Delightful Cinnamon Apple Scones: Your Ultimate Fall Baking Companion

Step into a world of cozy fall flavors with these exquisite **cinnamon apple scones**. Imagine biting into a tender, buttery pastry, each mouthful bursting with the natural sweetness of grated apples and the warm, comforting spice of cinnamon sugar. Perfectly baked to a golden hue and crowned with a simple yet incredibly flavorful cinnamon glaze, these easy-to-make scones are more than just a treat—they are an invitation to embrace the season. Ideal for a leisurely breakfast on a crisp autumn morning or as a delightful afternoon indulgence, these homemade scones promise a moment of pure culinary bliss.

What truly sets these scones apart is the ingenious use of grated apples, which are meticulously squeezed of excess liquid before being incorporated into the dough. This simple yet crucial step ensures the scones remain wonderfully moist and tender, preventing them from drying out during baking. Complementing this, the secret to achieving those coveted flaky layers lies in the use of intensely cold, grated butter and heavy cream, mirroring the technique perfected in our beloved Earl Grey Scones. Each scone is generously studded with sugary cinnamon bits, bringing home that quintessential cozy autumn taste, further amplified by a lavish drizzle of extra cinnamon glaze.

Apples are truly a baker’s best friend, celebrated for their ability to impart both a delicate sweetness and vital moisture to baked goods. Their versatility shines in numerous recipes, whether grated into a decadent apple cider donut bread, thinly sliced in our cherished cinnamon apple Dutch baby, or chunked up in delectable apple fritter donuts, comforting apple coffee cake, and the timeless classic apple Danish. This scone recipe harnesses the apple’s inherent magic to create a pastry that is not only delicious but also remarkably fresh and inviting.

Why You’ll Adore This Cinnamon Apple Scone Recipe

These Cinnamon Apple Scones are destined to become a staple in your fall baking repertoire. Here’s a closer look at what makes them so irresistibly delightful:

Moist and Flaky Perfection: Achieving the perfect scone texture is an art, and this recipe delivers it flawlessly. The inclusion of finely grated apples is the secret to their incredible moisture, ensuring every bite is soft and never dry. Paired with this, the technique of using shredded frozen butter creates countless tiny pockets of steam during baking, which expand to form those beautiful, airy, and flaky layers that are the hallmark of an exceptional scone. It’s a harmonious blend of tender crumb and delicate crispness.

An Explosion of Cinnamon Flavor: If you’re a cinnamon enthusiast, prepare to be enchanted. These scones are generously infused with cinnamon in multiple ways. Sweet cinnamon sugar bits are folded directly into the dough, providing delightful pockets of spice and sweetness throughout. To elevate the experience even further, a simple, luscious cinnamon icing is drizzled generously over each warm scone, delivering an extra layer of fragrant spice. This makes them the ultimate autumn baked good, pairing perfectly with a steaming cup of coffee or tea for a truly cozy breakfast or elegant brunch.

Effortless Baking with Simple Ingredients: You don’t need exotic items to create these show-stopping scones. Most of the necessary ingredients are likely already in your pantry, making this a convenient recipe for spur-of-the-moment baking. While cinnamon sweet bits are a personal favorite and highly recommended for their unique texture and flavor contribution, they can be substituted if absolutely necessary (though the magic won’t be quite the same!). We promise the small effort involved in sourcing or making these bits is incredibly rewarding and truly makes this recipe stand out.

Perfect for Seasonal Celebrations: Whether it’s a Thanksgiving breakfast, a Halloween brunch, or just a quiet weekend at home, these scones fit every autumn occasion. Their comforting aroma and taste evoke the very essence of fall, making any gathering feel a little more special.

Essential Ingredients for Perfect Apple Cinnamon Scones

Crafting these delectable scones begins with a careful selection of fresh, high-quality ingredients. Here’s a detailed look at what you’ll need and why each component is vital:

