Cheddar Dill Scones

Scones... YUM. There's just something about the rich, buttery, flaky dough that tastes like comfort food to me. I remember the first time I tasted a scone. I was in the fourth grade and in an after school cooking class. The teacher taught us how to make traditional scones with lemon curd. It was love at first bite. I went home, so excited to share the scone and curd recipe with my family. Scones with currants, cinnamon chip scones, cream scones, lemon poppyseed scones, pepper and parmesean, cheddar and scallion scones- it's all good. Sophie and I have baked this version from Barefoot Contessa. You can use a biscuit cutter, free cut them or make them into hearts, as we did. Weither savory or sweet, scones are definitely worth making.

Cheddar Dill Scones
4 cups plus 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour, divided
2 tablespoons baking powder
2 teaspoons salt
3/4 pound cold unsalted butter, diced small
4 extra-large eggs, beaten lightly
1 cup cold heavy cream
1/2 pound extra-sharp white cheddar, grated
1 cup minced fresh dill
1 egg beaten with 1 tablespoon water or milk, for egg wash

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Combine 4 cups of flour, the baking powder, and salt in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Add the butter and mix on low speed until the butter is in pea-sized pieces. Mix the eggs and heavy cream and quickly add them to the flour-and-butter mixture. Combine until just blended. Toss together the Cheddar, dill, and 1 tablespoon of flour and add them to the dough. Mix until they are almost incorporated.

Dump the dough onto a well-floured surface and knead it for 1 minute, until the Cheddar and dill are well distributed. Roll the dough 3/4-inch thick. Cut into 4-inch squares and then in half diagonally to make triangles. Brush the tops with egg wash. Bake on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper for 20 to 25 minutes, until the outside is crusty and the inside is fully baked.

*Suggestions: If you don't like the flavor of dill, chives would also work well for the herb flavoring. We haven't tried it yet, but I'm sure crisp, crumbled bacon would be delicious in these scones too! :)