Simple Air Fryer Scones

Have you ever asked ‘Can you make Scones in the Air Fryer?’ Ask no more because I am here to answer ‘YES’ to that question! Simple Air Fryer Scones are a quick modern way to bake a timeless traditional afternoon tea classic. This post is for an Irish fruit Scone recipe – that’s Scone as in ‘gone’ not Scone as in ‘bone!’

Air Fryer Scones are simple to make. Follow the step by step instructions below, but first read the “What is the Secret to Making Good Scones?” section for getting the best results. Simple to make, simple to bake. They’re ready after 7 or so minutes in an Air Fryer. That gives you just enough time to make a pot of tea and get the butter and jam at the ready!

Fruit Scones split and slathered with Irish butter are hard to refuse! Irish Scones are more than just an accompaniment to a lovely cup of tea, they are front and center of afternoon tea. No afternoon tea party is complete without them.

Use a 4cm / 1¾ inch diameter cutter to make mini Scones. These are ideal for afternoon tea or for sweet treats. These mini Scones are also Air Fryer Scones.

In Ireland, every girl without doubt, learned to make Scones in Domestic Science or as it was later called Home Economics. I wasn’t terribly good at making Scones then. I overworked them, overcooked them and broke all the Scone making rules there were. They ended up hard and looking like frisbees, but after a generous slathering of Irish butter and a hot cup of tea, they became passible!

You’ll find some form or flavor of Scones in coffee shops and tea rooms everywhere around the UK and Ireland. People ask ‘Where can I get the best Scones near me?’ Simple answer – in your own home! Use this easy Simple Air Fryer Scones recipe and you’ll have the best Scones in no time!

So let’s get to know Scones:

What is a Scone?

A Scone (Scone as is ‘gone’) is a baked product made primarily from flour and butter. A little sugar is added not only to sweeten it, but also to mask the taste of the baking powder which is used as a leavening agent. Omit sugar when making a savory Scone. The dough all comes together with the aid of milk, cream, yogurt or buttermilk. The dough is enriched with the addition of an egg or two. It is then rolled out on a lightly floured surface, discs are cut, and these discs are usually oven baked but in this recipe, they are air fried.

So, are they a biscuit or a cake? Biscuits (as in cookies), cakes, quick breads and Scones all use similar ingredients but in different quantities, whereas pastry and Scones use a similar preparation method. Scones, biscuits (cookies), quick breads, cakes and pastry, although all baked goods are all quite different from one another.

This Simple Air Fryer Scone recipe uses baking powder as the leavening agent. Baking powder contains baking soda, cream of tartar and cornstarch. The alkaline properties in the baking soda combine with the acidic properties of the cream of tartar and the buttermilk producing carbon dioxide bubbles which leaven the dough and give the desired soft, slightly crumbly interior.

A scone is fluffier and loftier than a cookie but not as airy as a sponge cake, a Scone falls somewhere between the two.

Types of Scones

There are 2 categories of Scones – savory and sweet.

The most popular savory Scone flavor is cheese, typically made with Cheddar. Variations of the cheese Scone include Cheddar and chive, jalapeño Cheddar and ham and cheese. Savory Scones include fillings such as fresh herbs, sun-dried tomatoes and potatoes.

The most commonly eaten sweet Scones are fruit Scones. Dried fruit provides additional sweetness. One type or a combination of any of the following dried fruits will work:

• Sultanas – sometimes called golden raisins or sultana raisins. Formed from dehydrating green seedless grapes.
• Currants – dehydrated dark red grapes.
• Raisins – dehydrated white (green) Moscatel grapes.
• Cherries – choose between sweetened or unsweetened cherries.
• Dates – pitted and chopped.

Other sweet options include chocolate chip, cinnamon chip, blueberry (fresh or dried), cranberry and orange, vanilla bean, peach, fig, pumpkin, apple, chocolate, lemon, and even eggnog!

