These keto ham and cheese scones make lunch or breakfast so much more fun! They’re easy to make and full of great flavor. And they have only 3.3g net carbs per serving.
I was never much of a ham person until recently. I would eat it if offered, but it wasn’t my first choice if there were other options.
But over the past few years, I’ve come to appreciate this smoky, salty meat. Especially when it’s high quality, and flavorful, and not cured with a ton of sugar. I still don’t love a big baked ham as a meal, but I enjoy small slices here and there. It’s tasty fried in a pay with some spicy mustard!
And I love to cook it, as it adds depth and flavor to recipes like Slow Cooker Breakfast Casserole and Denver Omelet Muffins. These Ham and Cheese Scones are no exception!
Why you must try this recipe
So many scone recipes are sweet, it’s hard to remember that they can be savory too. But that tender, slightly crumbly texture is ideal for flavors like ham and cheese.
And these biscuit-like treats take only 35 minutes to prepare. So you can easily whip up a batch to go with your favorite soups or salads. They help round out keto dinner recipes perfectly.
These ham and cheese scones are also great for quick on-the-go breakfasts, lunches, or snacks. They travel well and don’t need to be refrigerated for a few days, so you can take them for easy energy.
Did I mention that they are delicious? That smoky ham, the flavorful cheddar, the tender texture. It all comes together perfectly!
Reader Reviews
“Made these this morning! So amazing! I love your recipes, thank you for sharing them.” – Melanie
“These are fantastic! Definitely a ‘do again’ recipe!!!” – Sheila
“I made these for the first time a couple of days ago and they are so good! Best of all, they freeze and reheat well. Thank you so much, this recipe is my new favourite!” – Claudia
Ingredients you need
- Almond flour: As always, a good finely ground almond flour gives your baked goods the best texture.
- Coconut Flour: I like to use a little coconut flour in many of my keto scones, for that perfect crumbly, tender texture. Check out the Expert Tips if you prefer not to use it.
- Cheddar cheese: I like to use sharp cheddar, and sometimes smoked cheddar. But you could also use Monterey Jack, Swiss, or Pepper Jack.
- Ham: You can use sliced deli ham or dice up some ham from a larger roast. Whatever you choose, try to find something that doesn’t contain a lot of added sugar. I used a Wellshire petite ham roast.
- Egg: You will need one whole egg and one egg white.
- Whipping cream: Heavy cream provides the fat and moisture for these scones. You can also use sour cream.
- Pantry staples: Baking powder, dried parsley, garlic powder, and salt.
Step-by-step directions
1. Whisk the dry ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the almond flour, coconut flour, baking powder, parsley, garlic powder, and salt. Add 1 cup of the grated cheese and stir to combine.
2. Add the wet ingredients: Stir in the egg, egg white, and whipping cream, and mix until the dough comes together. Add the ham and work evenly throughout the dough.
3. Pat out the dough: Gather the dough together and turn out onto a large baking sheet lined with parchment or a silicone liner. Pat into a rough rectangle about 9 by 6 inches.
4. Cut into triangles: Use a sharp large knife to cut into 6 squares. Then cut each of those squares diagonally into two triangles. Gently lift the scones and distribute them around the pan. Sprinkle with the remaining cheese.
5. Bake: Bake at 325ºF for 20 to 25 minutes, until golden brown and just firm to the touch. Remove and let cool.
Expert tips
If you don’t like coconut flour, you will need to add another ¾ cup of almond flour. This will affect the carb count a bit.
The bits of ham are hard to work into the dough sometimes. I usually just take any that have fallen out out and press them into the tops of the scones after I’ve cut them.
Take the time to pat the dough into an even rectangle, so that each scone will be about the same in thickness. I love using a dressmaker’s measuring tape to make sure I am getting it right.
Frequently Asked Questions
This keto ham and cheese scone recipe has 6.2g of carbs and 2.9g of fiber per serving. That comes to 3.3g net carbs per scone.
Ham is often cured with sugar or honey, and sometimes covered in sweet glazes. So you need to read the labels carefully. I try to find ham that has 1g of carbs per serving or less for my recipes.
Store these low carb scones in a covered container on the counter for up to 4 days, or in the fridge for up to 10 days. They can also be frozen for several months.
