Cheesy scones are the perfect savoury scones and these cheese scones with chilli flakes really are the perfect comfort food snack, breakfast or afternoon tea recipe!
My favourite scones are savoury cheese ones. My mum used to make them when I was little and I loved them straight out of the aga with butter melting in. I also like the sweet ones with jam and a little cream, but I can take them or leave them and would rather have a piece of cake if I had a choice.
But going back to cheese scones. Well, if you make me fresh cheese scones with melting butter, I will be a very happy woman.
What makes these cheese scones special?
All cheese scones are lovely but these ones are on another flavour level! I didn't want to make scones with just cheese. I wanted to add a little extra flavour and so I chose to add thyme and chilli flakes. The thyme is brilliant in these scones and so are the chilli flakes.
What if you just want plain old cheese scones?
I understand that not everyone likes to add extra chilli heat to their scones. If that's you then just miss the chilli flakes out. These chilli cheese scones are still tasty without the chilli heat!
Can you adapt the recipe for these cheese scones?
As well as adding extra (yes, that's possible too!) or omitting the chilli flakes you could also vary the herbs. Why not try basil or chives instead of the thyme?
If you don't have any dried chilli flakes you can finely dice a fresh chilli pepper or use diced jalapenos instead too.
You can also switch to a different cheese. I like to use mature cheddar as it's full of flavour but you can use another hard cheese if you prefer. Try to use one that's fairly strong though so the flavour comes through in the scones.
How long do these scones last for?
Scones are best eaten when fresh. Ideally soon after coming out of the oven so they are still a little warm and the butter melts in.
However, you can store them in an airtight box for a couple of days or keep them in the fridge for about 5 days.
How to reheat scones
As I said, these cheese scones with chilli are best eaten warm but maybe you can't manage them all at once! I just heat the oven to 160C and pop the scones in for 5 minutes on a baking tray. You can microwave them but they can loose some of their lovely crumbly texture and go a bit soggy in the microwave.
If you can't reheat them then let them come to room temperature and eat them as they are.
However you eat them, I'm sure they won't last long.
More Scone recipes
Why not check out the recipes for my apple, sultana and cinnamon scones?
Or if you're looking for something savoury you might like my cheddar and leek muffins, my cheesy wild garlic scones or my cheese and olive scones.
Recipe
Cheese Scones with a Chilli Kick
Ingredients
- 200 g self-raising flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 40 g butter
- 100 g mature cheddar cheese
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon chilli flakes
- 100 ml milk
Instructions
- Sieve the flour and salt into a mixing bowl.
- Chop the butter into cubes and add to the flour. Rub together with your fingertips until it is like fine breadcrumbs.
- Add most of the cheese, the herbs and chilli flakes. Mix together then begin adding the milk. Add a little at a time and mix in with a knife. It should form a dough.
- Sprinkle a bit more flour on the work surface. Turn the dough out and knead gently for about a minute.
- Press the dough down until it is about 2-3 cm thick.
- Using a dough cutter or a cup/glass, press down on the dough to cut out circles. Put onto a greased baking sheet.
- Sprinkle the reserved cheese onto the top of the scones and bake in the oven for about 15 minutes at about 200°C.
- Cool for 5 minutes on a wire rack, then slice in half, spread with butter and serve immediately.
Cat | Curly's Cooking
Oh yes! I love cheese and chilli together, these sound so tasty!
Corina Blum
They are lovely and just the kind of thing I think you'd really like!
Jenny Walters
Cheese Scones are such an epic bake! I simply can't understand why I don't bake them every week every time I bake a batch! I love the sound of yours with a kick! Perfect for all this colder weather. Absolutely delicious! Thank you for sharing with #BakingCrumbs
Corina Blum
I feel exactly the same every time I bake scones too! So pleased you like them and thanks for hosting #BakingCrumbs!
tastebotanical
Love the combination of cheese and chilli. I make biscuits with this flavour pairing but have never tried scones - will definitely give it a go!
