Apple Cheddar Scones

Autumn, Bread, Tuesdays with Dorie / Tuesday, July 1st, 2008

Scone 1

My sister is always telling me she can’t do the Tuesdays with Dorie recipes at home. Too many pans, too many steps, weird ingredients.

Jennifer, this one is for you: Apple Cheddar Scones.

You probably have most of the ingredients right now. And if you don’t, this is a great recipe for substitutions. Not feeling the apples? Replace the half-cup of apple juice with water and the half-cup of dried apples with something else (e.g. smoked bacon, country ham, sausage, dried blueberries, dried cranberries). Or trade the cheese for toasted walnuts or pecans.

Seriously, you don’t even need a rolling pin. Stir the ingredients together, sprinkle a little flour on the counter, and pat the dough into a circle or rectangle, 1/2-inch thick. Then cut it into 12 slices. If you’ve patted it into a circle, cut it pizza-style. If you’ve done a rectangle, cut it into 12 smaller rectangles or grab a glass and cut it biscuit-style. Then place the slices on a baking sheet, and bake them for about 15 minutes.

If you don’t want 12 scones, divide the recipe in half.

The apple cheddar scones are great plain or with butter. But if you decide to go with fruit and nuts instead, try making a glaze with powdered sugar, milk (or cream), and a little vanilla. And invite me over.

Apple Cheddar Scones

Slightly adapted from Dorie Greenspan’s “Baking: From My Home to Yours”

  • 1 large egg
  • 1/2 cup cold buttermilk
  • 1/4 cup cold apple cider or unsweetened apple juice
  • 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/3 cup yellow cornmeal, preferably stone-ground
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 stick (8 tablespoons) cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
  • 3/4 cup grated cheddar cheese
  • 1/2 cup finely diced dried apples
  1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment or a silicone mat.
  2. In a small bowl, combine the egg, buttermilk and apple cider.
  3. In a large bowl, whisk the flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
  4. Cut in the butter with your fingertips or a pastry blender, rubbing it into the dry ingredients until the mixture is pebbly.
  5. Pour the liquid ingredients over the dry ingredients, and stir with a fork just until the dough comes together. (It will be very wet and sticky.)
  6. Add the grated cheese and dried apple.
  7. While the dough is still in the bowl, gently knead it by hand.
  8. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface, pat it into a rectangle about 1/2-inch thick and, using a dough scraper or a chef’s knife, cut it into 12 roughly equal pieces. Place on the baking sheet. (Or, you can just spoon out 12 equal mounds onto the baking sheet.)
  9. Bake the scones for 20 to 22 minutes, or until their tops are golden. Transfer them to a rack to cool slightly before serving.

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37 thoughts on “Apple Cheddar Scones”

  3. Your scones look fabulous! Gorgeous pics. I’m like your sister in that respect. I have re-thought my TWD membership on many occasions;)

    Tell her its like loosing your virginity…it only hurts the first time and then its fan-effing-tastic;)

  6. I agree – it’s wonderful to have a recipe with so much versatility that’s so easy to mix up and bake. Your scones are beautifully flaky!

  9. Sometimes you just have lead them by the nose…you did a great job of it. Great looking scones, am sure that alone sold her on the whole deal.

  10. This *is* the ultimate recipe for the “I don’t have the tools to bake” crowd, isn’t it? Got hands? Got a bowl? Got an oven and a baking sheet or roasting pan? You can make scones…

    Yours are gorgeous… great job!

  14. perfect looking scones! I like where you’re going using meat in lieu of fruit idea…my hubby used the scone to make a sandwich with egg and bacon…i’m scared to admit it, but it was quite delicious!

  17. Until last week I wouldn’t have thought of a triangle shape ;-), and tell your sister they are really easy to make.

    Yours look great

  22. Oh my, I didn’t even think about putting meat in them. DH will love them even more that way! Thanks!

  23. Yep, I agree, very simple, which was nice for a change. A bowl, fork, and spatula was all I used, come to think of it.

    Anyway, wow, those are some beautiful scones! Picture perfect!

  26. I’ve never tried apples and cheese together even though I’ve seen the combo a lot. I love scones, though, and I may have to break down and try this recipe!

  28. Your scones look amazing! They baked up so nice and crisp on the outside. You can tell that they’re definitely flaky on the inside too.

  31. thanks for you comment on my braid; “on to next damn month” — that killed me!
    also, those buttermilk cookies from a couple posts ago? I’m in love with them. have made them 3 – 4 times in the past 2 months. seriously.
    and finally, “ezra pound cake” makes me so happy. brilliant.

  32. I loved the ease of this recipe. I’m also trying to convince my reluctant sisters to join up! Your scones look wonderful.

  35. Your scones are perfect and your pictures are beautiful! I have a sister that sounds so like yours. Although, she has no trouble coming over and eating everything that I make =D.

  36. The scones look great! and the idea of fruits and nuts instead of cheddar and apples sounds good. Specially with that icing on top *drooling*
    Thanks for your comment in my blog!*

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