Bacon Cheddar Chive Scones

     Here's a wonderful savory scone recipe from King Arthur Flour, they're brimming with bacon, tangy Cheddar and chives.  I used fresh cut chives from the garden and hand grated a good sharp Cheddar but cheated by using a 2.5 oz. box of fully cooked bacon.  You know how much I love scones made in my dutch oven, there's nothing like them and this recipe is no exception.  I added almost a full cup of heavy cream as I like my biscuit and scone doughs on the wet side.  You can pat them in a circle and cut them into wedges or drop them like biscuits into your oven.  I piled as many coals as I could on my 10 inch oven lid, about 28, and placed 10 around the bottom.  In exactly 22 minutes they were cooked to perfection.  You'd think they would be heavy and dense but they're actually quite light and tender.  So all you bacon Cheddar lovers out there, fire up your dutch ovens and give these a try, this one is sure to go to the top of your recipe list. 

Bacon Cheddar Chive Scones
2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 Tblsp baking powder
2 tsp sugar
4 Tblsp (1/2 stick) cold butter, cut in small pieces
1 cup coarsely grated Cheddar cheese
1/3 cup snipped fresh chives OR finely diced scallion tops
1/2 lb bacon, cooked, cooled, and crumbled (about 1 cup)
3/4 cup plus 2 Tblsp heavy cream or enough to made dough cohesive

     Lightly oil or spray dutch oven.
     Whisk together flour, salt, baking powder and sugar.
     Work butter into the flour with fingers or pastry cutter until the mixture is crumbly.
     Mix in the cheese, chives and bacon until evenly distributed.
     Add 3/4 cup cream, stirring to combine, add more cream, if needed, until the dough comes together.
     Pat dough into a 7 inch disc and cut into 8 wedges or form into 10 biscuit sized rounds.
     Place into prepared dutch oven and brush with cream if desired.
     Bake at 425 degrees for 22-24 minutes or until golden brown.
     Serve warm or at room temperature.

Form dough into biscuit shaped rounds and place in
well oiled oven

Bake in a hot oven for 22-24 minutes

My new favorite savory scone