Cody Casey
Scones are a British classic, often enjoyed with jam and clotted cream. Baking scones in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to make a small batch of this delicious treat without turning on the oven. The air fryer is a versatile appliance that can be used to make a variety of dishes, from savoury treats to decadent desserts. This guide will teach you how to make scones in an air fryer, achieving the perfect fluffy texture and golden crust.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 160°C-180°C (320°F-356°F) or 200°C (400°F) for 8 minutes and then 2 minutes with the air fryer turned off |
| Time | 7-18 minutes |
| Dough preparation | Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and a pinch of salt. Add chilled, cubed butter and rub into the flour mixture until it resembles fine breadcrumbs. Make a well in the centre, add milk and mix until it forms a soft dough. |
| Dough shaping | Shape the dough into a disc with your hands. Use a 5cm round cutter to cut out the scones. |
| Glazing | Brush the tops of the scones with milk or cream. |
| Baking | Place the scones in the air fryer basket, leaving space for them to expand. Air fry until golden brown and well-risen. |
| Serving | Scones are best served warm with clotted cream and strawberry jam. |
| Storage | Scones can be stored in an airtight container for up to 2-3 days. They can be frozen for up to 3 months. |
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What You'll Learn
Ingredients and preparation
To make scones in an air fryer, you will need the following ingredients:
- Self-raising flour
- Caster sugar
- Baking powder
- A pinch of salt
- Butter (cold and cubed)
- Milk
Optional ingredients include:
- Currants or sultanas
- Raisins
- Dried fruit (such as cranberries or apricots)
- Fresh fruit (such as blueberries)
- Chocolate chips
- Cinnamon
- Grated cheddar cheese
- Wholemeal flour
You can also add a teaspoon of fine sugar, such as superfine or caster sugar, to make your scones slightly sweeter.
To prepare the dough, follow these steps:
- In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, and a pinch of salt.
- Add the chilled, cubed butter to the bowl and rub it into the flour mixture using your fingertips until it resembles fine breadcrumbs.
- If using, add the currants, sultanas, or any other mix-ins and mix well.
- Make a well in the centre of the mixture and pour in the milk.
- Mix quickly with a round-bladed knife to form a soft dough. If the dough is too dry, gradually stir in more milk.
- On a lightly floured surface, knead the dough until smooth, being careful not to over-knead, as this can make the scones tough.
- Roll the dough out to a thickness of about 2 cm.
- Using a 5 cm round scone cutter, cut out as many pieces as possible.
- Gather the remaining dough, press it together, and cut out the remaining pieces.
Once you have cut out your scones, you are ready to bake them in the air fryer!
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Air fryer temperature and duration
The temperature and duration for cooking scones in an air fryer vary depending on the recipe and the type of air fryer being used. Most recipes recommend preheating the air fryer to 180°C or 200°C for about 10 minutes. However, some recipes suggest preheating to a lower temperature of 160°C or even as low as 140°C if the air fryer tends to cook quickly.
Once the desired temperature is reached, place the scones in the air fryer basket, ensuring they have space to expand. Brush the tops of the scones with milk or cream for a golden finish. The cooking time can range from 7 to 18 minutes, depending on the recipe and the size of the scones. It is important to keep an eye on the scones during the first cook to adjust the temperature or cooking time as needed.
For reheating, set the air fryer to 200°C for 1 to 2 minutes, or until the scones are warmed through.
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Shaping and spacing scones
Shaping your scones is a crucial step in the baking process. After combining your flour, sugar, baking powder, and a pinch of salt, you will need to create a well in the centre of the mixture. Add milk to this well and mix it with a round-bladed knife to form a soft dough. Avoid overmixing the dough, as this can lead to tough and chewy scones.
Once you have a soft dough, you can begin shaping it. Lightly dust a work surface with flour and tip the dough onto it. Bring the dough into a ball and then flatten it slightly until it is around 2-5 cm deep, depending on your preference. Using a 5 cm round dough cutter, cut out the scones. Reform the dough into a disc with your hands and continue cutting until you've used it all. Alternatively, you can make a roll with the scone dough and cut it into slices to avoid excess pieces that won't stick together nicely.
