Crispy bits of bacon, grated mature Cheddar cheese, finely chopped spring onion, soured cream and some red chilli make these savoury cheese and bacon scones a perfect accompaniment to corn chowder.
My eldest son works in a local cafe. This means, sometimes, he comes home from work at the end of the day with leftover food that hasn’t been sold. Soups, scones and muffins usually. Perks of the job, we like to think, and we’ll miss these little treats when he moves out next week (yes, my eldest baby is moving into his own house – let the empty nest syndrome commence!).
A few weeks ago he came home with a rather large tub of leftover corn chowder, which I portioned up into servings and froze for use at a later date.
Corn chowder, as filling as it is, isn’t a complete meal unless served with a carbohydrate side of some sort, and so these bacon and cheese scones were created. Inspiration was drawn by bits and bobs I found in the fridge and freezer; a couple of rashers of bacon, leftover soured cream from taco night, a few sad spring onions at the bottom of the vegetable crisper and, as an afterthought, a little bit of fresh red chilli pepper for a kick. I confess I’m rather proud of these scones; they taste fantastic!
As an aside, I feel I ought to mention one of my not-so-secret tricks to getting perfectly risen scones (and bread, and pizza with the best crispy base) – my pizza steel.
I was sent a pizza steel for review over a year ago, and I confess it’s since become one of the most used items in my kitchen. The Pizza Steel is a large, indestructible, rectangular piece of steel that stores heat energy. Simply pop it into the oven as it preheats, and then use a pizza peel to slide your scones, bread or pizza directly onto the preheated pizza steel (on a piece of baking paper). The hot base means your scones will cook from the bottom and the top, rising wonderfully and taking less time overall to cook. It’s completely revolutionised my home baking.
WHAT YOU NEED FOR THESE CHEESE AND BACON SCONES
- bacon! two rashers of good quality smoked back bacon will work. Mine came from the Anderson Butchers.
- a strong flavoured cheese like mature cheddar or Red Leicester
- soured cream
- butter
- full-fat milk – we use milk from the local Shetland Farm Dairies
- a few spring onions, chopped as finely as you can get them
- plain flour – the Voe Bakery in Shetland do a lovely flour blend
- baking powder
- sea salt – I used Shetland sea salt
- red chilli pepper, finely chopped – Turriefield in Sandness grow a fiery variety
- a beaten egg to glaze – mine came from a croft on the island of Bressay
HOW TO MAKE THESE EASY CHEESE AND BACON SCONES
Step 1: Fry your bacon. Pop a non-stick pan onto your hob and put the bacon into it, cut into small half centimetre sized pieces, while it’s still cold. As the pan heats the bacon fat will melt, and you’ll end up with gorgeously crisp bacon bits. Drain on a paper towel.
Step 2: Put the flour, baking powder and salt into a large mixing bowl and rub the butter and grated cheese into it until it resembles coarse breadcrumbs.
Step 3: Add the soured cream along with the bacon, chopped chilli, spring onion and a little milk. Stir with a wooden spoon until a dough begins to form, adding enough milk to make a soft, pliable dough.
Step 4: Roll out the dough to a thickness of one inch, and cut with a 2.5-inch fluted cutter.
Step 5: Brush the scones with beaten egg, sprinkle with a little extra grated cheese and bake in the centre of the oven for 12-15 minutes.
If these scones aren’t quite what you’re looking for you might be interested in Camilla’s cheese, ham & potato scones or Claire’s wild garlic tattie scones (as an aside, did you know wild garlic grows here in Shetland? You can find it in the lower wooded area in Kergord!). Jacqueline’s cheese scones might be more to your liking, or perhaps Grace’s cheese scones with Grana Padano and Prosciutto di San Daniele. Janice has a recipe for cheese and chive scones with marjoram and marigold cream cheese while Helen’s polenta and cheese scones would make a rather fabulous corn chowder accompaniment. Lastly, Choclette has created these brie and chive scones with spelt flour.
What do you like to serve with your corn chowder? Let me know in the comments!
