Triple Cheese Scones

Preheat the oven to 200°C, gas mark 6 and line a baking tray with baking parchment. Place the flour into a large bowl and add the cubes of butter. Rub the butter into the flour using your fingertips until it resembles fine breadcrumbs. Stir in the grated cheeses and the chives, and make a well in the centre.

Gradually pour the milk into the centre of the well, stirring with a round-bladed knife. A soft, rough dough should form. You may need to add a little more milk to mop up any remaining flour. Tip the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead very briefly to smooth it. Overhandling the dough will make your scones tough and flat, so knead as little as possible.

Gently roll the dough out to a thickness of around 3cm. Cut into rounds using a 4cm pastry cutter, cutting straight down without twisting, because this prevents the scones from rising properly. Very gently reroll the
remaining dough, taking care not to handle it too much, and punch out more scones – you should get 20 in total. Arrange the scones on a baking tray, then brush the tops with a little egg wash and sprinkle with the extra Red Leicester.

Bake for 15-17 minutes, or until risen and golden brown. Serve warm from the oven, split in two, with a generous spread of butter.