Irish Buttermilk Scones / Cheese & Herb Scones

Total Time: 30 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients

• 8 ounces self-raising flour (preferably self-raising soda bread flour)
• 1 pinch salt
• 1 ounce butter or 1 ounce hard margarine
• 1 egg, beaten
• 5 fluid ounces buttermilk
• eggs or milk, to glaze
• cinnamon sugar, to dust
• 1 teaspoon dry mustard
• 2 ounces cheese, grated
• 2 tablespoons fresh herbs, chopped (basil or whatever you like)

Recipe

• 1 preheat oven to 450°f (gas mark 8).
• 2 sift flour with salt and rub in butter or margarine.
• 3 for cheese& herb scones add mustard, cheese and herbs to the dry ingredients at this point.
• 4 make a well in the centre and pour in the egg and most of the buttermilk.
• 5 mix quickly to form a soft dough, adding a little extra buttermilk if necessary.
• 6 turn out onto a floured surface and roll out lightly until 1" thick.
• 7 working quickly, cut into 2" rounds.
• 8 glaze with egg or milk and set on a floured baking sheet.
• 9 before baking, dust scones with cinnamon sugar for buttermilk scones or sprinkle a little grated cheese on top of each scone for cheese& herb scones.
• 10 bake for 15-20 minutes until light brown.