Apple Cider Scones
All the best flavors of fall are wrapped up in these apple cider scones! Farm fresh apples and cider, nutty brown sugar, cozy cinnamon, and rich nutmeg blend together to make the ultimate autumn breakfast.
If you have a bag of apples or fresh cider from the orchard that you aren’t sure what to do with, make these scones–trust me. They’re truly a bakery-worthy treat you can easily make right in your own kitchen! These scones are made with apple cider, chopped apples, and the coziest fall spices like cinnamon and nutmeg for a little bit of autumn in every bite. Plus, they’re topped with a flavorful, silky apple cider glaze for a little bit of extra sweetness. You can mix them up in no time, and they bake in just 20 minutes, so they’re perfect for a quick weekend breakfast, too!
Here are some more quick bread and pastry recipes you’ll love: Parmesan Garlic and Rosemary Scones, Apple Butter Streusel Muffins, and Homemade Cranberry Walnut Bagels.
Ingredients & Equipment
You’ll need the following ingredients and equipment to make these apple cider scones:
- Baking sheet
- Parchment paper
- Flour
- Granulated sugar
- Light brown sugar
- Powdered sugar
- Apples
- Apple cider
- Eggs
- Butter
- Baking powder
- Cinnamon
- Nutmeg
- Vanilla extract
- Salt
Customize This Recipe!
There are a few different ways you can customize this recipe:
- Have fun with spices. These scones use a classic combination of cinnamon and nutmeg, but you can really up the fall spices by adding ground cloves, allspice, ginger, and more!
- Cook down your apples. If you want a smoother texture inside your scones instead of just adding the chopped apples right in, you can cook them down on the stovetop for a few minutes to give them a softer, mushier consistency.
Kitchen Tips
- Utilize mise en place! Make sure you have all of your ingredients prepped and ready before you begin making this recipe – it will help save you time and keep you organized.
- Don’t skip the chill time. Keeping the butter and dough cold helps make these scones extra flaky and delicious, so be sure that you don’t skip the chill time!
FAQ
Adding a wash to your scones before baking will affect the color of the scones. A milk wash is simply milk brushed over the top of your scones (giving your scones a lighter finish), while an egg wash is a mixture of whisked egg and a splash of milk or water (giving your scones a more golden brown finish).
Short answer: no. But it really helps to give a nice color and extra flavor to your scones, and it also helps any toppings to stick, like sugar, salt, herbs, etc., so I always suggest using one!
You can store these scones covered at room temperature or in the fridge for about a week, or in the freezer for up to three months.
More quick bread and pastry recipes:
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Apple Cider Scones
Ingredients
For the spiced apples:
- 1 small apple finely chopped
- 2 tbsp granulated sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
For the scones:
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tbsp granulated sugar
- 3 tbsp light brown sugar
- 1 tbsp baking powder
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp nutmeg
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter cold, cubed
- ⅔ cup apple cider
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
For the egg wash:
- 1 egg
- 2 tsp milk or water
For the icing:
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1-2 tsp apple cider
Instructions
- Prepare a large baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a small bowl mix the chopped apple, sugar, and cinnamon until the apples are fully coated, then set aside until use.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugars, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
- With a pastry cutter or fork, cut the cold butter into the flour mixture until almost fully incorporated, then mix in the apples.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the apple cider, egg, and vanilla extract.
- Pour the wet ingredients over the dry, mixing until just barely combined. The mixture should be rough at this stage.
- Move the dough to a floured surface and gently knead the dough into a rough ball. If the dough is too wet, add small handfuls of flour until it's dry enough to be handled and shaped.
- Form the dough into a flattened disc (about 7-8 inches wide) and cut 8 equal wedges, placing them slightly apart on your prepared baking sheet.
- Chill the scones in the fridge while you preheat your oven to 400ºF.
- Whisk the egg and milk/water together in a small bowl, then brush the egg wash over the tops of each scone with a pastry brush. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar before baking if desired.
- Bake for about 20 minutes or until golden brown and risen.
- While the scones cool slightly, whisk together the apple cider and powdered sugar for the glaze. Drizzle over the top of your scones before serving.
Notes
- Utilize mise en place! Make sure you have all of your ingredients prepped and ready before you begin making this recipe – it will help save you time and keep you organized.
- Don’t skip the chill time. Keeping the butter and dough cold helps make these scones extra flaky and delicious, so be sure that you don’t skip the chill time!
- Have fun with spices. These scones use a classic combination of cinnamon and nutmeg, but you can really up the fall spices by adding ground cloves, allspice, ginger, and more!
- Cook down your apples. If you want a smoother texture inside your scones instead of just adding the chopped apples right in, you can cook them down on the stovetop for a few minutes to give them a softer, mushier consistency.
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