredient. Here’s a closer look at what you’ll need to create these flaky, flavorful treats:
- All-Purpose Flour: This is the foundation of our scones. Using all-purpose flour ensures a tender crumb and the classic scone texture that we all love. For best results, measure your flour by lightly spooning it into a measuring cup and leveling off with a straight edge, rather than scooping directly from the bag, which can compact the flour and lead to dry scones.
- Baking Powder & Baking Soda: This dynamic duo is essential for giving our cheddar scones their beautiful rise and light, airy texture. Baking powder reacts with the moisture in the dough, while baking soda reacts with the acidity of the buttermilk. The combination ensures proper leavening and a tender crumb, preventing dense or heavy scones.
- Granulated Sugar: While these are savory scones, a small amount of sugar (just two teaspoons!) plays a crucial role. It helps to balance the savory flavors of the ham and cheese, adds a subtle depth, and contributes to the golden-brown crust without making the scones taste sweet. You truly won’t notice it as a sweet element, but you’d miss it if it were gone.
- Salt: A dash of salt is all it takes to enhance all the other flavors in the scone. It’s a flavor enhancer that brings out the best in the cheese and ham, making every bite more delicious.
- Cold Butter: This is arguably the most critical ingredient for achieving flaky scones. Cold butter, cut into small pieces, creates pockets of steam as it melts in the oven, which results in those desirable layers and a tender interior. Avoid using softened or melted butter, as this will lead to a more cake-like texture rather than the light flakiness we’re aiming for. Keep it in the fridge until you’re ready to use it!
- Cheddar Cheese: We recommend sharp cheddar for its robust flavor that stands up well to the ham. However, feel free to get creative! You could easily swap it for another good melting cheese like Gruyère, Monterey Jack, or even a blend of your favorite cheeses to customize the flavor profile.
- Ham: Finely chopped ham is key here. Small pieces distribute evenly throughout the dough, ensuring a burst of savory flavor in every bite. This recipe is perfect for utilizing leftover holiday ham, or you can simply use good quality deli ham. Make sure it’s cooked and cooled before adding to the dough.
- Green Onions: These provide a fresh, mild onion flavor and a pop of color that perfectly complements the rich ham and cheese. If green onions aren’t your preference, you can omit them or substitute with an equal amount of finely chopped chives or even a sprinkle of dried parsley for a subtle herbaceous note.
- Buttermilk: Buttermilk is your secret weapon for achieving that coveted tender, biscuit-like texture in your scones. Its acidity reacts with the baking soda, creating air pockets for a fluffy result. If you don’t have buttermilk on hand, don’t worry! You can easily make a substitute by adding one tablespoon of lemon juice or white vinegar to a measuring cup, then filling the rest of the cup with regular milk to make 1 cup. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes until it slightly curdles before using.
Simple Steps for Making Perfect Cheese Scones
Follow these easy instructions to create a batch of irresistibly flaky and flavorful ham and cheddar scones:
Cheese Scones Directions
- Prepare Your Workspace and Preheat Oven: Begin by preheating your oven to a hot 450 degrees Fahrenheit (230 degrees Celsius). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. This prevents sticking and makes cleanup a breeze. Set it aside for when your dough is ready.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together your all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, and salt. Make sure these dry ingredients are thoroughly combined to ensure even leavening throughout the dough.
- Cut in the Cold Butter: Add the small, cold pieces of butter to the dry ingredients. Using a pastry blender, two knives, or your fingertips, cut the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs, with some pea-sized pieces of butter remaining. The goal is not to completely incorporate the butter, but to keep it in small, distinct pieces. This is crucial for flakiness!
- Mix in the Savory Add-ins: Now, gently fold in the shredded cheddar cheese, finely chopped ham, and green onions. Distribute them evenly throughout the flour and butter mixture.
- Stir in Buttermilk: Pour in the buttermilk and stir just until the ingredients are combined and a shaggy dough forms. Be careful not to overmix! Overmixing develops the gluten in the flour, leading to tough scones rather than tender ones. A few dry spots are perfectly fine.
