These zucchini cheddar sourdough scones are a savory, freezer-friendly way to use sourdough discard and summer zucchini, perfect for snacks or sides.
Prep Time20 minutesmins
Cook Time25 minutesmins
Resting Time1 hourhr
Total Time1 hourhr45 minutesmins
Course: Appetizer, Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Zucchini Cheddar Sourdough Scones
Servings: 8scones
Equipment
Mixing bowl
Measuring spoons & food scale
Cheese grater
Baking sheet
Parchment paper
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
250gramsall-purpose flour
12gramssugar
1teaspoonbaking powder
1/2teaspoonbaking soda
1/2teaspoonsalt
1/2teaspoonblack pepper
1/2teaspoongarlic powder
113gramsunsalted butter cold and grated
Wet Ingredients
100gramssourdough discard cold
1largeegg
50gramsheavy cream or butter milk
Inclusions
100gramssharp cheddar cheese shredded
120gramszucchinifinely grated and squeezed dry
Instructions
*Tip: place the butter in the freezer for 15-30 minutes before mixing the dough
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Grate the zucchini as finely as possible & place it in a clean kitchen towel. Wring out as much moisture as possible. You should be left with about 100-120 grams of dry grated zucchini.Don’t skip this step—zucchini holds a lot of moisture, and if it’s not squeezed dry, it can make your scones soggy and dense.
In a large mixing bowl combine the flour, sugar, salt, pepper, garlic powder, baking powder & baking soda.
Next, grate the frozen butter into the mixture and use a fork or dough scraper to cut the butter into the flour, resembling coarse crumbs.
Mix in the inclusions (cheese & zucchini) until evenly distributed in the dry mixture.
Make the wet mixture & combine
In a separate bowl whisk together the sourdough discard, egg, and heavy cream or buttermilk until smooth.
Then, add the wet mixture to the dry mixture and mix to combine. Be careful not to overmix here, some dry flour bits are okay. The dough should be stiff and slightly tacky. If the dough does not come together add a little more cream.
Shape the zucchini cheddar sourdough scones
On a lightly floured surface, pat the dough into a 7-8 inch circle (about 1 inch thick) and cut into 8 wedges.
Place each wedge on the baking sheet and place it into the freezer for at least 30 minutes to 1 hour. Zucchini cheddarsourdough scones can be refrigerated overnight and baked in the AM if desired. Make sure to place them in the freezer for 30 minutes before baking.
Brush & Bake
When ready to bake the zucchini cheddar sourdough scones preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Brush each scone with heavy cream and sprinkle with extra cheddar cheese or flaky sea salt if desired and bake for 20-25 minutes or until the edges start to brown.Pro tip: To ensure the scones are fully baked, insert a digital thermometer into the center of one—the internal temperature should read between 200–205°F (93–96°C). This ensures the inside is fully set without overbaking.
Once out of the oven, let the scones cool for 5–10 minutes before digging in. Top with more cheese if desired and enjoy!
Zucchini cheddar sourdough scones last 2-3 days in the refrigerator in an airtight container.
Notes
Tips for success
Use frozen butter: before mixing the dough, ensure the butter has been in the freezer for at least 30 minutes.
Freeze the dough before baking: For Zucchini cheddar sourdough scones to hold their shape, I recommend freezing them for at least 30 minutes to an hour before baking.
Easiest shaping: use a 7 or 8-inch pie pan, and line it with parchment paper or plastic wrap. and mold the disc shape.
Sourdough discard: To ensure the scones hold their flaky texture use sourdough discard that’s been chilling in the fridge. An older discard can be used since this is a savory recipe.
Over-mixing: Make sure not to over-mix the dough, this will result in a dry scone.