Apple Cinnamon Scones

A cozy treat with dried apples and warm cinnamon sugar

I’m going to go ahead and confess something:I’m not a scone connoisseur. Not even a little bit. But after making these, I kind of want to head out on a full-blown scone tasting tour just to understand what they’re really supposed to be like.

This particular version came about after a friend mentioned she wanted her scones to have more of a bread-like chew. We played around with butter, buttermilk, a little Greek yogurt, and chopped dried apples for texture and chew... and this is what came out of the oven.

Let’s just say, it’s not a biscuit, it’s not a muffin, and it’s definitely not dry.It’s a soft, apple-cinnamon with a warm sugar topping and the option to finish with a sweet glaze if you want to make it feel bakery-fancy or just want more sweetness.

🥄 Ingredients

Dry:

• 3 cups all-purpose flour

• ¼ cup granulated sugar

• 1 tbsp brown sugar

• 2½ tsp baking powder

• ½ tsp baking soda

• ¾ tsp salt

• 1½ tsp ground cinnamon

• ½ tsp apple pie spice (optional but delicious)

Cold ingredients:

• ¾ cup unsalted butter, cubed (keep it cold)

Wet:

• ½ cup buttermilk

• ½ cup plain Greek yogurt

• ¾ cup dried apples, finely chopped

• 1½ tsp vanilla extract

Topping:

• 2 tbsp butter, melted

• 2 tbsp granulated sugar

• ½–1 tsp ground cinnamon

📝 Instructions

1. Preheat & prep: Set oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment.

2. Soak the apples: Place chopped dried apples in your buttermilk/Greek yogurt mix and let them sit for 10 minutes while prepping the rest. This softens them just enough without making them mushy.

3. Mix the dry stuff: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugars, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and apple pie spice.

4. Cut in the butter: Use a pastry cutter or your fingers to work in the cold butter until the mixture looks like coarse crumbs.

5. Add the apples & wet ingredients: Stir in the soaked apples and vanilla, then pour the entire wet mix into the dry ingredients. Mix gently until just combined. The dough will look shaggy and slightly dry, this is normal.

6. Shape & cut: Turn the dough onto a floured surface and knead gently 6–8 times to bring it together. Divide into two 6–7” rounds, about ¾–1” thick. Slice each round into 6 wedges.

7. Chill if you can: Pop the scones in the fridge for 15–20 minutes while the oven finishes heating (this helps them rise better!).

8. Top with cinnamon sugar: Brush each scone with melted butter and sprinkle the cinnamon-sugar mixture on top.

9. Bake: Bake at 400°F for 18–22 minutes, or until golden brown and a toothpick comes out clean.

🧁 Optional Glaze (if you want more sweetness)

Whisk together:

• ½ cup powdered sugar

• ½ tsp cinnamon (or more, if you want it bold!)

• 1½ tbsp milk or cream

• ½ tsp vanilla extract

Drizzle over cooled scones for a cozy finish.

👩‍🍳 Final Thoughts

Whether you're a scone snob or just getting started (hi, it’s me 🙋‍♀️), these are a great intro recipe. They’re forgiving, flavorful, and easy to customize if you'd like different flavors — and if you really want to lean in, try serving them with hot cider or a cinnamon latte.

Let me know if you bake them, and if you are a scone expert, feel free to chime in with tips. I’m still learning… and always hungry.

Grab the tools and ingredients here ⬇️