Ham and Cheese Scones
Ingredients
- 2 cups almond flour
- ¼ cup coconut flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 ¼ cups grated cheddar cheese divided
- 1 large egg
- 1 large egg white
- ¼ cup whipping cream
- 4 ounces diced ham
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325ºF and line a large baking sheet with parchment or a silicone liner.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the almond flour, coconut flour, baking powder, parsley, garlic powder, and salt. Add 1 cup of the grated cheese and stir to combine.
- Stir in the egg, egg white, and whipping cream, and mix until the dough comes together. Add the ham and work evenly throughout the dough.
- Gather the dough together and turn out onto the prepared baking sheet. Pat into a rough rectangle about 10 by 8 inches.
- Use a sharp large knife to cut into 6 squares. Then cut each of those squares diagonally into two triangles. Gently lift the scones and distribute them around the pan. Sprinkle with the remaining cheese.
- Bake 20 to 25 minutes, until golden brown and just firm to the touch. Remove and let cool. Serve with your favourite soup or salad!
katerina @ diethood.com says
These were incredible!! I can’t wait to make them again and again!! AMAZING!!
Katie says
Ham and cheese scones are one of my all time favorite things. And low carb?! Yes.
Sheila E Hernandez says
These are fantastic! Definitely a ‘do again’ recipe!!!
Kathleen says
These scones are excellent made with sausage instead of ham. The flavor really comes through.
Loving your recipes Carolyn!
Carolyn says
I bet they are!
Lynn says
Okay, Carolyn, so your quiche has been my breakie go-to because, hello, it’s a religious experience. But these scones are calling to me. Curses for so many amazing choices…while I’m losing all this weight!
Yvonne says
Couldn’t work dough in pan to good.
Carolyn says
I’m confused… you’re not supposed to put these in a pan.
Julie says
Hey there – so … is it imperative e to add wet ingredients before the ham? Mine were very crumbly and dry? Or is it potentially the flours down here in NZ??
Carolyn says
It’s probably the flours… when you add the ham doesn’t affect the texture.
Rachelle says
Can I make this without coconut flour?
Carolyn says
You can replace the coconut flour with more almond flour, but you need triple the amount. So another 3/4 cup.
Melanie says
Made these this morning! So amazing! I love your recipes, thank you for sharing them.
I did sub Kerrygold Dubliner cheese, Italian seasoning, and hemp milk. Perfection!!
Nicole Ashba says
Hi can I substitute the coconut flour for the almond flour and how much should i use
Thanks
Carolyn says
Sorry, this is not a coconut flour recipe. They are not interchangeable.
Claudia says
I made these for the first time a couple of days ago and they are so good! Best of all, they freeze and reheat well. Thank you so much, this recipe is my new favourite!
sharon terzian says
Hi
I have loved a similar recipe but though gluten free, was not keto. This came out nicely though the texture is a little ‘off’ and I used bacon instead of ham. I put this recipe into my fitness pal where I log food and the carb count was 3x higher than you listed, so which is correct? thanks
Carolyn says
Something went BADLY wrong in MyFitness Pal (which is known to be very inaccurate and makes weird ingredient substitutions sometimes). I would look very closely at the ingredients you entered and any weird equivalents it might give. My counts come from MacGourmet, a paid software that pulls from the USDA database and given that I work with these ingredients all the time, I am VERY confident of my numbers.
Rhiannon says
I love this recipe!! Wondering how you think these would freeze? Also, what would be needed to make them into a donut texture? I was watching a cooking show the other morning where a savory cheddar and green onion donut was made then sliced to make it into a grilled cheese with bacon, tomato and cheddar cheese slices. I CAN’T get the idea out of my head!!!
Carolyn says
Better yet, use one of my donut recipes (like the coconut flour ones) and add the ham and cheese to those. The scones freeze just fine.
Vickie crone says
Can’t wait to try his recipe… a savory one!!!! Yummmmy
Jerry Marquardt says
I publicly Tweeted this giveaway: https://twitter.com/versatileer/status/892070178342785025
Jerry Marquardt says
My easiest and most delicious go-to quick and easy lunch is a very tasty BLT sandwich with plenty of mayonnaise on top.
Tina W says
tweeted: https://twitter.com/tinawoo21/status/891946772007763972
Tina W says
My super quick go-to lunch is lunch meat wrapped around cheese. Never miss the bread or condiments.
Birdie Skolfield says
tweeted https://twitter.com/birdson777/status/891774608948338689
Birdie Skolfield says
cottage cheese w. tomatoes is my quick go to lunch