Cheese & buttermilk scones

40 MINUTES|MAKES 10|EASY

plain flour 450g, plus extra for dusting baking powder 1 tsp salt 1½ tsp cayenne pepper ½ tsp bicarbonate of soda 1 tsp butter 75g, diced cheddar 100g, grated buttermilk 350ml

• Heat the oven to 220C/fan 200C/gas 7. Dust a baking tray with flour. Sift the flour, baking powder, salt, cayenne and soda into a bowl and mix with your hands. Rub in the butter, then mix in the grated cheese. Make a well in the centre and add the buttermilk (if the buttermilk is quite thick you may need 25ml more). Using your hands, mix the wet and dry ingredients. Stop mixing once it comes together. • Lightly flour the worksurface.Tip the dough out onto it, dust more flour over the top and pat the dough into a piece about 2.5cm high. Cut into 14 scones, each about 7.5cm in diameter. Do be careful not to knead the dough at all, otherwise the scones will be tough and heavy. • Put on the prepared baking tray and bake for 10 minutes, then turn the oven temperature down to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6 and bake for a further 5 minutes or until the scones are golden and sound hollow when tapped on the base.