Other Scone Variations

Unique Scone variations have popped up over the years. These include sourdough, made from sourdough or discard, almond Scones made from almond flour (making them gluten free), maple bacon (bake them for Canada Day on 1st July) and not forgetting the all time favorite in Northern Ireland – Mars Bar!

Make any Scone variation into a vegan Scone, by using a vegan approved fat and milk alternative and using vegan eggs.

Drop Scones (or griddle scones) are another variation that are popular in Scotland. The raw batter is dropped onto a hot griddle. As a result, they resemble pancakes but contain all the ingredients included in a traditional Scone.

Recipes for 3 ingredients Scones have risen to popularity. These recipes typically include self raising flour (AP / plain flour with leavening agent already added), sugar and heavy cream. Other 3 ingredient Scone recipes omit the sugar and use lemonade, as the sweetener and acid, along with heavy cream. Other recipes omit the cream and use yogurt. I am not convinced these recipes deliver authentic Scones, but they definitely look interesting!

Scones in the Air Fryer

Traditionally, Scones are baked in the oven. This recipe for simple Air Fryer Scones challenges the traditional oven baked method and cooks them in the Air Fryer. The clear advantage is the production of smaller batches of Scones. Also the 50% reduction of baking time, Air Fryer Scones only need about 7 minutes or so.

Making Scones in the Air Fryer

Use any Scone recipe to make Air Fryer Scones. No need to adjust ingredients, their quantities and the procedure. The only thing that changes is the method of cooking the Scones. Traditionally Scones are oven baked for about 15 minutes or so. When using the Air Fryer to bake the Scones, set the Scones on a circle of parchment or wax paper, then place the basket into the Air Fryer.

So, exactly how long does it take to cook scones in the Air Fryer? Factors such as the Air Fryer model, how cold the dough is, how thick the raw Scones are, and whether or not the Air Fryer has been preheated, will all determine how long the Scones need in the Air Fryer. It is usually around 7 minutes.

These Air Fryer Cheddar cheese and chive scones were made using a traditional recipe. They took 7 minutes to cook in the Air Fryer.

Are Scones British? Are Scones Irish?

You’ll find Scones all over the UK and Ireland either baked in people’s homes, in supermarkets or home bakeries. The word Scone first appears in the Oxford English Dictionary in 1513. Thought to originate in Scotland, using oat flour as the main ingredient. These early Scones or variants were also present in Holland, Germany and Ireland. In Ireland, early Scones were shaped like farls, similar to Irish Potato Farls (as seen here in an Ulster Fry).

Nowadays, Irish Scones typically contain less sugar and less leavening. Made with dried fruit or left plain, and made with buttermilk, they tend to be softer. Split a Scone in two and slather with Irish butter. Or choose the English style of serving Scones and eat them with preserve and clotted cream.

While the etymology of Scones is a little muddy, one fact remains, they are very popular in Ireland, Scotland and England.

Why are American Scones different?

American Scones (sk-owns) do not resemble or taste like an Irish / UK Scone. Same ingredients but in different proportions. American Scones use more butter and sugar. The end result is a denser, sweeter baked treat. They are always flavored with at least one add in ingredient. Blueberries, poppyseeds and cinnamon are the most popular choices. Shaped into a round then cut into wedges to form triangles. Actual Scone baking pans are available with pre-shaped triangles. In America, it is the iconic triangular shape of the baked goodie that indicates it is a Scone. Finished with a drizzle of icing, chopped nuts or course sugar crystals. American Scones are stand alone, meaning they do not require butter, preserve or cream.

English Scones vs Irish Scones vs American Scones vs American Biscuits

Have you ever wondered what’s the difference between American Scones (pronounced ‘sk-owns’) and British / English Scones (pronounced sk-ons). There’s more differences that just the pronunciation! And then there’s American Biscuits, don’t confuse these with biscuits (cookies) in Ireland / UK!

Here’s everything you wanted to know about these sometimes confused baked products.

With all of these baked goods above, it is clear that from country to country and even house to house, there are clear differences! Some recipes include eggs or use cream or milk instead of buttermilk. While these differences in the table above are not hard and fast rules, they give you an idea of how a couple of changes in ingredients or preparation will result in a different baked good.

