Irresistible Cinnamon Apple Scones: Your New Favorite Fall Treat

Step into a world of cozy fall flavors with these exquisite cinnamon apple scones. Imagine a breakfast or afternoon tea treat that’s tender, incredibly buttery, and bursting with the sweet, aromatic essence of grated apples and delightful pockets of cinnamon sugar. Each scone is baked to a perfect golden hue and generously crowned with a simple yet incredibly flavorful cinnamon glaze, making them an ideal companion for a warm mug of coffee or tea during the cooler months. This easy-to-follow recipe brings together classic flavors and clever techniques to deliver a truly memorable homemade scone experience.

The secret to the exceptionally moist texture of these scones lies in the grated apples, which release natural sugars and moisture into the dough. Complementing this, the use of frozen butter and heavy cream is crucial for achieving those coveted flaky layers that are the hallmark of a perfect scone, much like in our beloved Earl Grey scones. Beyond their moist and flaky interior, these apple cinnamon scones are generously studded with sugary cinnamon bits, amplifying the warm, inviting aroma and flavor of cinnamon throughout every bite. A decadent cinnamon glaze adds a final touch of sweetness and brings home that comforting, autumnal feeling.

Apples are truly a baker’s best friend, celebrated for their ability to infuse baked goods with natural sweetness and, most importantly, to keep them wonderfully moist. We adore incorporating grated apples into our apple cider donut bread, savoring thin slices of apple in our cherished cinnamon apple Dutch baby, and delighting in chunked apples featured in our apple fritter donuts, comforting apple coffee cake, and the timeless apple Danish. This versatility makes apples an indispensable ingredient in any fall baking repertoire.

Why These Cinnamon Apple Scones Will Become Your Go-To Recipe

There are countless reasons to fall in love with these homemade cinnamon apple scones. From their delightful texture to their comforting flavors, every aspect of this recipe is designed to impress and satisfy. Here’s why these scones deserve a permanent spot in your baking rotation:

Moist and Flaky Perfection: Achieving the perfect scone texture can be a challenge, but this recipe makes it effortless. The grated apples play a dual role: they not only infuse the scones with their natural sweetness but also contribute significantly to their incredible moisture. When combined with the technique of incorporating shredded, frozen butter, which creates airy steam pockets as it melts during baking, you get scones that are both wonderfully soft and beautifully flaky. Each bite offers a delicate crisp exterior yielding to a tender, crumbly interior – true scone heaven.

Unforgettable Cinnamon Flavor: If you’re a cinnamon enthusiast, prepare to be delighted. This recipe layers cinnamon flavor in multiple dimensions. The dough itself is studded with sweet cinnamon bits, providing bursts of warm spice throughout. As if that weren’t enough, a generous, homemade cinnamon icing drizzles over each scone, intensifying the aromatic experience. The combination makes these scones the epitome of fall baked goods, perfectly complementing a hot cup of coffee or tea for a leisurely breakfast or a delightful brunch.

Crafted with Simple, Accessible Ingredients: You don’t need exotic items to create something extraordinary. Most of the ingredients for these apple cinnamon scones are likely already in your pantry, making this a convenient recipe to whip up whenever a craving strikes. The main “special” ingredient is the cinnamon sweet bits, but we promise they are absolutely worth the minimal effort. Whether you choose to buy them or make them from scratch, planning ahead for these flavorful additions will elevate your scones from delicious to utterly divine.

Essential Ingredients for Perfect Cinnamon Apple Scones

Crafting these delectable scones requires a thoughtful selection of ingredients, each playing a vital role in achieving their signature taste and texture. Below is a detailed look at what you’ll need and why each component is important:

