Delicious Air Fryer Scones Recipe: Easy & Quick Guide

A freshly baked scone with jam and cream is my favourite. Homemade scones are fluffy, light, and golden. I have made air fryer scones in just 8 minutes, with delicious output. Air fryer scones are easier to make than oven scones. I will give you a proper recipe guide to bake air fryer scones with different serving suggestions.

I have made a small batch of five scones evenly and quickly in an air fryer! If you want to cook scones for a larger family, you can double the ingredients or try the recipe twice.

Are you new to air fryers?

An air fryer is just like a small oven; it operates on a fan that circulates the hot air in the fryer to cook the food. This combination of hot air and the circulation process cooks or bakes the food very quickly and gives a crispy output. The main purpose of the air fryer is to make fried foods by using less oil or fat. But now air fryers are modified to a more advanced level with multiple cooking functions, which may include baking, frying, reheating, cooking, and many more, but these depend upon the model of the air fryer. Due to all these developed features, more people can cook and bake various types of meals in a simple, easy, and quick way.

Why you will love this recipe!

• Cost-effective

An air fryer uses almost 50 to even 70 % less oil than any traditional deep frying cooking or baking process. Air frying usually requires just an oil spray and an air fryer uses hot air, which cooks the food faster than an oven; hence, it uses less energy, so we can say this air fryer recipe is cost-effective.

• Easy and quick

I am using an air fryer in this recipe, which is convenient and easy to use. Air fryers have some preset functions that enable scones to bake quickly. Easy to handle for even inexperienced bakers.

• Freezer-friendly and great for batch cooking.
• Perfect for lunch or a savoury afternoon tea.

How to Air fry the scones

Equipment

• An air fryer
• Mixing bowl

Ingredients

• Flour: I have taken a self-raising flour to gain a good rise on the scones
• Baking powder: To get an extra light and fluffy texture, I have added baking powder to the flour
• Butter: Cold, unsalted butter
• Milk: While baking the scones, milk helps to combine the dough and give the scones a milky texture. Buttermilk is my favourite, but you can also choose skimmed milk or whole milk.
• Vanilla: To give my scones flavour, I used vanilla but you can select almond extract in place of vanilla.
• Lemon juice: To sour the milk, I used fresh lemon juice but you can add vinegar.
• Egg wash: To give scones a yellow-golden appearance, I gave them an egg wash glow.

Step-by-step process to bake scones

1. I have taken flour, and baking powder in a large mixing bowl. Then I chopped the butter cubes and add in it. With the help of fingers, I rubbed the fat into the flour to get breadcrumbs.
2. At that point, I added some strawberries to the bowl as an extra ingredient, You can add grated cheese, pumpkin puree, etc.
3. I heated the milk in the oven for 30 seconds before adding fresh lemon juice and vanilla extract. Allow the mixture to sit for 2 minutes before adding the soured milk and egg to a measuring jug and gradually adding this mixture to the mixing bowl. Stir the sugar in it and make a dough that is soft yet sticky.
4. Now, lightly flour the countertop, place that dough on it, and pat it with the help of my hands in a square shape that is 1 to 2 cm high. Cut the scones straight down and lift them without twisting.
5. I repeated the process until the dough was finished. Before baking the scones brush them with egg wash.
6. Preheat the air fryer for five minutes at 180 degrees Celsius and place the scones in the basket at a maximum distance so that maximum air can circulate among them. Air fry the scones for 7 to 8 minutes until the golden brown colour appears.
7.  After the time was up, I removed the scones from the air fryer and allowed them to cool down before serving.

Note:

If you want to make fruity scones, you can add dried fruits or currants at step 2. While stirring the sugar in the mixture at the time of dough formation. And then follow the same recipe.

On the other hand, to make air-fried cheese scones, do not add sugar. In place of this, add a handful of cheddar cheese to the dough.

Serving suggestions

I have served my scones with strawberry jam and clotted cream, as I am a strawberry lover,  but here I am going to enlist some others. You can choose whatever you like.

Lemon curd, fresh blueberries, butter, marmalade, raspberry jam, whipped double cream and strawberry.

Tips to get perfect scone output

• Avoid using melted butter; it can make the scones greasy. Use cold butter, as it will help the dough to cool down and give it a flaky texture.
• Make sure not to twist the cutter while pressing it into the dough or lift it out.  This can help the scones rise properly.
• Do not use a rolling pin to roll out the dough. Shape it with your hands. To prevent the glute formation in the dough, refrain from kneading.  
• Take the self-raising flour as well as the baking powder fresh.

Storing tips

Always try to eat and enjoy the fresh scones in your breakfast, as it takes only 10 minutes. But if you are too busy, you can save leftovers just like me. 

• I have stored the leftovers in the fridge for 3 to 4 days in an air-tight container and I reheat them for 2 to 3 minutes in the air fryer before serving them for breakfast
• You can even freeze them for up to 3 to 4 months in the fridge

How to reheat the scones in the air fryer

Place the leftover or frozen scones in the air fryer basket and cook them for 3 minutes at 160 degrees Celsius. If these scones are large and not cooked well, then increase the cooking time to at least 5 minutes.

Replacement to self-raising flour

If you don’t have self-raising flour, no issues take all-purpose or plain flour and add baking powder to it; this will give you self-raising flour.

Baking powder is a self-raising agent and a combination of bicarbonate of soda and cream of tartar.

Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs

How long to cook scones in an air fryer?

Baking in an air fryer requires preheating. For scones preheat the air fryer for 5 minutes at 180 degrees Celsius. Then place the scones in it for 7 to 8 minutes to cook the scones.

What temperature do scones require to cook in the air fryer?

180 degrees Celsius is the temperature at which scones are usually baked. But please make sure every air fryer has its preset function or baking temperature.  Before using your air fryer for any purpose, read out its manual, tips, etc.

How can I cook scones in a Ninja air fryer ?

As we know, Ninjas is considered the best air fryer among all the best brands. Preheat it at 180 degrees Celsius for 5 minutes then place the scones in their basket and allow the scones to bake for 7 minutes. Your scones will be ready after 7 minutes.

How can I cook cheese scones in an air fryer?

There is no difference in cooking method between cooking sweet scones or cheese scones in the air fryer. To cook cheese scones, replace the cheese with sugar while making the dough of the scones. Then repeat the whole process as it is which I have discussed above in my recipe.

Recipe