Corina Blum
Oh they are really tasty! I don't put too much chilli in them though.
Kat (The Baking Explorer)
Yum, they sound so tasty and are perfectly risen
Corina Blum
Thanks Kat! They are so good I wish I'd made a double batch - I will next time.
Monika Dabrowski
Delicious sounding scones, Corina, I love cheese scones but these are even better! Thank you for bringing your recipe to #CookBlogShare.
For some reason I wasn't able to pin it, sorry.
Corina Blum
I'm glad you like them Monika! I'm not sure why it didn't pin but I'll have to look into it.
stephanie
Omg! Just come across your recipe and as a Brit they are fantastic scones! I used 2 cheeses as im greedy but oh my life were they good! Just enough chilli for this Brit. Thanks Corina!! Love from across the pond xx
Corina Blum
I'm so happy you liked them. Thank you for letting me know - I really appeciate hearing back from people who've tried my recipes!
Jo Allison / Jo's Kitchen Larder
What a fantastic twist on cheese scones. These are right up my street as I do love a bit of chilli. It's a perfect recipe to use time and time again now we've entered soup season as they would make perfect accompaniment to any soup! Thank you so much for sharing these with #BakingCrumbs 🙂
Corina Blum
Thanks Jo! I think you would love these and the chilli is not very strong. More a hint of chilli rather than a whack!
Helen - Cooking with my kids
I love cheese scones fresh from the oven (although my kids prefer fruit ones). These sound delicious with the extra chili kick!
Corina Blum
My kids prefer plain scones but only because they are not keen on dried fruit and are not particularly keen on cheesy recipes. I don't know why as I loved anything cheesy when I was a kid!
jacqui
I love cheesy scones, so tasty and as you say perfect for serving with soup. As well as being so much quicker to make than bread. The additon of chilli is a nice touch
Corina Blum
Thanks Jacqui! The chilli makes them really tasty without being an overpowering flavour.
Jhuls @ The Not So Creative Cook
I bet these scones are delicious with the chili added. I haven't had scones for a long time and now I want some of these. 😀 Thanks for sharing, Corina.
Corina Blum
Thanks Jhuls! I think cheese scones are my favourite ones although the kids always just want me to make plain ones! So pleased you like these ones.
lou Gunstone
I love cheesy scones and I love chilli... this is the perfect combo!
Corina Blum
Thanks Lou! I am so pleased you like these - It is a delicious combination!
Bet
Try these with sweet pepper chilli jam. Amazing.
Linda
Loving the sound of that 🙂
shaheen
I really like cheesey scones, but I don't recall ever spicing it up. Thanks for introducing me to the idea, may just have to give these a go in the very near future.
Joanne
I've fallen in love with savory scones lately. I love the pinch of spice in these!
Juliana
Can you believe that I never made scones? And would love to try your cheese one...look delicious the savory version.
Hope you have a great week and thanks for this nice recipe Corina 🙂
Wendy
Ohhhhhh.... but I'm on a diet! You've ruined it now! All I can think of is a warm cheesey scone with a chilli hit and plenty of butter......Delicious!
Choclette
Ooh yum, cheese scones are so good and you're right, they need to be eaten straight out of the oven. Like the idea of using chilli in there too.
All That I'm Eating
I like the idea of these, they look great. It would be nice to take these to work, I get bored of sandwiches!
frugalfeeding
I adore cheese scones. I made cheese and garlic ones not too long ago - you should check them out 😀
karensbooth
You and me both, my favourite scones hands down are cheese ones and these look amazing! Love the idea of the chilli kick too.
Esther
Sounds like very interesting combination of flavours in a scone!
I shall try that next time 🙂
Janice
OMG you had me, at 'straight out of the aga with butter melting in', anything straight out of the oven with butter melting in is divine. I could eat one of those right now.