• Apples: The heart of these scones! Varieties like Gala, Pink Lady, or Granny Smith are excellent choices due to their balance of sweetness and tartness, and their firm texture which holds up well during baking. There’s no need to peel them; the skin adds a lovely rustic touch and extra fiber.
• Baking Powder: This crucial leavening agent is what gives our cinnamon apple scones their light, airy, and fluffy interior, ensuring they rise beautifully in the oven rather than being dense.
• Heavy Cream: More than just moisture, heavy cream contributes significant fat content to the dough. This fat is essential for creating a rich flavor and a tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture that distinguishes truly great scones. Ensure it’s cold to help keep the butter firm.
• Cinnamon Sweet Bits: Truly my favorite part of this recipe! These tiny bursts of sweet cinnamon flavor distribute evenly throughout the dough, providing delightful pockets of spice in every bite. Whether you purchase cinnamon sweet bits or opt to make your own sweet bits, they are indispensable for that extra layer of cinnamon goodness.
• Ground Cinnamon: Used primarily in the delightful cinnamon glaze, a touch of ground cinnamon here ensures maximum flavor, creating a perfect aromatic complement to the apple-infused scones.
• Unsalted Butter: Keeping the butter frozen and then grating it into the dough is a foundational technique for flaky scones. As the tiny shreds of frozen butter melt in the hot oven, they release steam, creating incredible airy pockets and layers within the scone. Using unsalted butter allows you to control the overall saltiness of the recipe.
• Powdered Sugar: This finely milled sugar forms the perfect smooth and creamy base for our simple yet irresistible cinnamon icing, dissolving easily to create a velvety glaze without any grainy texture.

For a complete list of ingredients and precise quantities, please refer to the recipe card below.

Creative Substitutions and Delicious Variations

While this cinnamon apple scone recipe is perfect as is, it also offers a fantastic canvas for creativity. Feel free to experiment with these ideas to tailor the scones to your personal taste or available ingredients:

• Cinnamon Sweet Bits Alternative: If you don’t have access to cinnamon sweet bits or prefer not to use them, you can substitute with 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon added directly to the dry ingredients. Be aware that this will alter both the flavor intensity and the delightful textural bursts that the sweet bits provide.
• Nutty Crunch: For an added layer of texture and rich flavor, consider folding in ½ cup of finely chopped pecans or walnuts into the dough along with the apples. These nuts toast lightly during baking, adding a wonderful crunch and depth.
• Pear Perfection: For a delightful twist, replace the grated apples with an equal amount of shredded pears. Pears lend an earthier, subtly different sweetness and moistness to the scones, perfect for a unique autumn treat.
• Salted Caramel Indulgence: Elevate your apple scones to a truly decadent dessert by drizzling them with a luscious salted caramel sauce after they’ve been glazed. The combination of sweet apple, warm cinnamon, and salty caramel is absolutely divine.
• Spiced Up Scones: Enhance the warmth by adding a pinch of nutmeg or a dash of allspice to the dry ingredients along with the cinnamon. These spices will deepen the autumnal flavor profile.
• Zest Appeal: A teaspoon of orange or lemon zest can brighten the flavor profile, adding a subtle citrusy note that complements the apples beautifully. Add it to the wet ingredients.
• Brown Sugar Boost: For a deeper, more molasses-like sweetness, swap half of the granulated sugar with light brown sugar. This will also contribute to a slightly chewier texture.

Step-by-Step Guide: Crafting Your Own Cinnamon Apple Scones

Making delicious, flaky scones from scratch might seem intimidating, but with our clear, step-by-step instructions, you’ll be baking like a pro in no time. Follow these simple steps to create perfect cinnamon apple scones:

Step Five: Form the Dough. Add the combined wet ingredients (egg, cream, apples) to the dry mixture. Gently fold in the cinnamon sweet bits. Using a wooden spoon or your hands, mix until the dough just comes together. Be careful not to overmix, as this can lead to tough scones.

Step Six: Shape the Scones. Lightly flour a clean work surface. Turn the dough out onto it and gently pat it into an 8-inch round circle, about 1 inch thick. Avoid kneading excessively. The goal is to keep the butter as cold as possible.

Step Seven: Cut into Wedges. Using a sharp knife or a bench scraper, cut the 8-inch dough circle into 8 equal wedges. Clean cuts help the scones rise evenly and maintain their shape during baking.

