Air Fryer Blueberry Scones

Air Fryer Blueberry Scones are soft light American style scones packed with delicious fruity blueberries. This simple bake is made in minutes in your air fryer and a sweet lemon glaze enhances the natural sweetness of the blueberries.

Why should I make Air Fryer Blueberry Scones?

I bake scones in my air fryer when I only want a small batch. Scones are best eaten the day they are made, so a small batch made in your air fryer means they are fresh every time. Blueberry scones are a classic American bake, sweeter than the classic British scone as they are topped with a sweet glaze.

What makes this an American style Scone?

My recipe is a bit of a hybrid, it doesn’t contain as much butter or sugar as a typical American scone. However, it has fresh fruit in the mix and is topped with a sweet glaze which is typical of the US style scone.

American scones are designed to be eaten as they are, whereas British scones are normally served with butter, jam and sometimes cream. You can eat these scones as they are, but I still prefer, at least, some butter on my blueberry scone!

What is an air fryer?

An air fryer is a bit like a mini oven. However, the element is only at the top of the air fryer and it uses a powerful fan to circulate the heat. This combination of intense heat and circulation means that food crisps up quickly.

Air fryers were originally sold for their ability to create ‘fried’ food with less fat. But the air fryer has developed and more people are recognising the potential to cook and bake all kinds of foods in this way.

Why should I bake scones in my air fryer?

An air fryer is really convenient for small quantities. Compared to your oven, an air fryer will heat up quickly due to the smaller size and the fan. And cooking in an air fryer is about half the cost of cooking in a standard oven. You bake scones at high heat and the circulating heat in the air fryer helps to ensure they bake evenly all over.

What kind of air fryer can I use to make scones?

You will need the kind of air fryer that has temperature control as well as a timer and no paddle. Otherwise, any air fryer brand should do the job very well.

I have a Cosori 4.7 litre air fryer, that is the kind with a pull-out square drawer and it needs to be pre-heated before use. I’ve also successfully made scones in my Tower 10-in-1 air fryer oven. If you have a different kind of air fryer you may need to adjust the timing or temperature by a minute or two either way.

What ingredients do I need to make Air Fryer Blueberry Scones?

You probably have most of the ingredients you need to make Air Fryer Blueberry Scones in your larder and fridge. Here is what you need:

• self raising flour
• baking powder
• salt
• butter
• caster (superfine) sugar 
• blueberries
• lemon, rind and juice
• milk

A full list of the ingredients and the required quantities is found in the recipe card at the end of this article.

I don’t have self-raising flour, what can I substitute?

If you don’t have self-raising flour you can make it at home using plain (all-purpose flour) and baking powder.

This recipe uses 150g self-raising flour therefore you need to add one and a half teaspoons baking powder to plain (all-purpose) flour. This gives you self-raising flour, but you will still need to include the additional baking powder as listed in the recipe.

What is baking powder?

Baking powder is a chemical raising agent that is a combination of bicarbonate of soda and cream of tartar. To make homemade baking powder combine ¼ of a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda with ½ a teaspoon of cream of tartar for every teaspoon of baking powder your chosen baking recipe requires.

Can I use an alternative to butter to make the Air Fryer Blueberry Scones?

You can use baking spread to make Air Fryer Blueberry Scones. You can also use any plant based spread as long as it is full fat. Spreadable butter and low-fat spreads are not suitable as they contain a high proportion of water that will affect the recipe.

Can I use granulated sugar instead of caster sugar?

You can use granulated sugar but it doesn’t dissolve as easily as caster sugar. So if you use it then be aware that there may be a slight gritty texture to your scones.

What are blueberries?

Blueberries are the sweet blue-black fruits which grow prolifically in North and South America. Blueberries are a relative newcomer to the UK but this sweet and sharp berry has quickly overtaken many native fruits in popularity. One of the reasons for this is the long shelf-life which helps keep the prices down and the quality high.

What kind of milk should I use?

I use whole milk or semi-skimmed milk in these scones. However, you can use any milk that you have in the fridge. Although I have not tried plant milk in this recipe, there is no reason why it should not work just as well as dairy milk. I recommend that you try out different types of plant milk to find your own favourite as the flavour and richness of the milk will influence the taste of the scones.

Can I use buttermilk?

You can use buttermilk to make your scones, it does help to make them very light and fluffy. Some buttermilk is very thick so if that is the case then I suggest you thin it down with some milk otherwise the liquid may not be correct for your scones.

You can make your own buttermilk substitute by adding either a tablespoon of vinegar, lemon juice or natural yogurt to 250 ml (1 cup) of milk.

Can I make Air Fryer Blueberry Scones ahead of time?

Scones are best eaten the same day you make them. If you want to get ahead then I recommend that you make up the scone mixture to the breadcrumb stage and store it in the fridge in an airtight container. Add the blueberries and lemon zest with the milk just before you plan to make your Air Fryer Blueberry Scones.

You can store the mix in the fridge for up to 3 weeks. The scones only take 11 minutes to bake so it’s great to have some scone mix ready to go.

Can I freeze Blueberry Scones?

Scones freeze really well and it’s an ideal way to store baked scones. Let the scones cool completely on a cooling rack before putting them in a freezer-proof container or freezer bag and placing in the freezer.

You can store them for up to 3 months without deterioration. Defrost on a cooling tray covered with a clean tea towel. Or use the defrost setting on your microwave. Glaze the scones once they have fully defrosted.

Can I make more than four scones?

I can fit four scones in my air fryer so I’ve designed the recipe to make enough for four scones. If you have a larger air fryer or a double-drawer model you can double up the recipe to make 8 scones.

If you plan to make a large batch scones then it’s probably more efficient to bake them in the oven at 200C (400F) for 10 minutes.

Tips for making great scones

I’ve never had any problems baking scones but I know that some people struggle, so here are some of the tips I have learned that will help you to get the best scones:

• Rub the butter or baking spread thoroughly into the flour (or whizz in a food processor) the result should look like fine breadcrumbs
• Add the milk slowly until you get a soft slightly sticky dough. You may need slightly more or less than the recipe suggests because different flours absorb liquid at a different rate.
• Do not over mix. Gently bring together the mixture and roll or pat it into a thick round before cutting out the scones.
• Do not twist your scone cutter, this seals the edges of the dough and stops the scones from rising. Press straight down and lift, if you dust the cutter with flour it will lift off easily.

Safety Note

Do not put the baking parchment into the air fryer when preheating your air fryer.  The paper will rise up with the air circulation and burn on the heating element.  Once the air fryer is preheated it is safe to put in the parchment and place the scones on top. The weight of the scones will hold down the paper and it is perfectly safe. 

Vegetarian

Air Fryer Blueberry Scones are suitable for vegetarians.

Gluten Free

This scone recipe contains wheat flour and is not suitable for a gluten-free diet. 

For more information regarding any dietary information provided on this website, please refer to my Nutritional Disclaimer.

How should I serve Air Fryer Blueberry Scones?

These Air Fryer Blueberry Scones are ideal to serve for breakfast or brunch. You can make up the dry mix the night before you want to eat them, then simply mix and bake for a fresh morning treat. They are also excellent at any time of day served with hot or cold drinks.

I like to serve blueberry scones when they are still warm with butter. The sweet blueberries burst as they cook and mingle with the butter as you spread it and the lemon glaze adds another layer of sweetness. You can also serve them with jam or jelly. Blueberry jam for preference, but any fruity preserve will add to the delicious flavour.

If you like this recipe then I have more air fryer recipes that you can try. I also have many different jam and jelly recipes including Low Sugar Blueberry and Raspberry Jam which would pair very well these scones.