When it comes to spacing your scones in the air fryer, opinions differ. Some sources suggest leaving space between the scones for them to expand during cooking, which may require cooking in batches. In contrast, others recommend letting the scones "hug" each other and cooking them close together, even stating that they bake better this way. However, it's important to note that every air fryer is different, and you may need to adjust the temperature and cooking time accordingly.
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Serving and storing scones
Scones are best served warm, straight out of the oven. They are often paired with clotted cream, strawberry jam, and a hot cup of tea or coffee.
If you have leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container between layers of paper towels at room temperature for 3-4 days. The paper towels will absorb the moisture in the scones and keep them from getting mushy. You can also add a napkin or another paper towel on top of the scones. If you don't have an airtight container, a bread box or large freezer bag will also work. However, do not store them in the refrigerator, as they will get mushy and won't taste very good when reheated.
If you want to freeze your scones, let them cool to room temperature, then freeze them uncovered for an hour. After that, transfer them to an airtight container and put them back in the freezer for up to 3 months. They will thaw after about an hour at room temperature, or you can microwave them for 10 seconds at a time until thawed. You can also reheat them in the air fryer for 1-2 minutes at 200°C (400°F).
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Recipe variations
Scones are a classic tea-time treat and can be made in a variety of ways using an air fryer. The basic recipe involves mixing flour, baking powder, and salt, then rubbing in butter until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Sugar is folded in, and vanilla is mixed with buttermilk or milk before being gradually added to the flour mixture to form a soft dough. The dough is then shaped and cut into individual scones, which are brushed with milk and air-fried until golden and fluffy.
Fruit Scones
For fruit scones, add 45g of raisins, sultanas, currants, or other dried fruit to the dough. You can also add fresh fruit like blueberries or quartered glace cherries. Dust with icing sugar once cooked.
Chocolate Chip Scones
Add chocolate chips to the dough for chocolate chip scones. For an extra indulgent treat, try banana chocolate chip scones by adding mashed banana to the dough along with the chocolate chips.
Cinnamon Scones
Swap the vanilla extract for cinnamon to make cinnamon scones.
Cheese Scones
For a savoury option, omit the sugar and add grated cheddar cheese to the dough.
Wholewheat Scones
Use wholewheat flour instead of plain flour for a healthier variation.
Storage and Reheating
Air fryer scones are best eaten fresh but can be stored in an airtight container for up to 2-3 days. They can be eaten at room temperature or warmed up in the air fryer for 1-2 minutes at 200°C (400°F).
Scones can also be frozen. Allow them to cool completely before placing them in a freezer bag or container. Frozen scones can be stored for up to 3 months and can be defrosted at room temperature before serving.
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Frequently asked questions
It is recommended to preheat the air fryer to 160°C (320°F) or 180°C. However, if your air fryer cooks quickly, you can cook for longer at 160°C. If you want to cook at a higher temperature, you can preheat to 400°F/200°C and air fry for 8-10 minutes.
Depending on the air fryer model and the size of your scones, the cooking time may vary. On average, scones should be cooked for 8-18 minutes.
To prevent sticking, it is recommended to line the air fryer basket with parchment paper or use a non-stick cooking spray before placing the scones in the air fryer.
Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and a pinch of salt in a large bowl. Add chilled, cubed butter to the bowl and rub it into the flour mixture using your fingertips until it resembles fine breadcrumbs. Make a well in the centre of the mixture and pour in the milk. Mix it with a round-bladed knife to form a soft dough. Dust a work surface with flour and tip the dough onto it. Bring it into a ball, then flatten it slightly until the dough is around 4-5cm deep. Using a 5cm round dough cutter, cut out the scones. Put them in the air fryer basket and brush lightly with milk. Air fry for 8-18 minutes until golden and risen.
