Cinnamon Apple Scones
Posted Sep 23, 2026
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These cinnamon apple scones are buttery and moist with diced apples in every bite. These bakery-quality apple scones have a slightly crisp exterior, a pillowy soft center, and are topped with a delicious cinnamon glaze!
These apple scones are everything a great scone should be — buttery with a rich cinnamon flavor and sweet apples in every bite. With a soft, moist crumb and lightly crisp edges, they taste just like bakery-style scones—but even better because they’re homemade!
Plus, this apple scones recipe comes together in about 30 minutes with simple ingredients, and they can be prepared in advance and baked the next morning for an easy and special breakfast! The only prep is peeling and chopping the apples, which you can do ahead of time.
Serve them warm from the oven with a slather of cinnamon butter or apple butter, and with a cozy cup of coffee for the perfect breakfast.
Apple Scones: Ingredients & Substitutions
- All-purpose flour. Use a 1:1 all-purpose gluten-free baking flour to make this recipe gluten-free.
- Granulated sugar. Organic cane sugar or brown sugar (for a slightly different taste) work well.
- Salted Butter. Unsalted butter works well. TIP: We use frozen or cold butter to make these scones – so be sure to put a stick in the freezer or fridge well before you want to make this recipe.
- Half and Half. Heavy cream and whole milk are both good substitutes for half and half. Or, try making apple buttermilk scones!
- Apples. Choose your favorite variety; I prefer a sweet/tart apple like Pink Lady or Honeycrisp.
- Heavy cream. Brushing the tops with heavy cream is a must! It gives them a golden shine.
How to Make Apple Scones
Let’s walk through this recipe together, and you can watch the video for further guidance!
Start by finely dicing your apples. Then combine the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl (this is where you will make the scone dough).
Then, grate the frozen butter. This is my favorite way to make scones because I think it’s so much easier than cutting cold butter into the dry ingredients.
Once the butter is grated, mix it into the dry ingredients. Or, you can cut the butter in with a fork or pastry cutter. Then, mix in the rest of the wet ingredients – egg, half and half, and vanilla until the dough starts to stick together.
Note that the dough will look crumbly initially but will clump together when squeezed between your fingers.
Next, stir in the diced apple and cinnamon chips.
Then, turn the dough out onto a lightly-floured surface and form it into a round disc that is about 8″ in diameter.
Then cut the circle of dough into 8 equal pieces. Start by cutting the circle in half from top to bottom. Then cut it in half from side to side.
Then cut the remaining pieces in half diagonally and place them, evenly spaced, on a parchment- or silicone-lined baking sheet. Note: If you want mini scones, you can cut each of the 8 scones in half at this point to make 16 scones.
Brush the top of each of the apple scones with heavy cream.
Then bake in the preheated oven for about 15 minutes. The edges will be lightly golden brown, and the tops will look set. Let the apple scones cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Make the Glaze
While the scones are cooling, make the icing by whisking the powdered sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, and milk together in a medium bowl. If it’s too thin, add more powdered sugar. If it’s too thick, add a little bit of milk.
Then, drizzle or spread the icing over the apple cinnamon scones. Let it harden at room temperature before serving.
Serve
I suggest serving these cherry scones at room temperature or slightly warm (my preference). Serve them with a dollop of cinnamon butter or homemade apple butter – so delicious!
They’re a great addition to your favorite breakfast and brunch recipes like egg casserole, a delicious omelette, or a fresh fruit salad.
Store/Freeze
Store leftover apple scones in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or in the freezer for up to 2 months.
More Delicious Scone Recipes
Scone recipes for every season!
- The best basic scones recipe
- Or add chocolate chips and make these chocolate chip scones.
- My favorite scones of all time are these mocha chocolate scones.
- Followed closely by these cinnamon scones with cinnamon chips.
- Pumpkin scones are another fall favorite.
- Savory cheese scones
- Classic buttermilk scones
- For summer, make these blueberry scones
- Cherry scones can be festive for the holidays!
Apple Scones Recipe FAQS
My favorites are sweet/tart apples like Pink Lady, Honeycrisp, Fuji, or even Granny Smith (although I prefer red apples for the color).
No, you don’t have to peel the apples, but you can if you prefer.
Finely dice them as small as you’re able! You want mini, bite-sized pieces of apple throughout each scone.
Yes, prepare the dough the night before and wrap it in plastic wrap. Then, in the morning, slice and bake!
Use the cinnamon glaze in this recipe, or vanilla glaze or maple glaze!
If you make and love my recipes, it would mean so much to me if you would leave a comment and rating! And don’t forget to follow along on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, TikTok and Youtube – be sure to tag @joyfoodsunshine and use the hashtag #joyfoodsunshine so I can see your creations!
Cinnamon Apple Scones Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 Tablespoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ cup salted butter (frozen)
- ½ cup half and half (or heavy cream)
- 1 large egg
- ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 apple (medium finely diced, about 1 heaping cup)
- ½ cup cinnamon chips
- 3 Tablespoons heavy cream (for brushing on top)
Cinnamon Icing
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 Tablespoon whole milk
Instructions
Make the scones:
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (204 degrees Celsius).
- Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat, set aside.
- Finely dice the apples, then set them aside.
- Combine the flour, sugar, baking powder and sea salt in alarge bowl.
- Grate the frozen butter into the dry mixture and stir to combine. (Or cut in cold butter with a pastry cutter or fork).
- Add half and half, egg and vanilla extract and stir until combined. The dough will look crumbly initially but will clump together when squeezed between your fingers.
- Stir in the diced apple and cinnamon chips.
- Turn dough out onto a lightly-floured surface and form it into a round disc that is about 8" in diameter.
- Cut into 8 equal pieces. Start by cutting the circle in half from top to bottom. Then cut it in half from side to side. Then cut the remaining pieces in half diagonally.
- Separate the apple scones and spread them out evenly on the prepared baking sheet.
- Lightly brush the tops of each scone with heavy cream.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 14-17 minutes, or until the scones look set and are lightly golden brown
- Remove from the oven and transfer scones to cooling rack to cool completely before icing. Or you can skip the icing and serve warm.
Make the Icing
- Whisk the icing ingredients together in a small bowl.
- Drizzle or spread on top of cooled scones.
- Let harden at room temperature, then serve.
Notes
- All-purpose flour. Use a 1:1 all-purpose gluten-free baking flour to make this recipe gluten-free.
- Granulated sugar. organic cane sugar or brown sugar (for a slightly different taste) work well.
- Salted Butter. Unsalted butter works well. TIP: we use frozen or cold butter to make these scones – so be sure to put a stick in the freezer or fridge well before you want to make this recipe.
- Half and Half. Heavy cream and whole milk are both good substitutes for half and half. Or, try making apple buttermilk scones!
- Apples. choose your favorite variety, I prefer a sweet/tart apple like pink ladies or honeycrisp.
- Heavy cream. brushing the tops with heavy cream is a must! It gives them a golden shine.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