Step Eight: Chill and Bake. Carefully transfer the scone wedges to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Place the entire baking sheet in the freezer while your oven preheats to 400°F (200°C). Baking from frozen helps create those magnificent flaky layers. Once preheated, bake until golden brown, then allow them to cool completely before glazing.

Step Nine: Prepare the Glaze. While your freshly baked scones are cooling, whisk together all the ingredients for the cinnamon glaze until smooth. Adjust the consistency by adding a little more milk for a thinner glaze or more powdered sugar for a thicker one.

Step Ten: Glaze and Serve. Once the scones have cooled completely, drizzle, pipe, or spoon a generous amount of the prepared cinnamon glaze over each one. The glaze will set as it cools, creating a beautiful and delicious finish. Serve and enjoy!

Mastering Scone Baking: Expert Tips for Success

Achieving bakery-quality scones at home is entirely possible with a few key techniques and considerations. Here are some expert tips to ensure your cinnamon apple scones turn out perfectly every time:

• Thoroughly Squeeze Excess Liquid from Apples: This is a critical step often overlooked. After shredding and measuring your apples, firmly squeeze out as much liquid as possible with a clean kitchen towel. Too much residual moisture in the apples can introduce excess liquid into your dough, resulting in heavy, dense, or “stodgy” scones rather than light and airy ones.
• Ensure All Dairy Ingredients Are Very Cold: The temperature of your ingredients significantly impacts the final texture of your scones. Make certain that your eggs and heavy cream are straight from the refrigerator. Even more importantly, the butter must be completely frozen and grated just before mixing into the dry ingredients. Cold butter creates pockets of steam during baking, which is the secret to those beautiful, flaky layers.
• Use a Bench Scraper for Neat Cuts: For perfectly shaped scone wedges, a bench scraper or a very sharp knife is your best friend. Move with confidence and make swift, decisive cuts through the dough. This minimizes handling and prevents the butter from warming up and melting prematurely.
• Flour Your Bench Scraper or Knife: If your dough becomes a little sticky during the cutting process, lightly flour your bench scraper or knife between each cut. This simple trick ensures clean, precise edges and prevents the dough from adhering to your tools.
• Keep the Wedges Relatively Close Together When Baking: While it might seem counterintuitive to crowd your scones, placing the cut wedges relatively close to each other on the baking sheet actually aids in their rise. As they bake, the sides support each other, encouraging an upward expansion and a taller, more dramatic lift.
• Do Not Overmix the Dough: Scone dough should be handled minimally. Overmixing develops the gluten in the flour too much, leading to tough and chewy scones instead of tender ones. Mix just until the ingredients are combined and no dry streaks of flour remain.
• Preheat Your Oven Thoroughly: A properly preheated oven is essential. Make sure your oven has reached the target temperature of 400°F (200°C) and maintained it for at least 10-15 minutes before placing the scones inside. This ensures immediate heat exposure, which helps the butter create steam quickly.

Frequently Asked Questions About Apple Cinnamon Scones

Proper Storage for Maximum Freshness

To enjoy your delicious cinnamon apple scones at their best, proper storage is key. Here’s how to keep them fresh:

Room Temperature: Glazed scones can be stored loosely covered at room temperature for up to two days. A cake stand with a dome or a container with a slightly ajar lid works well to prevent them from drying out too quickly while also avoiding condensation build-up from the glaze.

Refrigerator: For longer freshness, store your glazed or unglazed scones in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Before serving, we recommend re-warming them slightly in the oven (at about 300°F/150°C for 5-10 minutes) to restore their tenderness, especially if they are unglazed. If glazed, be mindful that the glaze might soften a bit.

Freezer (Pre-baked Dough): You can freeze the shaped, unbaked scone wedges for up to 3 months. Place them on a baking sheet to freeze solid, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag. Bake directly from frozen, adding a few extra minutes to the baking time.

Freezer (Baked Scones): Baked and cooled scones can also be frozen for up to 1 month. Wrap them individually in plastic wrap and then place them in a freezer-safe bag or container. Reheat them directly from frozen in a preheated oven at 300°F (150°C) for about 10-15 minutes until warmed through. Add the glaze after reheating if they were unglazed.

