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Light and flaky Apple Cinnamon Scones
With a crispy sweet crust, chunks of fresh apple and loads of cinnamon chips!
Very delicious and easy to make, these Apple Cinnamon Scones are packed with all the warm and fuzzy fall flavors! To ensure plenty of cinnamon flavor, we’ve added plenty of cinnamon baking chips and cinnamon coated diced apple.
The apples bake into little soft clouds of flavor which meld into the buttery scone dough. A little like a biscuit only sweeter, and just as easy to make.
Overview of ingredients:
For the scone recipe:
- whole milk or buttermilk – both work very well in this recipe
- vanilla extract for flavor
- unsweetened applesauce – you’ll only need 1/2 cup. One of those little individual serving containers works perfectly.
- granulated sugar – just a little to lightly sweetened the dough
- all-purpose flour
- salt
- baking powder
- baking soda
- cold unsalted butter cut into small pieces
- diced apples, peeled or unpeeled. If the apple has a pretty skin, then I leave it on. Any good baking apple will do. Tart Granny Smith apples are always a good choice.
- lemon juice to help prevent the diced apple from turning brown
- ground cinnamon to flavor the apples
- cinnamon baking chips for loads of cinnamon flavor throughout the scones
- coarse sugar for sprinkling on top before baking to create a gorgeous crusty top
For the glaze:
- powdered sugar
- ground cinnamon
- milk or heavy cream
For the optional garnish:
- chopped pecans or walnuts
Overview: How to make Apple Scones
- First preheat the oven, prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper and line an 8-inch cake pan with plastic wrap. The cake pan is used to help form the scone cake. However, you can do that by hand if preferred.
- Next whisk together the milk, vanilla, applesauce and sugar.
- Combine the dry ingredients in a large bowl. Cut the butter into 1/2-inch pieces and add to the flour mixture. Incorporate the butter into the flour using a pastry blender until only small pea size pieces remain.
- Toss the diced apples with lemon juice and sprinkle with cinnamon. Add the apples and cinnamon chips to the flour mixture.
- Add the milk mixture and fold until no dry flour remains.
- Gently press the dough into the prepared cake pan forming an even 8-inch round. Freeze the scone round for 5 minutes. This helps ensure plenty of buttery, flaky layers and less spreading.
- Place the dough on the prepared baking sheet and discard the plastic wrap. Cut into 8 wedges. Lightly brush the top with a little milk or melted butter. Sprinkle coarse sugar generously over the top.
- Separate the scones on the baking sheet and bake until golden brown.
- Finally, cool slightly before glazing and enjoy!
Scones can be served warm or room temperature
Served slightly warm or room temperature, these are always a big hit with my family. We also love them with a few chopped nuts on top.
These scones are light and fluffy with a crispy sweet crust and plenty of chunks of diced apple.
Freezing Apple Cinnamon Scones
These scones freeze remarkably well!
Flash freeze on a baking sheet then seal in plastic wrap and place in an airtight container for up to 2 or 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator or unwrap and set out at room temperature for an hour or two before serving.
Rewarm gently in the microwave at 50% power for 30-second intervals. The top won’t be as crispy as it was when fresh, but they’re really tasty just the same!
Where can you buy cinnamon chips?
Cinnamon chips are a seasonal ingredient and may be hard to find in the summer months. However, Hershey’s Cinnamon Baking Chips seem to be available everywhere in the fall!
You can find these at your local Wal-Mart, Target and most well stocked grocery stores. If all else fails, you can always check Amazon or make your own homemade cinnamon chips.
Better than your favorite coffeehouse scones!
Homemade scones are incredibly delicious and perfect for breakfast, brunch or afternoon tea. If you’re a biscuit lover, like I am, then you’ll love these easy to make scones.
Be sure to try our incredible Lemon Blueberry Scones and these ultra flaky Apricot Scones. During the holidays we always make a batch of these terrific Almond Cranberry Scones. Everyone loves them!
What I love about these scones:
The crispy sugary top, the flaky, soft and buttery middle, all those soft juicy apples and loads of cinnamon chips! Grab a cup of tea or coffee and enjoy.
For a sweet variation try drizzling with a little caramel sauce for Caramel Apple Cinnamon Scones!
Thanks for PINNING!
Apple Cinnamon Scones
Ingredients
- ½ cup cold whole milk or buttermilk (4oz)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup unsweetened applesauce (4 oz)
- ¼ cup granulated sugar (55g)
- 3 cups all-purpose flour (378g)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- 10 tablespoons unsalted butter cold (5oz)
- 1 cup diced apples peeled or unpeeled (120g or 4oz)
- juice of ½ lemon
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 cup cinnamon chips
- 2 tablespoons coarse sugar
for glaze:
- 1 cup powdered sugar (115g)
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 ½ tablespoons milk or cream more or less for desired consistency
For garnish (optional):
- chopped pecans or walnuts
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. Line an 8-inch cake pan with plastic wrap with extra hanging over the sides. Sprinkle flour over the plastic wrap and set aside. The cake pan will be used to form the scone round.
- Whisk together the milk, vanilla, applesauce and sugar. Refrigerate until needed.
- Combine the flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda in a large bowl. Cut the butter into 1/2-inch pieces and add to the flour mixture. Blend using a pastry cutter until only small pea size pieces remain.
- Toss the diced apples with the juice of 1/2 a lemon then sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon. Add the apples and cinnamon chips to the flour and butter mixture. Fold together until incorporated.
