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This apple scone recipe is one of the most popular on my website! Read on to see why, the scones are very easy to make and scrumptious!
There’s nothing like a hot apple scone fresh from the oven.
You will find many scone recipes on my site, they are a breakfast favorite. My husband eats them with peanut butter, my son with butter and my daughter with jam. They are a nice substitution for toast when you have a moment to whip something homemade up for breakfast or lunch. This apple scone recipe is an excellent way to use up a scrungy apple that’s been hanging around for a while. Don’t just toss it out, make apple scones with it!
Apples are easy to bake with, try upside-down apple cake or my cinnamon spice apple bread!
What are the Best Apples to Use for Apple Scones?
You don’t need perfect fruit for baking, it’s a good way to reduce kitchen waste by baking them into delicious treats! You can read about the Best Apples For Baking and learn some more about what apples you can use in various recipes. I would suggest that you first use any apple that you need to use up to reduce food waste because let’s face it, any apple will ultimately be ok in this apple scone recipe. Then I would do a tart apple if you are using the glaze, and a sweet apple like a MacIntosh if you are having them plain.
Apple Scone Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Try to use tart apples if you are using the glaze on these apples. Granny Smith apples are a great choice! If you aren’t using the glaze then try to use a sweeter apple.
- Try to keep the dough cooler, it will help your scones bake up crisper.
- Make sure that the butter is cool! For the best results you can shred frozen butter into the scone mixture, it’s a handy trick!
- If you are looking for more scones recipes, try my Christmas Ginger Scones or my Best Scones Ever. They really are the best!
The glaze on this is optional, but I wouldn’t skip it if I were you. It makes them completely decadent and a lovely way to start your morning!
Happy baking babes!
Karlynn
Apple Scones
Ingredients
- 2 cups of flour
- 1/3 cup of sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 cup of cold butter or margarine
- 1 cup of shredded apple
- 1/2 cup of milk
- 1 tablespoon sugar and cinnamon for sprinkling if desired
- 1 tablespoon Glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Pre-heat your oven to 425 degrees. Combine all of your dry ingredients, and mix them together well. If you like spicier scones, add another 1/2 tsp cinnamon, or better yet, some nutmeg or cloves.
- Cut in the 1/4 cup or margarine or butter.
- Shred your apple. Add the shredded apple, then the milk and mix until they form a soft dough. Add a bit of flour if the dough is too sticky, it really depends on how moist your shredded apple is.
- Knead a few times, working some extra flour into it until it is barely sticky. Divide into two balls of dough.
- Flatten until they are two circles that are about 6 inches in diameter. If you like, scour lines on the top to divide them into 6 pieces.
- Place them on a well greased baking sheet and sprinkle them with brown sugar and/or cinnamon.
- Pop into the over and bake for 15- 20 minutes until they are golden brown. Remove and cool.
- When the scones are cooled,, whisk together the glaze ingredients until they are smooth. Drizzle over the scones then let harden completely.
Nutrition
Pin This Recipe to Your Scones and Baking Boards!
Dede says
Not saying I didn’t eat almost half in one sitting but I wouldn’t make them again. I couldn’t taste the apple at all.
Steph V says
Great and simple recipe, thank you! I did an egg wash with demerara (raw brown) sugar before putting them in the oven, and I added a dash of salt into the dry ingredients. The apple I used (Opal) was super moist so I had to add a lot of flour onto my workspace when kneading.
Btw- you can get 1 cup of shredded apple from (approximately) 1 large apple.
Ruth says
I tried these this morning and used a Pink Lady apple. Very delicious!! Next time I will want to use more apple or one with a little more flavor, like the Granny that was suggested.
Ellie Allen says
Sooooo good!
Grace says
Sorry missing the Glaze recipe…
Shelby says
Confused about the last steps- scour lines on the top? Do you mean cut them into 6 separate pieces?
Katie says
How well would these freeze and thaw? Great looking recipe!
Karlynn Johnston says
These would freeze well wrapped up or in a sealed container for sure!
Rosie says
Thanks for the recipe. They were a hit in our house. I put less sugar to be kids friendly and added coconut milk instead of milk. Didn’t turn out crispy but totally fine for us because they were yum!
Denise says
Delicious! I used chunks of crab apples from my tree. Will definitely be making these again!
Joanne says
I liked the flavor and texture. I used a Gala apple. I put one six inch circle in the freezer. I scored it and broke them apart to freeze. Love to have extra to bake off quickly when I am in the mood for a warm scone with a cup of tea. I will definitely make these again
Sheri says
These are for sure one of my favorite scones I make. I do not put any topping on them.
