Air Fryer Cherry Scones

Air Fryer Cherry Scones are sweet British scones studded with delicious pieces of glace (candied) cherries. They are delicious served warm with butter and jam, add some clotted cream for a special treat.

Why make Air Fryer Cherry Scones?

I like to 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.

Cherry Scones are something a little different from the usual plain or fruit scones. They are a little sweeter than most scones because of the sweet cherries, but not too sweet and perfect with butter and jam.

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 cherry 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.

My air fryer is the kind with a pull-out square drawer and it needs to be pre-heated before use. I’ve also made scones in an oven-style air fryer. 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 for Air Fryer Cherry Scones?

You probably have most of the ingredients you need to make fruit scones in your larder and fridge. Here is what you need:

• self raising flour
• baking powder
• salt
• butter
• caster (superfine) sugar 
• glace (candied) cherries
• 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 any self-raisng 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, 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 baking spread instead of butter to make cherry scones?

You can use baking spread to make Air Fryer Cherry Scones. You can also use other vegetable spreads as long as they are 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 glace cherries?

Glacé cherries or candied cherries are fresh cherries that have been gently cooked in a sugar syrup until they are absorb the sugar and become slightly translucent and the end result is a concentrated sweet version of the original fruit.

I buy glace cherry halves for convenience but still cut those in half to create quarter cherries for this recipe. These smaller pieces are easier to distribute through the scones resulting in a cherry in every bite!

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 make Air Fryer Cherry 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 glace cherries with the milk just before you plan to make your Air Fryer Cherry 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 Air Fryer Cherry 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.

Can I make more than 4 scones?

I can fit four scones cut with a 6 cm (2 1/2 in) cutter into my air fryer and sometimes a little extra one made from the last of the trimmings! If I cut them with a smaller cutter then I can definitely fit in more scones.

If you plan to make a batch of 8 scones or more then it’s probably more efficient to bake them in the oven at 200C (400F) for 10 minutes. Unless you have a larger air fryer or a double-drawer model which allows you to bake more!

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 Cherry Scones are suitable for vegetarians.

Gluten Free

This scone recipe contains wheat flour and is not suitable for a gluten-free diet. Try these Gluten Free Cherry Scones from The Gluten Free Alchemist.

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

How should I serve Air Fryer Cherry Scones

I like to serve cherry scones slightly warm and fresh from the air fryer. Split the scone and spread each half with butter, then top with jam. I suggest that you use a cherry jam such as my Mixed Red Berry Cherry Jam for maximum cherry impact!

If you plan to serve these scones as part of a classic afternoon tea then cut them with a smaller cookie cutter and load them with jam and cream. For an extra special treat I like to use clotted cream which is beautifully thick and sits well on the scone. I know some have strong feelings about whether to serve the jam on top or the cream on top, just do it whichever way you like because it tastes absolutely delicious.

More Air Fryer Sweet Scone Recipes

More Scone Recipes