Bacon, Pepper Jack, and Jalapeno Scones are so flaky and flavorful! One of our favorite savory scone recipes. Serve for breakfast or with dinner!
Jalapeno Bacon Scones
I’ve got to tell you, these scones have completely changed the way I do breakfast. They’re so addicting! Normally, on the weekdays, I like coffee with just a splash of almond milk as my morning meal. It gets me going on the right track. Maybe a mini muffin if I wake extra ravenous. But you know, stuff-to-do! No time for grand meals and the dishes that inevitably come with them.
Oh! But how all of that’s changed with the creation of these savory scones! The past 4 mornings have been all about the scones. Topped with a pat of butter. And a sunny side-up egg. Extra coffee and bacon on the side. This is how I want to spend all of my mornings.
Bacon Jalapeno Cheese Scones Recipe
Alright my friends, let’s dive face first into the delicious details that make these scones possible!
For the dry ingredients you’ll need flour (I used unbleached all-purpose here, but bleached all-purpose will work, too), baking powder (2 tablespoon give these scones their high rise), brown sugar (this adds depth and just a touch of sweetness), salt, paprika (smoked or regular, but I prefer smoked) and black pepper. Most of these ingredients are quite basic and should be easy to find at your local grocery store, if you don’t happen to already have them at home.
For wet/cold ingredients you’ll need Greek yogurt, pepper jack cheese, butter (make sure it’s very cold), and an egg (lightly beaten, for brushing over the scones right before baking). Much like the dry ingredients listed above, these should be very easy to find – and may even already be in your possession!
The final two ingredients we have not yet discussed are fresh jalapeno peppers and BACON. Bacon in caps because it excites me. But then again, so do spicy peppers. The peppers get diced (make sure you remove their seeds) and the bacon gets fried. These two ingredients are what takes these scones over-the-edge of ho-hum and into awesome land. Don’t skimp on em’.
I debated whether or not to add scallions to these scones, and in the end, I did not. Upon inspection (read: taste testing) I am happy to report I made the right call. These scones have a lot going on, and I think any more “add-ins” would just be overkill. Sounds hard to believe, I know, but trust me, these babies are perfect the way they are!
If you do feel the urge to play around with the “add-ins”, here are a few ideas I know would work:
- Swap out the spicy pepper jack cheese for milder cheese such as sharp or colby-jack.
- Use diced ham or turkey bacon in place of the bacon.
- Use sour cream in place of the Greek yogurt. I recommend using full-fat no matter what you choose.
- Cut the called for amount of jalapeno peppers in half for a more mild bite.
All of that said, those are just guides in case you must substitute an ingredient. As always, it is best to stick to a recipe and the cooking/baking method it calls for exactly – at least the first time you’re making it.
How to handle Scone Dough
If you’ve never made scones before, a quick note on what to expect when you’re dealing with the dough. Scone dough reminds me of making pie crust. It’s always a little messy, confusing, and there is no doubt going to be a moment where you look down at the shaggy flour and butter mess on your table and think “there is just… no way this is going to work out”. But it will. I promise.
My biggest piece of advice? FLOUR is your friend. Keep a little bowl of flour nearby. Make sure your board is well floured before dumping the scone mixture out onto it. Be sure your delicate hands are coated with a little flour before you begin bringing the dough together. Flour, and a little patience, will get you far, my dear.
When it comes time to cut the scones, you have some options. I used a 2″ biscuit cutter, and if you own one, you can use it, too! If you don’t, try using an empty mason jar, small topped wine glass, or simply cut the scones into triangles. Scones are forgiving treats, and can be shaped by almost anything. The important thing to remember, no matter how you choose to cut your scones, is to work quickly and try not to handle the dough too much. If you ever find your dough is warm and sticky, pop it back in the fridge or freezer for a few minutes and let it chill, then get back to work.
Alright. So your scones are cut and ready for baking! Right before you pop them in the oven, you’re going to lightly brush the tops of each scone with egg wash. You can also add a little jalapeno pepper slice if you’re feeling decorative.
The scones will bake for about 18 minutes. And yes… you know they’re going to make your house smell amazing.
Once emerged from the oven, EAT AT ONCE. Just kidding. Kinda…
Scones really are best served warm, straight-from-the-oven. But you definitely want to let them chill a few minutes so you don’t burn your hands/mouth/face off. I like to use these minutes to fry a couple of eggs, make an extra pot of coffee, and maybe – if we’re feeling extra indulgent – toss a few slices of bacon in a skillet. These scones are delicious as-is… but they really do make the BEST breakfast sandwich base. So ya know, options options options!
Serve, eat, enjoy. I hope you guys love these as much as we do 🙂 xoxo
More Savory Scones:
- Rosemary, Parmesan, and Ham Scones
- Zucchini Cheddar Scones
- Sour Cream and Chive Scones
- Ham and Cheese Scones
Bacon, Pepper Jack, and Jalapeno Scones
Ingredients
- 4 slices of bacon, cooked crispy, cooled, and chopped
- 1-2 small jalapeno peppers, seeds removed, finely chopped (use 1 for a mild flavor)
- 2 and 3/4 cups all-purpose flour (be sure not to pack your flour when measuring)
- 2 tablespoons baking powder
- 2 tablespoon packed dark brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, very cold, cut into cubes
- 1 cup (4 ounces) grated pepper jack cheese
- 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika (regular paprika will work, too)
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup full-fat plain Greek style yogurt
- 1 large egg
For the egg wash:
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 1 teaspoon water
Instructions
- In a large frying pan over medium-heat cook the bacon until brown and crispy; about 7 minutes.