Can Scones Be Made Ahead of Time?

Yes, make Scones ahead of when they are needed, but nothing beats a fresh scone.

Make Scones ahead of when they are needed and freeze them immediately for up to 3 months. Use a freezer bag to store them. Defrost in the fridge overnight. Pop them in the Air Fryer for a couple of minutes to warm them through.

What is the Secret to Making Good Scones?

• Have everything as cold as possible. This includes the ingredients (or most of them), and metal utensils. Use a marble pastry board, if you have one! Freeze the butter overnight. Ensuring the fats (in the egg, butter and buttermilk) will not melt, produces a more tender textured Scone.
• Making Scones by hand gives you more control of the dough. However if you don’t want to make Scones by hand, then make Scones in a food processor. Use the ‘pulse’ button to avoid overworking the dough.
• Use a combination of plain (all purpose) flour, pastry flour and cake flour if you can. Adding pastry flour and / or cake flour to the mix will lighten the texture of the Scone, making it fluffier.
• Use buttermilk. Buttermilk’s acidity reacts with the baking powder to produce carbon dioxide bubbles.
• Do not overwork the dough.
• Adding too much liquid will make the dough sticky. The Scones will not hold their shape as well. Not using enough liquid will cause the dough to be stiff and dry. Choose the sticky option, as it is the lesser of two evils.
• Lightly flour the board when rolling out the raw Scone dough. Only use enough to prevent it from sticking to the board. Roll evenly across the dough to ensure a uniform thickness.
• When cutting the individual Scones, dip the cutter into flour first to help it be ‘non stick’. Press the cutter firmly down through the dough and avoid twisting it. Lift the cutter with the Scone inside it to minimize handling. Coax the Scone onto the paper liner inside the Air Fryer or onto a baking tray if oven baking.

Scones in the Air Fryer

• Use a paper lining in the Air Fryer basket. Scones won’t stick and they won’t end up with Air Fryer ridges on their undersides.
• If Air Frying the Scones, preheat the Air Fryer in advance. The fats in the Scones melt quicker and the centers will be tender.
• Check Scones after 7 minutes. Gently squeeze the sides. If the side feels firm but there is ‘give’ in the center, then the center is still raw. Return to the Air Fryer for another couple of minutes. The entire Scone is cooked when it feels firm. Allow them to cool on a wire rack.
• Make them ahead if you want to. Place chilled or frozen raw Scones into a preheated Air Fryer to bake them. Add an extra couple of minutes to the timing. Or place already baked Scones in the Air Fryer for a minute or so for a reheat.

Scones in the Oven

• If oven baking the Scones, use a chilled baking tray (if possible) and let the Scones rest in the fridge for about 30 minutes before placing them in a preheated 350 degrees F. / 180 degrees C. oven..

Ingredients Used to Make These Simple Air Fryer Scones

• Flour: for best results use a combination of pastry, cake and AP (plain) flour.
• Butter: salted.
• Baking powder.
• Buttermilk: fresh, preferably whole fat if possible.
• Egg: fresh, whole.
• Sugar: white, granulated.
• Fruit: dried, I used my own raisins I made from dehydrating green seedless grapes.
• Salt: just a pinch.
• Cream: just a little to brush on the top before air frying.

Are Scones Hard to Make?

No, follow along and see just how to make this Air Fryer Scones recipe:

What to Brush on Top of these Simple Air Fryer Scones?

In this recipe I chose to brush heavy whipping cream (double cream) on top of the Scones – why? – because I had it in my refrigerator. Other options include egg wash (beaten yolk and white), egg yolk, milk, half and half, buttermilk, coconut oil, almond milk and melted butter. The more fat in the brushing ingredient, the more golden the baked good will be after baking.

A Tip From Me

Follow the “What is the Secret to Making Good Scones?” for all the tips you need to improve your Scone success rate!

Got Questions?

I’ve got answers – hopefully!