Just add a spot of tea

Dear SOS: One of the best surprises I could give my daughter is the recipe for corn-cherry scones from the Cheese Board Collective in Berkeley. En route to Northern California she will take a long detour just to buy these scones.

Nancy Werner

Tarzana

Dear Nancy: The Cheese Board Collective, a worker-owned and operated bakery, cheese shop and pizzeria, published a cookbook last year. “The Cheese Board Collective Works” (Ten Speed Press) has the recipe you requested. Our tasters loved these light, sweet scones with a satisfyingly chewy texture from the cornmeal.

Total time: 40 minutes

Servings: 14 (makes 14 scones)

2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 tablespoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

2/3cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar, divided

1 1/2 cups medium-grind yellow cornmeal

1 cup (2 sticks) cold, unsalted butter, cut into 1-inch cubes

3/4 cup dried sweet cherries

1 cup buttermilk

1. Heat the oven to 425 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.

2. Sift the flour, baking soda and baking powder together into a large bowl. Add the salt, two-thirds cup sugar, and the cornmeal to the bowl and stir with a wooden spoon until combined.

3. Add the butter and cut in with a pastry cutter or 2 dinner knives, until it is the size of small peas. Using the spoon, mix in the cherries. Make a well in the center and add the buttermilk. Mix briefly, just until the ingredients come together; some loose flour should remain at the bottom of the bowl. The dough will be stiff and slightly sticky. Let the batter stand for 5 minutes.

4. Gently shape the dough into balls about 2 1/4 inches in diameter and place them on the prepared pans about 2 inches apart.

5. Sprinkle the remaining sugar on top of the scones. Place the scones on the middle rack and immediately turn the oven temperature down to 375 degrees. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the scones are golden. Transfer the scones to a wire rack and cool.

Each scone: 297 calories; 4 grams protein; 40 grams carbohydrates; 2 grams fiber; 14 grams fat; 8 grams saturated fat; 36 mg. cholesterol; 224 mg. sodium.