More Irresistible Breakfast Recipes You’ll Love

If you’ve enjoyed these delightful cinnamon apple scones, we’re confident you’ll adore these other easy and comforting breakfast recipes from our kitchen. Perfect for a weekend treat or a special brunch, these dishes bring warmth and flavor to any morning:

Important Notes for Baking with The Cozy Plum

To ensure consistent and delicious results with all our recipes, please keep these helpful tips in mind when you’re in The Cozy Plum kitchen:

• Salt Selection Matters: All recipes featured here are developed using Diamond Crystal kosher salt, which is recognized for being the least salty variety of kosher salt. If you choose to use Morton’s kosher salt, you will need to reduce the quantity by half, as it is approximately twice as salty. The same adjustment applies if you are using fine sea salt. Please refrain from using common table salt, as its fine grain and additives can significantly alter the recipe’s intended flavor and sodium balance.
• Precision with Measurements: While our recipe cards offer a convenient toggle between Cups and Metric units, we highly recommend baking by weight using a digital kitchen scale. Measuring ingredients by weight consistently yields the most accurate and reliable results, ensuring your baked goods turn out perfectly every time.
• Scaling Recipes: You can easily adjust recipe quantities using the ‘1X’, ‘2X’, and ‘3X’ buttons provided on the recipe card. Please note that while these buttons will automatically recalculate ingredient amounts, they do not adjust baking times. Always use your best judgment and monitor your baked goods closely when scaling recipes.

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Apple Cinnamon Scones

Callan Wenner

Scones

• ▢ ¼ cup unsalted butter frozen & grated
• ▢ 1½ cups grated apple granny smith, gala, or pink lady
• ▢ 2 cups all-purpose flour
• ▢ ¼ cup granulated sugar
• ▢ 1 tablespoon baking powder
• ▢ 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• ▢ 1 large egg cold
• ▢ ⅔ cup heavy whipping cream cold
• ▢ ½ cup cinnamon sweet bits store bought or make your own

Cinnamon Glaze

• ▢ 1 cup powdered sugar
• ▢ 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ▢ 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ▢ 1-2 tablespoons milk

• Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

Scones

• Grate the frozen butter and place it in the freezer while you finish prepping. After grating the butter, grate the apple(s) until you have 1½ cups. Gently squeeze the liquid out of the apples with a clean cloth or paper towel.
  ¼ cup unsalted butter, 1½ cups grated apple
• In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.
  2 cups all-purpose flour, ¼ cup granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon baking powder, 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• In another bowl, whisk together the egg and heavy whipping cream, then stir in the shredded apples.
  1 large egg, ⅔ cup heavy whipping cream
• Toss the frozen butter shreds into the flour and separate any shards so they’re all coated in flour.
• Add the liquid, apples, cinnamon bits, and use a wooden spoon to combine the dough.
  ½ cup cinnamon sweet bits
• Scrape it out into a mound on a work surface dusted with a bit of flour, then pat it into an 8” circle (about 1” high). Use a knife or bench scraper to cut the circle into 8 wedges, then transfer them to the parchment paper baking sheet.
• Note: using a bench scraper is the easiest way to move the triangles. Slide under the pieces quickly, and with purpose to pick them up.
• Keep the wedges relatively close together on the baking sheet, as it helps the scones to rise.
• Place the pan of scones in the freezer and preheat the oven to 400℉.
• Once preheated, bake the scones for 20-25 minutes until lightly golden, then cool completely on the pan.

Cinnamon Glaze

• While the scones cool, whisk together all ingredients for the icing, adding more milk or powdered sugar to reach the desired consistency.
  1 cup powdered sugar, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1-2 tablespoons milk
• Drizzle, pipe, or spoon the icing on top of the cooled scones before enjoying.

Store the glazed scones lightly covered at room temperature for two days. 

The provided nutritional information is an estimate per serving. Accuracy is not guaranteed.