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This savory ham and cheese scones recipe yields 4 delicate, buttery scones packed with bits of chopped ham and cheese.
These lovely ham and cheese scones are buttery and delicate and this small batch scone recipe will give you 4 savory scones.
Scones are one of life’s simplest pleasures. Nothing beats pulling a tray of warm, homemade scones out of the oven to enjoy with coffee or tea.
Why We Love This Recipe
Homemade scones are as easy to make as biscuits. They’ve actually become one of my favorite breads to bake and once you try them, I bet they will become yours too.
We usually think of scones as sweet, not savory. But these rich, buttery, flaky cheese scones are the perfect accompaniment to soup, salads, or just about any main dish meal.
These savory scones are packed with creamy cheese and bits of diced ham, chopped scallions and a surprise ingredient, horseradish!
Horseradish may not be an ingredient you would likely find in scones, however it imparts a wonderfully unique flavor. Although I’m a fan, you could absolutely leave the horseradish out if you’d like.
RELATED: Single Serving Comfort Food Recipes
Ingredient Notes
See recipe box below for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions.
- Flour: 1 cup of all-purpose flour is the standard amount of flour needed for homemade scones. You will also need a small amount for your hands and for dusting your work surface
- Sugar: I recommend using 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar.
- Baking powder and baking soda: Gives a little lift to the scones.
- Salt and black pepper: Adds flavor.
- Butter: Use 4 tablespoons of cold, salted butter. Make sure to keep the butter in the refrigerator until you are ready to use it. Cold butter is essential in making the best tasting scones. It ensures the scones will be flaky with crisp edges.
- Egg : 1 egg yolk is used to make the dough. It adds flavor and provides structure. Use the egg white to brush on top of the scones. The egg white gives the scones a clear shine.
- Milk: Use any percentage cow’s milk (whole, skim, 1%, or 2%). You can also use almond milk, half & half, or cream instead.
- Horseradish: This ingredient is optional but I love the way horseradish adds spice and flavor to the scones. It is used in the scone batter as well as in the scone cream topping.
- Ham: Use 3-ounces (about 1/2 cup) of diced or cubed ham.
- Cheese: I love using Gruyere in this scone recipe but feel free to use your favorite cheese.
- Scallions: Add these to the scones before baking.
How To Make This Recipe
Step 1: Begin by whisking together flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, baking soda, and a pinch of black pepper.
Step 2: Cut cold butter into the flour mixture until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
Step 3: In a separate bowl, whisk together milk, the egg yolk, and horseradish. Pour into the flour mixture.
Step 4: Finally, fold in diced ham, shredded cheese, and chopped scallions.
Step 5: Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface. Knead very lightly and form a circle. Cut the dough into 4 triangles and place on a baking sheet.
Step 6: Lightly brush the tops of the scones with the egg white and top with additional cheese.
Step 7: Bake for 12-15 minutes. Remove scones from the oven and allow to cool.
Step 8: As a lovely topping, whisk heavy cream and a little horseradish together. As you whisk the two together, the cream thickens. Add a spoonful of the horseradish cream to the tops of the scones, if you’d like.
Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients
If you have any ham or cheese left over from this scone recipe you might like to consider using them in either of these single serving recipes:
- Ham: Crustless Spinach Quiche
- Cheese: French Onion Soup
- Egg white: If you choose not to brush the egg white over the tops of the scones, you might like to use it in these small batch recipes: Small Batch Meringues, Two Vanilla Cupcakes, Two Chocolate Cupcakes
Expert Tips
Scones are a key component of a traditional afternoon tea. However, scones are lovely for breakfast, brunch, and even dessert. With these easy tips your scones will turn out perfect every single time.
- Be sure to use cold ingredients.
- The secret to flaky scones is to start with cold ingredients. Make sure your butter, eggs and milk are all cold. Just like making pastry, the fat has to be cold. If the butter gets warm, it melts and mixes into the flour.
- Don’t overwork the dough.
- Once you add in the liquid (eggs, milk, etc.) stir the dough very little to combine. Remember to handle the dough as little as possible. Over-mixing the dough will lead to scones that are rather chewy instead of light and flaky.
RELATED: Small Batch Clotted Cream Recipe
Frequently Asked Questions
This scone recipe yields 4 delightful scones. They keep well in the refrigerator but are best eaten in a day or so after baking them.
