Apple Cheddar Scones

I'm just barely making the deadline for No Croutons Required this month, even though it is my turn to host. The theme this month is breads that go well with soups and salads. I can't think of a nicer bread right now than this simple but wonderfully soft and delicious batch of scones with both fresh and dried apples and a light sprinkling of fresh grated Cheddar cheese to go with it — an easy and much less sweet biscuit version of the famous apple pie with Cheddar cheese. Many thanks for the idea of these scones to Ashley of the now sadly defunct Eat Me, Delicious blog.

Apple Cheddar Scones

Recipe by Lisa Turner Adapted from Eat Me, Delicious Published on July 19, 2010 Simple, soft and delicious breakfast, tea or dessert scones with fresh and dried apple and fresh grated Cheddar cheese Print this recipe Ingredients: 1 3/4 cups unbleached white or spelt flour 1/3 cup yellow cornmeal 2 tablespoons sugar 1 tablespoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon sea salt 1/2 cup (1 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces 1 large egg 1/2 cup cold buttermilk 1/4 cup cold apple cider or unsweetened apple juice 3/4 cup grated Cheddar cheese 1/2 cup dried apples, finely chopped 1/2 small fresh apple, shredded Instructions: Preheat an oven to 400° and butter or line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Whisk together the flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt in a large bowl. Make a well in the center of the ingredients. Cut the butter into the dry ingredients with a pastry cutter until the butter resembles small peas. In a small bowl, beat the egg, buttermilk and apple cider or juice together until frothy. Add the liquid ingredients to the flour mixture, stir until just combined, and then fold in the cheese, dried apples and shredded apple. With floured hands, shape the dough into rounds and transfer to the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown. Take care not to over-bake. Makes 12 scones

Other quick breads you are sure to enjoy from Lisa's Vegetarian Kitchen:
Jalapeno Cheddar Scones
Cheddar Parmesan Scones with Dill
Graham Crackers

On the top of the reading stack: Healthy South Indian Cooking

Audio Accompaniment: the terrible racket of the street being torn up in front of the house