- Shape and Cut the Scones: Transfer the dough onto your parchment-lined baking sheet. Gently form the dough into an 8-inch circle, about 1-inch thick. Using a sharp knife or a bench scraper, cut the circle into 8 equal wedges, like slicing a pizza. Try to cut straight down rather than sawing, to keep the edges clean and promote an even rise.
- Brush and Bake: For an extra golden crust and added richness, lightly brush the tops of each scone wedge with a little extra buttermilk. Place the baking sheet into your preheated oven and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the scones are beautifully golden brown on top and cooked through.
- Cool and Serve: Once baked, remove the scones from the oven and let them cool slightly on the baking sheet for about 5-10 minutes. This helps them firm up a bit. Re-cut the wedges if needed before serving warm. Enjoy them as is, or with your favorite savory spread!
Frequently Asked Questions About Ham and Cheese Scones
These delicious cheddar scones are best enjoyed on the day they are made, when they are at their freshest and flakiest. However, any leftovers can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days, or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. For longer storage, you can freeze baked scones for up to 3 months. To reheat, simply warm them in a preheated oven (around 300°F/150°C) for 10-15 minutes, or until heated through.
Absolutely! This recipe is incredibly adaptable. While ham is fantastic, you can certainly experiment with other cooked meats. Crumbled, cooked bacon is a popular choice and adds a wonderfully smoky flavor. You could also use finely diced cooked turkey (especially great for Thanksgiving leftovers!) or cooked sausage. If using sausage, make sure to drain any excess grease thoroughly before adding it to the dough to prevent the scones from becoming greasy.
Yes, adding vegetables is a fantastic way to boost flavor and nutrition! Just make sure any vegetables you add are finely chopped and either pre-cooked or have a low moisture content. Great options include finely diced bell peppers (sautéed briefly to soften), corn kernels, sautéed mushrooms, caramelized onions, or even a handful of fresh spinach (wilted and squeezed dry). Aim for about 1/2 cup of additional vegetables to avoid overwhelming the dough.
While buttermilk is not strictly “required” in the sense that the scones wouldn’t bake without it, it is highly recommended for the best results. Buttermilk’s acidity reacts with the baking soda, contributing significantly to the scones’ tender crumb and beautiful golden-brown color. It also adds a subtle tang that complements the savory ingredients. If you don’t have buttermilk, you can easily make a homemade substitute: simply combine 1 cup of regular milk with 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or white vinegar and let it sit for 5-10 minutes until it slightly curdles. While this substitute works, the texture and slight tang from actual buttermilk are truly superior.
The secret to flaky scones lies in using very cold butter and handling the dough minimally. When cold butter is cut into the flour, it creates small pockets throughout the dough. As the scones bake, the butter melts and releases steam, which pushes apart the layers of dough, resulting in that wonderfully flaky texture. Overworking the dough warms the butter and develops gluten, both of which can lead to dense, tough scones instead of light and airy ones. Work quickly and gently!
Yes, you can! You can prepare the dough and cut the wedges, then place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze for about 30 minutes until solid. Once frozen, transfer them to an airtight freezer bag or container and store for up to 1 month. When you’re ready to bake, you can bake them directly from frozen; just add an extra 5-10 minutes to the baking time.
Ham and Cheddar Scones Recipe Card
8
scones
Countryside Cravings
20
15
35
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder (yes, 1 tablespoon for proper lift)
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup cold butter (cut into small pieces)
- 2/3 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup finely chopped ham
- 2-3 tablespoons chopped green onion
- 1 cup buttermilk (plus extra for brushing the tops if desired)
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
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In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, and salt. Cut in the cold butter until you have coarse crumbs with some pea-sized pieces remaining. Stir in the cheese, ham, and green onions. Stir in the buttermilk just until combined; be careful not to overmix.
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Transfer dough to the parchment-lined baking sheet and gently shape into an 8-inch circle. Cut into 8 wedges. Brush each with additional buttermilk if desired for a golden finish. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool slightly on the baking sheet before re-cutting into wedges and serving.
Notes
