Description
Savory holiday cheese scones with cranberry and sage blend festive flavors into a delightful baked treat. Warm scones pair perfectly with afternoon tea or breakfast, offering a delectable seasonal experience you will adore.
Ingredients
Scale
- 150 g (5.3 oz) Stilton cheese, grated
- 50 g (1.8 oz) Parmesan cheese, finely grated
- 125 g (4.4 oz) self-raising flour
- 25 g (0.9 oz) butter, cubed and softened
- 2 tbsps milk
- 1 egg, free-range, beaten
- 1 egg, extra, beaten (for glazing)
- 1 tbsp sage, finely chopped
- ½ tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp mustard powder
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1 jar cranberry sauce
- 70 small fresh flatleaf parsley leaves
Instructions
- Preparation: Warm the oven to 200°C/180°C Fan/Gas 6 and line a baking tray with parchment paper.
- Texture Development: Blend butter into flour using fingertips until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs, then integrate Parmesan, sage, mustard powder, salt, and pepper evenly.
- Dough Formation: Combine whisked milk and egg, gently folding into dry ingredients to create a soft, cohesive dough without overworking the mixture.
- Shaping: Roll dough to 1–1.5cm thickness on a floured surface, cutting uniform rounds and transferring to the prepared tray, then brush with beaten egg for a golden sheen.
- Initial Baking: Bake for 8 minutes until pale golden and slightly risen, cooling on a wire rack before slicing each scone widthways.
- Cheese Infusion: Top scone halves with grated Stilton and return to the oven for 2-3 minutes to create a creamy, melted cheese layer.
- Finishing Touch: Garnish each scone half with a dollop of cranberry sauce and a fresh parsley leaf, serving warm to showcase the festive flavor profile.
Notes
- Butter Blending Technique: Use cold butter and rub it into flour using light fingertips to create a crumbly, airy texture that ensures tender scones.
- Dough Handling Tip: Avoid overworking the mixture to prevent tough, dense scones; gentle kneading maintains a soft, delicate crumb.
- Cheese Melting Trick: Add Stilton during the final baking stage to achieve a perfectly creamy, slightly melted cheese topping without compromising scone structure.
- Flavor Balancing Strategy: Combine sage and Parmesan for a savory base, complemented by sweet cranberry sauce for a harmonious holiday flavor profile.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 11 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: British
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 13
- Calories: 205
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 230 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg