Rustic Cheese & Chive Scones Recipe

I love cheese scones and one of my favourite recipes is the National Trust cheese scone recipe. They are rustic and have a beautiful texture and are so quick and easy. My “go to recipe” for a Sunday tea or to serve with a hearty soup after a dog walk on a blustery day. On this occasion I have simply added a handful of chopped chives, just because I had some in the kitchen that needed using up. Adding chives together with the cheese creates a perfect combination to give this already fabulous recipe that special little something extra.

Ingredients:

450g (16oz) self raising flour

110g (4oz) margarine

100g (3.5oz) grated mature Cheddar cheese

1tsp salt

1tsp cracked black pepper

1 egg

150ml (5fl oz) milk

1tsp English mustard

Small bunch of fresh chives chopped.( I just use scissors)

Method

Preheat the oven to 180C Place the flour and margarine in your mixing bowl and rub together with your fingertips ( or use a food processor to speed things up!) until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Stir in most of the cheese and the chives (leave some grated cheese to pop on top of the scones later), salt and pepper. Mix the egg with three quarters of the milk and the mustard. Pour into the mix and use a spoon to combine the wet and dry ingredients and keep adding the remaining milk a little at a time until the mixture comes together and forms a dough Divide into two even sized pieces and gently roll into large balls on a lightly floured surface. Flatten them lightly pressing gently down with your hand, and cut into four by slicing both ways across the middle. Don’t worry about the shape or if they are not even as they are rustic, then carefully place on your lined baking tray

Divide the remaining cheese and place on the top of the scone and place into the preheated oven for 10-15 minutes or until risen and golden.

Absolutely irresistible to eat while still warm and equally delicious cold, these scones fly off the plate in a flash, especially when the kids and their partners are home visiting. And occasionally I will bake a batch as a gift when I visit them in their own homes, because they are so quick and easy and always so gratefully received. A firm family favourite!