• Apples: The heart of these scones! Varieties like Gala, Pink Lady, or Granny Smith are ideal due to their firm texture and balanced sweet-tart flavor, which holds up beautifully during baking. There’s no need to peel them; the skins add a rustic charm and extra fiber. However, remember to gently squeeze out any excess liquid after grating to prevent a dense scone.
• All-Purpose Flour: The foundational dry ingredient, providing the structure for our tender scones. For best results, measure by weight if possible.
• Baking Powder: A crucial leavening agent that reacts during baking to produce carbon dioxide, creating those airy pockets and ensuring the apple cinnamon scones are wonderfully light and fluffy, rising beautifully.
• Granulated Sugar: Adds sweetness to the scone dough, balancing the tartness of the apples and complementing the cinnamon flavors.
• Kosher Salt: Enhances all the other flavors, making the sweetness brighter and the cinnamon more pronounced. We recommend Diamond Crystal Kosher Salt for its less intense salinity.
• Unsalted Butter: The key to ultimate flakiness and rich flavor. It *must* be frozen and grated into the dough. As the butter melts during baking, the water content turns to steam, pushing apart the layers of dough to create a wonderfully flaky texture. Using unsalted butter gives you control over the overall saltiness of the recipe.
• Large Egg: Provides structure and richness, binding the ingredients together. Ensure it’s cold to maintain the chill of the dough, which is vital for flaky scones.
• Heavy Cream: Essential for both moisture and rich flavor. The high-fat content contributes to the luxurious mouthfeel and helps create a tender, moist scone. Like the butter and egg, it should be very cold to keep the dough temperature low.
• Cinnamon Sweet Bits: These tiny, sugary bursts of cinnamon are my absolute favorite part of the recipe, adding both flavor and a delightful textural element. Whether you purchase them or make your own sweet bits, they are truly worth the effort for an authentic experience.

For precise measurements and detailed quantities, please refer to the complete recipe card below.

Creative Substitutions and Delightful Variations

While the classic Cinnamon Apple Scone recipe is perfect as is, don’t hesitate to experiment and make it your own! Here are some ideas to inspire your culinary creativity:

• Cinnamon Sweet Bits Alternative: If you’re unable to find or don’t wish to make cinnamon sweet bits, you can substitute them with 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon added to the dry ingredients. Be aware that this will alter the texture significantly, as you’ll miss those wonderful pockets of sugary crunch, but the scone will still carry a lovely cinnamon flavor.
• Nutty Crunch Addition: For an extra layer of texture and a wholesome flavor, fold in ½ cup of finely chopped pecans or walnuts into the dough along with the cinnamon sweet bits. Toasting the nuts lightly before adding them will enhance their flavor even further.
• Seasonal Fruit Swaps: Replace the grated apples with shredded pears for an earthier, subtly different fruit profile. Bosc or Anjou pears work wonderfully here, providing a delicate sweetness and maintaining moisture. Ensure to squeeze out excess liquid from the grated pears as well.
• Caramel Indulgence: For an extra decadent twist, drizzle the cooled apple scones with a rich salted caramel sauce instead of, or in addition to, the cinnamon glaze. The combination of apple, cinnamon, and caramel is simply divine and screams autumn.
• Spice it Up: Add a pinch of nutmeg, allspice, or cardamom to the dry ingredients along with the cinnamon for a more complex and aromatic spice blend, enhancing that warm, cozy feeling.
• Citrus Zest Brightness: Introduce a touch of brightness by adding 1 teaspoon of finely grated orange or lemon zest to the dry ingredients. The citrus notes will beautifully complement the apple and cinnamon.

Step-by-Step Guide to Baking Perfect Cinnamon Apple Scones

Creating these delightful scones is a straightforward process that yields impressive results. Follow these detailed steps for light, flaky, and flavorful cinnamon apple scones.

Step Five: Combine Wet and Dry Mixtures. Pour the wet apple mixture into the bowl with the flour and butter. Add the cinnamon sweet bits. Using a wooden spoon or spatula, mix gently until just combined. Overmixing will develop the gluten and result in tough scones, so stop as soon as a shaggy dough forms.

Step Six: Shape the Dough. Lightly flour your work surface. Turn the dough out onto the floured surface and gently pat it into an 8-inch round circle, aiming for a thickness of about 1 inch. Avoid excessive handling, as the warmth of your hands can melt the butter.

Step Seven: Cut the Scones. Using a sharp knife or a bench scraper, cut the 8-inch dough circle into 8 equal wedges. For cleaner cuts, flour your tool between each slice.

Step Eight: Chill and Bake. Carefully transfer the scone wedges to your prepared parchment-lined baking sheet. Place the entire baking sheet into the freezer while your oven preheats to 400°F (200°C). Baking directly from frozen helps the scones hold their shape and promotes a better rise. Once preheated, bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the scones are beautifully golden brown. Allow them to cool completely on the pan before glazing.

Step Nine: Prepare the Cinnamon Glaze. While your freshly baked scones are cooling, prepare the aromatic cinnamon glaze. In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, ground cinnamon, vanilla extract, and 1 tablespoon of milk. Add the second tablespoon of milk gradually, if needed, until you achieve a smooth, pourable consistency that is neither too thin nor too thick.

