Cheese scones

Ingredients

500g self-raising flour, plus extra for dusting
120g butter, chilled
1 teaspoon baking powder
125g Irish cheddar cheese, grated
2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme
1 teaspoon English mustard powder, optional
250ml milk, plus extra for brushing
2 large free-range eggs

Directions

Preheat the oven to 220ºC/425ºF/Gas Mark 7. Dust a large baking sheet with flour.
Combine the flour and baking powder in a large mixing bowl and using your fingertips, rub in the butter until the mixture resembles rough breadcrumbs.
Add 100g of the cheese, a tablespoon of thyme and English mustard to the bowl and mix it through the crumbs.
In a measuring jug, whisk together the milk and egg until combined. Pour this into the crumb mixture (leaving about 1 tablespoon of the mix in the jug) and mix through with a butter knife until a rough dough forms. Use your hands to push the dough together, making sure to include any mixture that’s stuck on the sides of the bowl.
Dust a clean work surface with a little flour, turn the dough out of the bowl and press into a round shape. With a rolling pin, roll the dough out to a thickness of 2.5cm (1”). Using a 7.5cm circular pastry cutter, cut out the scones and place on the baking sheet. Press the trimmings together, roll out and repeat until you have used all the dough. Otherwise, just cut into squares.
Brush each scone with the reserved egg and milk mix, sprinkle with the remaining 25g of cheese and the remaining tablespoon of thyme to garnish.
Place in the oven on the middle shelf and bake for 12-14 minutes until they have risen and turned a lovely golden brown colour on top. Transfer to a wire rack to cool slightly before serving warm with butter.

In partnership with the National Dairy Council.

Recipe by Donal Skehan, the Irish ambassador for 'Cheese. Your Way', the EU-funded programme that aims to educate consumers on the importance of including cheese in their everyday diets in a variety of traditional and contemporary ways.