- Transfer bacon to a paper towel lined plate and allow it to cool for a few minutes. Once it's cool enough to handle, transfer it to a small cutting board and using a sharp knife chop the bacon into bits; set aside.
- Carefully slice the jalapeno peppers in half vertically and use a small spoon to scrape out the seeds (don't use your bare fingers here). Chop the peppers into small bits; set aside.
- In a large bowl combine the flour, baking powder, brown sugar and salt; whisk well to combine. Quickly cut in the butter and cheese; stir in the paprika and pepper. Cover and place bowl in the freezer for 15 minutes.
- While the dough is chilling...
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees (F) and set a rack on the upper-middle level. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside.
- Once the 15 minutes are up...
- Gently stir the Greek yogurt, egg, chopped bacon, and jalapeno peppers into the flour mixture; the dough will be soft, sticky, and shaggy.
- Lightly flour your hands, then gather the dough into a ball. Transfer the dough to a well-floured surface and pat the dough out into a large rectangle approximately 1" inch thick. The dough will look very shaggy - not to worry!
- Use a small round biscuit cutter to cut out about 12 scones, reshaping the dough as needed and using scraps to form new rounds of dough. Place the scone cut-outs on the prepared baking sheet, leaving a little space in between each one for spreading. Brush each scone with a little egg wash.
- Bake the scones for 18- 20 minutes, or until they are lightly golden brown on top. Serve at once!
- Or just eat them straight off the pan like we do... with runny eggs and extra bacon on the side.
For the egg wash:
- In a small bowl combine the egg and water, beat well. Use as directed in the recipe.
Dave says
I made these today using 120gm AP flour per cup. I grated in almost-frozen butter, added the grated cheese (old cheddar) and cut in with a pastry cutter. I didn’t put in freezer – just the fridge. I added the yogurt (1 cup) and found the whole thing a bit dry – I really had to work it to get a handleable formable dough. Rolled out thinner than one inch and just cut up rough and random. Next time I’ll weigh out flour to 115gm per cup. I used non-fat yogurt. They baked up like a dream – so yummy!
Kory Suazo says
Absolutely loved everything about this recipe, I should note that I used buttermilk instead of yogurt and cheddar instead of pepper jack cheese and they turn out just so perfect, flaky, golden and delicious! Thanks, definitely this is a keeper!
Lisa French says
This is a fantastic recipe! I made it exactly as posted except I made them smaller and baked for 15 minutes. I thought they needed a little more spice so after baking I brushed the tops with butter and sprinkled with Cajun seasoning and some I topped with pickled jalapeños. Everyone loved them. For those having trouble, It is worth noting that the dough will come together but you have to work it a bit. Also be sure to press your cutter (or whatever you’re using) and lift -don’t twist- in order to get the rise.
Rebecca says
I just tried this recipe because my husband loves bacon, pepper jack cheese, and jalapenos. “Really good” was the response! And they smell so good coming out of the oven! Had to add more yogurt because it was too dry to make a ball. Next time I’ll use less flour to see if that helps. I got 14 scones but they didn’t rise as high as yours. Delicious! Thanks for the recipe!
Wib says
Hi ashley…
Wonderful recipe and taste super awesome..i followed everything but add more bacon mo jalapeno and more cheese…tatse great but didnt find it rise as beautiful as yours. Is it bcause i added too many add on???
Thanks
Dawn says
Hello,
Has anyone tried to freeze these scones? I would love to make these for my son and send them with him when he goes back to school after Xmas Holidays
Jamie Lee says
I made these morning to bring to work and people loved them! I was super happy with how light they were. One thing I added was a little milk. The dough was super dry and wasn’t coming together to form a ball. I don’t think the milk changed the flavor and I only added about a tablespoon, but it helped. Will definitely make these again!
Blair says
Anytime I bake scones i store them in an airtight container, and buy the next morning the have an almost wet feeling on top. Any suggestions on how to better store scones to keep the light crisp the outside has on it?? Thanks!
These are bomb also!!!!! I was to eat the whole sheet of them!
Roni says
Try placing a paper towel in the container to absorb moisture. Be certain they are cool before packing them up.
kacy says
I just made these and they are beautiful. I did omit bacon and added 1 egg and 1/2 cup of milk to get it to hold. I worked the heck out of it prior adding agg and milk but it kept falling apart (probably from lack of the bacon?)
Either way, they turned out great. I used 1 pasilla pepper instead of the jalapeno.
Hiromi says
I made this today. As somebody said it was just way too dry, so I added 1/4 cup of half & half. It made the dough moist enough to stick together, but not too wet. I don’t eat meat, so I used fake bacon (Morning Star).
It has a really good flavor and texture is good also, but 1 jalapeno and pepper jack cheese were not enough to make this spicy. i will be using Habanero instead next time.
I baked at 400F for 13min since outside was already golden brown. I will try 350F or so for 16 min next time.
I think this base can be good with a lot of additions instead of bacon and jalapenos. Olive and basil? Sun dried tomatoes and cheese? Smoked salmon?