Pam in Saratoga says
So, this turned out great, but for a couple of things. One cup of shredded apple makes the dough really moist. However, it makes the scones taste really good. So, what to do? I didn’t want to add more flour because I didn’t want to work the dough any more than absolutely necessary. So, I just glopped six piles on parchment paper on a cookie sheet and baked for about 20 minutes. They turned out light, crispy around the edges, and AMAZING. I think that if i added more flour or less shredded apple, it might have just been a mess. Notes: I used cake flour and I shredded very cold butter into the dry ingredients. SO GOOD! Thanks, Karlynn!
Eugenia Read says
I made these scones today. Delicious! I altered the recipe to suit our tastes and the fact I have diabetes. Here’s my version of this scrumptious recipe. I used Honey Crisp apples (sweet and tart), cut the recipe in half (for the two of us), eliminated the sugar in the dough, added the sugar and cinnamon for sprinkling and added the glaze. Husband and I love them. Just the right sweet, says husband.
Glenda Rector says
Okay, looking at this recipe for the apple scones, the last 3 ingredients, vanilla, milk and powder sugar is for the glaze right?
Orchid says
Made this this morning. We limit sugar so used blue agave instead. Not a good idea. Need too much flour to get it to the not so sticky stage. Also had only self rising flour which because of the soda and baking powder it worked fine. Added ground clove and about a 1/4 extra t cinnamon. Could have used another half an apple and omitted the agave because I used Fuji apples and they are so sweet it would have worked. Al in all the flavor was good but using the additional apple half and more cinnamon and clove would have been perfect.
Margo Haynes says
I’ve made quite a few different types of bread but never have I tasted or ever made scones.I can’t believe that since I began cooking around 12 or 13 years of that I waited until 82 years of age to make some. These were so delicious, I took someone’s tip & added a handful of raisins. Thank you Karlynn, there is now a scone folder in my recipe file & I copied every single one that you’ve posted!
Maddie says
WOW. I added extra cinnamon, some nutmeg and cloves, did an egg wash and a sprinkle of turbinado sugar. AMAZING. Tastes like Fall. ❤️
Lisa Dahling says
No eggs and no salt? Surprising.
Still they worked!
Anne says
These were awesome, thank you
Kayla says
Just made two batches of these delicious scones!!!! I will be making them again!! Thanks for sharing! Oh….I wish I would have read comments first, I would have added raisins too!! Yummy in my tummy!!
Tina says
I tried making this with turbinado sugar. Pro tip: don’t. LOL
That being said, I also think the recipe needs just a bit of salt – skip if you use margarine.
Bernadette says
Do u drain the apples? It was so moist.
urielh says
same for me, i just added a few tbsp of flour (like 5 or 6 and 1 of sugar to compensate) to get the moisture balance right. they were yummy 🙂
Marilyn says
I made them as directed except I added a big handful of raisins. I will make again. Great tip about grating the butter!
ina says
made these tonite. they were ok – just tasted like a baking soda biscuit with apples.
Sandra says
Made these and forgot to put in the sugar into the recipe and they still turned out awesome! They didn’t last long with my family! I will definitely make these again!
Michelle says
Just took these out of the oven, don’t know if i can wait til they cool to try one. House smells amazing !!!!!!!!!
NayNay says
OMG!!! Soooo..yummy!!! My new favorite!! Ty ty ty for recipe!! 😛
Karlynn Johnston says
I am so glad that you liked them!!!!! You are so welcome!
Andy says
Loved this recipe. Will definitely be my go-to during apple season. Wondering if you think could substitue cup mashed banana? I saw your banana scone recipe so different and lot more sugar and butter and this one is more simple so if I could just substitute banana, would be ideal! Thoughts?
Jj.g says
What kind of flour did you used?
Karlynn Johnston says
All purpose!
Suzanne says
This is a great recipe! I’m devouring one right now and they have such a nice balanced flavour. I subbed water for milk, added a bit more butter and they turned out just perfect. Thank you!!
Karlynn Johnston says
I’m so glad that you loved them!
Pat R says
WINNER! Made these yesterday – is absolutely going to be my go to- thank you for a great recipe
Karlynn Johnston says
Awesome! Glad you lilked them!
Debbie Robinson Woloshyn says
ooooh these look yummy!!
Karlynn Johnston says
They are!