ROCK/STONE SCONES

Rock/Stone Scones image

Provided by Food Network

Time 45m

Yield 24 scones

Number Of Ingredients 10

5 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
3 sticks unsalted butter, slightly cooler than room temperature, cut into tablespoon-size cubes
1 cup cubed tasso ham or Canadian bacon
1/2 cup grated aged Cheddar or Gruyere cheese
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
1 large egg

Steps:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line two sheet pans with parchment.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and cayenne. Add the butter and toss gently to coat. Work the butter into the flour with the tips of your fingers until the mixture resembles rough cornmeal with pea-size bits of butter scattered throughout. Stir in the ham and cheese to evenly distribute.
Whisk together the buttermilk and egg and add it to the butter-flour mixture; stir with a wooden spoon to distribute the moisture. Use your hands to gently bring the dough together, being careful not to overwork the dough.
Drop 1/4-cup mounds of dough, spaced a few inches apart, onto the prepared pans. Bake until golden brown and the scones spring back when gently poked, 15 to 20 minutes.