Yes, you can! Make and shape the dough into scones and freeze them on a baking sheet, then transfer the frozen unbaked scones to a zip-top bag, and bake them straight from frozen, adding a couple of minutes to the baking time.
Other Small Batch Scone Recipes
- Apple Cinnamon Scones
- Triple Chocolate Scones
- Strawberry White Chocolate Scones
- Lemon Poppy Seed Scones
For more information on the cooking and baking dishes I use in our “recipes for one”, please visit our FAQ page.
For examples of the dishes used at One Dish Kitchen, please visit our Store page.
If you’ve tried these ham and cheese scones or any recipe on One Dish Kitchen please let me know how you liked it by rating the recipe and telling me about it in the comment section below.
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Recipe
Small Batch Ham and Cheese Scones
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon baking soda
- pinch coarsely ground black pepper
- 4 tablespoons salted butter , cold – cut into small pieces
- 1 large egg , separated (use egg yolk in the batter and brush the egg white over the tops of the scones)
- ¼ cup milk
- 1 tablespoon horseradish
- 3 ounces ham , diced
- 2 ounces Gruyère cheese , shredded – plus 2 tablespoons more for topping. Alternate: cheddar cheese
- ½ ounce scallions , chopped
For The Horseradish Cream
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon horseradish
- ⅛ salt
Instructions
- Heat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
- Line a baking sheet with silpat or parchment paper and set aside.
- In a mixing bowl, stir together the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, baking soda and black pepper.
- Using a pastry blender or your hands, cut the butter into the flour mixture until the mixture looks like fine crumbs.
- In a separate small bowl, whisk together the egg yolk, milk and the horseradish. Pour into the flour mixture and stir until just combined.
- Gently fold in the ham, shredded cheese, and scallions.
- Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface. Knead very lightly and form a circle. (Add a little more flour to the dough if the dough becomes too sticky to handle).
- Cut the dough into 4 triangle wedges and place them on the small baking sheet.
- Lightly brush the tops of the scones with the egg white and add a little additional shredded cheese to the tops.
- Bake for 12-15 minutes.
- Let the scones cool on the baking sheet for 1 minute, then transfer onto a wire rack to continue cooling.
To Prepare The Horseradish Cream
- Using an electric mixer, whip together the cream, horseradish and salt until soft peaks form.
- Add a tablespoon to the top of each scone.
- Serve.
Video
Notes
- Be sure to use cold ingredients.
- The secret to flaky scones is to start with cold ingredients. Make sure your butter, eggs and milk are all cold. Just like making pastry, the fat has to be cold. If the butter gets warm, it melts and mixes into the flour.
- Don’t overwork the dough.
- Once you add in the liquid (eggs, milk, etc.) stir the dough very little to combine. Remember to handle the dough as little as possible. Over-mixing the dough will lead to scones that are rather chewy instead of light and flaky.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
We brits would not add any sugar to cheese scones. Is this a mistake?
I will try the apple and cinnamon ones, sound delish!!
No mistake. I add a small amount of sugar to my savory scones as well as my sweet scones. Feel free to leave it out if you prefer.
These are freaking delicious! They were wonderfully tender and even though I did not have scallions, were perfect!
I notice that the recipe calls for egg yolk but your directions both in the recipe and above say egg white. Which is correct?
1 egg yolk is used to make the dough. It adds flavor and provides structure. Use the egg white to brush on top of the scones. The egg white gives the scones a clear shine.
Absolutely delicious. They have become a family favourite and are always requested. Thank you.
I’m so happy you are enjoying the recipe, Rhonda. Thank you for taking the time to let me know.
These were absolutely delicious! They were perfect for my all girls brunch buffet!
These scones sound wonderful and I’m loving the look of this horseradish cream. Savory scones are some of my favorite actually, even though sweet ones seem to be more popular. Looking forward to trying these!
I absolutely adore scones. They are so good on their own or paired with a meal. This recipe sounds delicious. I would have no problem making this my breakfast any morning of the week. Perfect as a brunch item too.
I am just dying to try this recipe! I tried making scones once before and they were definitely one of my epic fails but you make it look so easy that I am so going to try again. And you’ve added my favorite cheese to the mix so it’s really hard not to jump right in and make it ASAP!
I agree that savory scones are the best!! And the ham and gruyere cheese go so well together in these scones… Not to mention that horseradish cream! I could eat these as a meal 🙂