Easy Cheese and Bacon Scones Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 rashers smoked back bacon cut into 0.5 cm pieces
- 300 grams plain flour sifted
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 0.25 tsp Shetland sea salt
- 60 grams butter
- 30 grams mature cheddar cheese plus extra to sprinkle on top
- 100 grams soured cream
- 1 tsp fresh red chilli finely chopped
- 3 small spring onions finely chopped
- 3-4 tbsp full fat milk
- 1 free-range egg beaten, to glaze
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Instructions
- Preheat oven to 220 C/ 200 C fan/ 425 F.
- Add the bacon to a cold, non-stick pan and turn the heat on medium high. As the pan heats the bacon fat will melt, stir until it has browned and crisped evenly all over. Drain on paper towel while you prepare the remaining ingredients.
- Place the flour, baking powder, salt, butter and 30 grams of cheddar cheese into a large mixing bowl. Rub together with your hands until the mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs.
- Add the soured cream, bacon, spring onions, chilli and 2 tbsp of the milk. Stir well, adding more milk to make a soft dough.
- Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 30 seconds until smooth. Roll out 1 inch thick and cut into circles with a 2.5 inch fluted biscuit cutter.
- Glaze with the beaten egg and sprinkle a little grated mature cheddar on the top of each scone.
- Bake in the centre of the oven for 12-15 minutes, until golden. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
Nutrition
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Goodness me Elizabeth…… Your food looks so tasty, I am tempted to brave the highland cold and move in with you! Your scones sound utterly delicious x
These look absolutely delicious! I’ve been thinking about scones a lot recently and these look so tasty!
These would definitely be amazing with tea! Do you think it would be okay to replace bacon with chicken?
What a clever way to make scones savoury. These look really nice to add to a picnic lunch x
I haven’t made anything like this for a while, but you’ve inspired me to give it a go. The chowder looks incredible too 🙂
So many yes’ to this recipe. I am loving it. I’ve never heard of this pizza steel, but now I want one. what and awesome idea. i’ve totally got to try these scones!
These scones have everything I love! I can’t wait to give them a try 🙂
These savoury scones sound so tasty, cheese and bacon go so well together. A great side for any soup dish.
These scones look so delicious and fluffy – I love a scone, whether savoury or sweet, and these have got my mouth watering!
I have never heard of a pizza steel – what a great concept! I totally agree with you that some kind of carb was needed and i just LOVE a savory scone as an accompaniment for any kind of soup! These sound so good!!
I have never heard of a pizza steel – what a great concept! I totally agree with you that some kind of carb was needed and i just LOVE a savory scone as an accompaniment for any kind of soup! These sound so good!!
We love savoury scones in our house, especially cheese and chive scones. I don’t eat bacon but my partner does and he would love this!! Thanks for sharing
Laura x
Oh my God, I’m currently eating a plain bagel for breakfast and now I’m really sad I don’t have these instead! I love a good scone and these look delicious.
Oooh these look so yummy and well simple to make! I’ll have to give these a go! my partner will defo appreciate it!
Oh yummy. Ive never made my own scones before however its tempting to give these ones a try as the cheese and bacon sound a great combination.
I can’t believe you’re eldest is just about to leave home. Where has the time gone? I bet the whole family will feel a little strange. Scones are so easy to make and so good, I don’t know why I don’t make them more often. Your pizza steel sounds rather fab.
They look so hood. Just waiting for our new cooker and might have to give these a try x
These look delicious. I have never tried savoury scones before
I love scones of all different varieties, these ones look and sound so delicious!
These scones look so light and fluffy , they would go really well with a hot bowl of soup.I love the photos too.
These scones look so thick and fluffy! I really want to try them. And also I’m interested to read your thoughts on a pizza steel. I’ve had a stone for a long time and it’s just so heavy – I’ve been thinking about replacing it with a steel!
I love the height of these scones! And I will be making these for our son in law James who is from Leeds! I’ll bet the flavours are wonderful too. Beautiful post by the way.
First, gorgeous photos! Second, a savory scone sounds incredible!
seriously those are mouth watering!
This is right up my alley, it looks like the most comforting meal ever! I make sweet scones all the time, but I forget that they can be amazing savory treats, too. Sorry you’re going to lose your son ~ I lost my best blog photo model when my last daughter moved out 🙂
ps I’m going to hunt down a pizza steel, I need one.
Those look gorgeous, I love cheese and bacon, and I love scones too triple win!