Caramelised Onion and Gruyere Cheese Scones

10 scones

Ingredients:

65g cold butter

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 medium onion, halved and thinly sliced

2 rounded cups plain flour

3 teaspoons baking powder

a good pinch of salt

115g Gruyere cheese, cut into 1cm cubes

1 cup buttermilk

flaky sea salt to sprinkle

Method:

Preheat the oven to 200°C.  Line a baking tray with baking paper.

Heat a small heavy-based saucepan over low heat. Add 15g of the measured butter and the oil. As the butter begins to sizzle, add the onions. Cook over low heat, stirring occasionally until lightly caramelised, about 15 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and set aside to cool.

Sift the flour, baking powder and salt into a bowl. Cut the remaining 50g butter into even-sized dice and add to the flour. Using your fingertips rub the butter into the flour, shaking the bowl a couple of times to bring the larger pieces of butter to the surface. Rub until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Stir in the cheese.

Pour the buttermilk over the cooled onions and stir to combine. Add to the flour mixture and stir until combined. The mixture will be a little sticky but that’s good. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured bench and press out until 2.5-3cm in thickness. Use a 7cm round cutter to stamp out circles. Place on the prepared tray as you go, placing apart as some of the cheese will ooze out during baking and become deliciously crispy. Quickly gather up the scrapes and and cut out again. Sprinkle each with a little flaky salt.  Place in the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown.

Eat warm as they are or spread with butter.

Tips:

Heat the baking tray in the oven before placing on the uncooked scones.

Work quickly but gently when making scones to ensure they are light in texture.

No cutter, then cut scone dough into even squares using a sharp knife.

Dip the cutter into flour after each cut to help prevent sticking.

Make your own buttermilk – stir 1 tablespoon lemon juice into 1 cup full cream milk. The acid will curdle the milk slightly.

Any leftover scones can be cut in half and toasted the following day.