Apple Cinnamon Scones

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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

1. 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.
2. Next whisk together the milk, vanilla, applesauce and sugar.
3. 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.
4. Toss the diced apples with lemon juice and sprinkle with cinnamon. Add the apples and cinnamon chips to the flour mixture.
5. Add the milk mixture and fold until no dry flour remains.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. Separate the scones on the baking sheet and bake until golden brown.
9. 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!

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5 from 4 votes

Apple Cinnamon Scones

Prep Time: 20 mins

Cook Time: 25 mins

Total Time: 45 mins

Yield: 8

Course: Breakfast

Author: Tricia

PRINT RECIPE

Fresh chunks of apple and loads of cinnamon chips in a deliciously tender, flaky, buttery scone. Great for weekend brunch!

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

Scones can be frozen for up to 2 months. Rewarm gently in the microwave on 50% power.

Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.

 

Nutrition

Calories: 418kcal | Carbohydrates: 65g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 39mg | Sodium: 297mg | Potassium: 109mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 28g | Vitamin A: 480IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 95mg | Iron: 2mg

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. SaveSave

Originally posted September 2014, updated October 2021

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