Maple Cream Cheese Apple Scones Food

CHEESE AND APPLE SCONES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450°; grease a baking sheet.
• In a bowl, mix the cheese and apples together.
• In another larger bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and baking soda.
• Cut in butter with a pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
• Add in buttermilk and mix together just until blended and moistened; fold in cheese-apple mixture.
• Place dough on a floured work surface and knead 10 times; with the palm of your hand, pat dough into a 9-inch circle, then cut into 8 wedges.
• Separate the wedges and place them on the prepared baking sheet.
• Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes, or until golden brown.
• Cool slightly on wire rack and serve warm.

CINNAMON APPLE-CREAM CHEESE SCONES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400ºF.
• Mix flour, sugar, baking powder and spices in large bowl until blended. Cut in butter with pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in apples. Beat Neufchatel and egg in small bowl until blended; gradually add milk until blended. Add to flour mixture; stir until blended and mixture forms soft dough.
• Drop dough into 8 mounds, 2 inches apart, on baking sheet.
• Bake 16 to 18 min. or until golden brown. Remove from baking sheet; cool on wire rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.

CREAM CHEESE-FILLED APPLE SCONES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F.
• Combine flour, graham crumbs, 3 Tbsp. sugar, baking powder and 1/2 tsp. cinnamon in medium bowl. Cut in butter with pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add apples, eggs and 2 Tbsp. milk; stir just until blended. (Do not overmix.)
• Mix cream cheese, nuts, remaining milk and 1 Tbsp. of the remaining sugar until blended.
• Divide dough in half; pat each half into 6-inch round on lightly floured surface. Place 1 dough round on baking sheet sprayed with cooking spray; spread with cream cheese mixture to within 1/4 inch of edge. Cover with remaining dough round; press edges together to seal. Mix remaining sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle over dough.
• Bake 25 to 28 min. or until top is golden brown and toothpick inserted into center of top layer of dough comes out clean. Cool on baking sheet 10 min. Transfer to cutting board. Cut into 12 wedges. Serve warm or at room temperature.