- Add the milk and applesauce mixture and fold using a spatula until the dough comes together and no dry flour remains. Gather the dough together and transfer to the 8-inch cake pan. If sticky lightly flour the top of the dough. Gently press the dough into the pan to form an even 8-inch round. Place the cake pan in the freezer for 5 minutes.
- Using the plastic wrap as a sling, lift the dough out of the cake pan and place on the prepared parchment lined baking sheet. Discard the plastic wrap.
- Cut the dough into 8 wedges. Lightly brush the tops with a little milk or melted butter. Sprinkle coarse sugar over the scone cake.
- Separate the scones on the baking sheet. Bake for 25 to 35 minutes or until golden brown. Transfer to a wire rack to cool slightly before glazing.
- Whisk the powdered sugar, cinnamon and milk together in a small bowl. Add more sugar or milk as needed for desired consistency. Drizzle over the scones and serve immediately.
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Love baking with apples?
Try our Classic Double Crust Apple Pie with terrific flavor and textures. Enjoy a slice topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
For an amazing bowl of deliciousness, try this Apple Bread Pudding with Apple Brandy Sauce. It’s an incredibly wonderful seasonal favorite!
And, don’t have wait for St. Patrick’s Day to try this Irish Apple Crumble Cake also served with our favorite Apple Brandy Sauce.
Don’t let any leftover cinnamon chips go to waste! Try these soft and chewy cinnamon chip snickerdoodle cookies.
Originally posted September 2014, updated October 2021
Anne
Absolutely amazing… even in the spring. Perfect texture, combination of flavors, and sweetness. I will be making these all the time!
Tricia Buice
Thank you Anne! So glad you tried these scones. Great way to start the day!
Kitchen Belleicious
gosh. i cant’ remember the last time I saw cinnamon chips at the store. I know they are there but I haven’t been looking for them and now with fall around the corner you have my creative juices flowing on what I can make- other than this amazing scone recipe of course! It looks amazing
Tricia Buice
Thanks so much! I have found the cinnamon chips at Wal-Mart but found these at my local grocery store. Maybe they carry them more often in the fall. Have a great week!
Leah
A friend from the US is sending me cinnamon chips and I’d love to use them for this, but applesauce doesn’t exist in my country. What can I use instead?
Tricia Buice
Hi Leah. You can take a few peeled and diced apples and simmer them down into a thick sauce in a saucepan. No need to add sugar or anything. If you don’t have apples at all then you can substitute sour cream or plain Greek yogurt for the applesauce. Enjoy!
Kari@Loaves n Dishes
Vacations are good for the soul! Those folks that I know that don’t use all of their vacation time are all wound up. Hope you’re savoring the time with family. I’ll be savoring these lovelies with my morning coffee!
Tricia Buice
I don’t understand people that don’t take vacations! I loved my time visiting with family – we have a great time together. Hope you get the chance to make these – and hope you enjoy them too!
Jeannette
These will be perfect with a cup of hot tea! I am making them with King Arthur’s gluten free multi purpose flour. Thanks!
Tricia Buice
I am excited to hear how they turn out – hope you love them too! Thanks for stopping by!
Monica
The topping/crust on these scones look incredible. I love a touch of crunchy turbinado sugar on top of them. It truly must be a seasonal thing. I’m normally not a huge cinnamon fan but I find myself craving those warm spices and flavors right now.
Tricia Buice
You are so right Monica – the topping is amazing – crunchy but not hard – so tasty!
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef
OMG I love these. I have about 3/4 cup of cinnamon chips (sent from the US) and these are going to be SO mine. 🙂
Tricia Buice
I hope you enjoy them Maureen. I think you can also get these chips on Amazon. Mine were made by the Hershey Company. I bet you are getting into your spring weather – down there! Thanks for stopping by.
sue/the view from great island
Ooooh these sound good! I’ve never used cinnamon chips before, I need to experiment. I’ve got some pumpkin scones coming up this week, and I’m so happy to get back into scone season. These look like something I’d find at a fabulous little bakery!
Tricia Buice
Can’t wait to see your pumpkin scones. The cinnamon chips may even be good in those – oh yum!
Chris @ The Café Sucré Farine
Oh Tricia, how fun to have a vacation on the beach after everyone else has left. That sounds perfect to me and so do your fabulous looking scones. I’m sure they got gobbled up by the family. I know they wouldn’t last long around here – and I would be the number 1 culprit 🙂
Tricia Buice
Gobbled up is the word! Everybody loved them. Thanks Chris!
Susan
I can’t wait to try these. They look absolutely delicious, Tricia!
Pam
I would definitely save room for one of your apple scones! They’d be perfect for breakfast with those cinnamon chips! Thanks for the recipe.
2 Sisters Recipes...by Anna and Liz
These scones look amazing and would love to try this recipe this week! Thank you for sharing!
And, we are with you about recipes that didn’t get made either. Life pulls us in so many different directions there’ s never enough time to do it all! Have a great weekend Tricia!
ela@GrayApron
They look so tasty!
cheri
Hi Tricia, love these scones, perfect for this time of year. So great to have time with the family, have fun!
Angie@Angie's Recipes
mmm..love those cinnamon chips! These apple scones must be amazing!
Becky Green
OH MY!!! I agree with you Tricia! I LOVE the fall foods, apple dessert & pumpkin anything too! I’m ready for them ANYTIME!!! 😛 Your scones look WONDERFUL! One of my favorite things to make! I also enjoy making them in wedges just like you do! I’m told the English never make them in wedges, but like them round! 🙂
Abbe @ This is How I Cook
Still can’t find cinnamon chips. Been looking for over a year! These scones look great, Tricia!
Becky Green
Abbe! Try King Arthur for the Cinnamon Chips! 😀