These Vegan Apple Cinnamon Scones are loaded with fresh apples, topped with an incredible cinnamon streusel and drizzled in a delightful spiced glaze. