Apple and aged cheddar scones

Blogging is the epitome of our ever virtualizing lives in which we spend an often overbearing amount of time looking at screens. But sometimes it has the power to connect people in a real way that would never have happened without the virtual. Case in point: these apple cheddar scones.

Over a year ago I read a tweet from a close college friend (hi Linda!) that led me to her high school friend, who has a food blog that I of course started reading regularly, because it is awesome. Last week I went to the Foodbuzz Blogging Festival and I noticed that Da was going to be speaking on one of the panels about her KitchenCorners blog, so I of course had to go and introduce myself and it made me oh so happy to meet Da in person, because she is lovely and a friend of Linda’s and an all around pleasure to be around.

I just learned that Da and KitchenCorners does a monthly cook-off, with prizes awarded to the winner! What an awesome idea. So I am interrupting the CSA Challenge to bring you these, the most extraordinary and delicious thing I have made in a LONG TIME. I kid you not. These are pure gold. Go and make them right now and thank me later. In fact, perhaps you can thank me by bringing me some of the scones you made, because mine are all gone.

The challenge food is apples, and I had recently seen this post on some apple cheddar scones. Not being a huge fan of sweet cooked fruit desserts I was immediately drawn to the savory. And being obsessed with cheese… Well, I couldn’t turn them down. So yesterday I spent the morning at the San Francisco Ferry Building (my happy place) perusing the many apple varieties of The Apple Farm and selecting some incredible aged cheddar from Point Reyes Cheese. It was all over from there.

Apple and cheddar scones
Adapted from The Perfect Finish via Smitten Kitchen

2-3 tart apples (I used Sierra Beauties)
1 1/2 cups flour
1/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons chilled unsalted butter
3/4 cup sharp aged cheddar
1/4 cup heavy cream
2 eggs
small amount coarse granulated sugar, for dusting

Preheat the oven to 375°F.

Peel and chop the apples, cutting into 1/4 inch slices and then cutting again into halves or thirds (depending on how large your apples are and how big you want your apple chunks). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and spread apple chunks evenly on baking sheet. Bake for 25 minutes or until apples are dry and just golden. Let cool in fridge (10 or more minutes) or freezer (five minutes).

Sift together flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Set aside.

Coarsely grate cheese. (Note: I used a very fine grater and wish I hadn’t, it left the scones with a much milder cheese taste than I would have liked. I suggest using a coarse grater, or even finely crumbling the cheese by hand, so that as it melts when cooking there are some more substantial cheese flavors. But then again… I love cheese more than anything. So maybe that’s just me). Cut chilled butter into 1/4 inch cubes. Place butter, cooled apple chunks, grated cheese, cream and one egg into stand mixer with paddle attachment. Begin mixing on low speed and add sifted flour mixture. Continue mixing on low until dough just begins to come together into a ball.

Flour your table or cutting board and roll out dough into a log. Using hands, shape log into a rectangle (approximately 1 inch high). Cut rectangle into four squares and then cut squares into eight equal sized triangles. Transfer scones to a parchment lined baking sheet. Whisk remaining one egg together with a pinch of salt and using a pastry brush, or, if you’re me, a paper towel, lightly coat the top of each scone with the egg wash. Sprinkle tops of scones with coarse granulated sugar.

Bake at 375°F for 30 minutes or until scones are firm to the touch and golden brown.

Eat and enjoy! If you are me, and a glutton, you will break the warm scones open and spread with a bit of butter and a slice of remaining aged cheddar cheese. And then you will die from happiness.

Updated to include a shameless plug! If you like the looks of these and want me to win the Kitchen Corners Cook-Off click HERE and comment your top three choices before Friday, November 19th! Be sure to include Apple and Cheddar Scones in your list.