November 15, 2019
Chef’s home recipe: Apple cheddar scones
Make these scones for Thanksgiving this year
Each year, I try a new recipe for Thanksgiving dinner, and if I’m a guest to someone else’s house, I make the dish and bring the recipe printed out for the host to keep. These scones have become a favorite of mine, great as a substitute for the traditional yeast roll or for pre-feast snacking. The scones are sweet and savory and taste like Thanksgiving all wrapped up in one bite. If you’re looking for a new recipe that is easy and quick, try these scones. Pro tip: make the dough a few days before Thanksgiving and freeze it, then bake them straight from the freezer. —Justin Burke-Samson
Apple cheddar scones
Ingredients
6 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup granulated sugar
1/8 cup baking powder
2 tablespoons salt
10 ounces unsalted butter, cold
3-4 apples, diced
1 1/2 cups cheddar, grated
1/4 cup dried thyme
2 1/2 cups buttermilk
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Using a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
- Using a pastry cutter, cut the butter into the dry mix until butter is in small, pea-shaped pieces. If you don’t have a pastry cutter, use your hands the feather the butter until large chunks are no longer visible.
- Using your hands, toss the apples, cheese, and thyme into the mix until evenly distributed.
- Make a well in the center of the mix and pour in buttermilk. Mix with your hands until just incorporated. There will be some mix not fully incorporated; this is okay, it will come together when folded.
- On a floured work surface, dump the mix from the bowl. Shape the mix into a mound and flatten into a round circle about 2-inches thick. Reshape the scrapes into the dough and continue to punch out scones until there is no more dough.
- Using a medium biscuit cutter, punch out the scones and place on sheet tray two inches apart. Reform the scraps and continue to cut scones until no more dough remains.
- Brush the tops with egg wash and bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown and the centers are slightly firm to the touch.
