Step Ten: Glaze and Serve. Once the scones have cooled completely, generously drizzle, pipe, or spoon the cinnamon glaze over each scone. Allow the glaze to set slightly before serving. The delicate sweetness and spice of the glaze perfectly complement the tender, apple-filled scones, making them truly irresistible.

Mastering Scones: Insider Baking Tips

Achieve bakery-quality scones every time with these expert tips:

• Thoroughly Squeeze Apples: This cannot be stressed enough! After shredding and measuring your apples, gather them in a clean kitchen towel or sturdy paper towels and squeeze firmly to extract as much liquid as possible. Any excess moisture will lead to dense, heavy, and potentially gummy scones instead of light and airy ones.
• Keep Everything Cold: The temperature of your ingredients is paramount for flaky scones. Ensure your butter is completely frozen and grated, and that your eggs and heavy cream are straight from the refrigerator. Cold ingredients prevent the butter from melting prematurely into the flour, allowing it to create steam pockets and lift the dough during baking.
• Handle Dough Minimally: Overworking the dough is the enemy of tender scones. Mix just until the ingredients are combined and no dry flour streaks remain. Excessive handling develops gluten, resulting in a tough, chewy texture rather than a tender, melt-in-your-mouth crumb.
• Utilize a Bench Scraper for Precision: For neat, professional-looking cuts and easy transfer, a bench scraper is indispensable. Move with confidence and purpose when cutting and transferring the wedges to avoid squishing them. If the scraper becomes sticky, a light dusting of flour will help.
• Bake Scones Close Together: When arranging the scone wedges on the baking sheet, place them relatively close to each other. This creates a collective “lift” as they bake, encouraging them to rise taller and achieve that classic scone shape.
• Don’t Rush Cooling: Resist the urge to glaze warm scones. The glaze will simply melt and run off, creating a messy finish. Allow the scones to cool completely on the baking sheet to ensure the glaze sets beautifully.

Common Questions About Cinnamon Apple Scones

Storing Your Delicious Cinnamon Apple Scones

Proper storage ensures your homemade scones stay fresh and enjoyable for as long as possible. Here’s how to keep them at their best:

Room Temperature: Glazed scones can be stored loosely covered at room temperature for up to two days. A cake dome or a plate covered with foil works well. Keeping them loosely covered helps prevent them from becoming too soft or dry.

Refrigerator: For extended freshness, store unglazed or glazed scones in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Before serving, we recommend re-warming them in a preheated oven at 300°F (150°C) for a few minutes until just warm, then apply the glaze if they were stored unglazed.

Freezer (Pre-baked Dough): As mentioned in the FAQs, you can freeze unbaked scone wedges for up to 3 months. Arrange them on a baking sheet until frozen 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 (without glaze) can also be frozen for up to 1 month. Wrap each scone individually in plastic wrap, then place them in a freezer-safe bag or container. Reheat frozen baked scones in an oven preheated to 300°F (150°C) for about 10-15 minutes, or until warmed through. Add glaze after reheating.

Discover More Delightful Breakfast Recipes!

If you’ve enjoyed these Cinnamon Apple Scones, you’re in for a treat! Explore our collection of other easy and comforting breakfast recipes, perfect for any morning:

Important Notes When Baking with The Cozy Plum

• All our recipes, including these sensational scones, are carefully developed using Diamond Crystal kosher salt, which is known for its milder salinity. If you are using Morton’s kosher salt or sea salt, you will need to reduce the amount by half, as they are approximately twice as salty. We strongly advise against using regular table salt, as its fine grain and additives can drastically alter the taste and texture of baked goods.
• For the most accurate and consistent baking results, we highly recommend baking by weight using a digital kitchen scale. While our recipe card provides measurements in both US Customary and Metric systems (you can toggle between them), weighing your ingredients ensures precision that volume measurements often cannot match.
• Should you wish to adjust the yield of this recipe, use the ‘1X,’ ‘2X,’ or ‘3X’ buttons conveniently located on the recipe card. Please note that while ingredient quantities will automatically adjust, baking times may require slight modifications based on your oven and batch size, so always keep a close eye on your scones.

Did you indulge in this delightful recipe? We’d love to hear from you! Share your beautiful creations by tagging @thecozyplum on Instagram & Facebook, and don’t forget to leave a star rating ⭐️ below to let us know how much you loved it!

Apple Cinnamon Scones

Callan Wenner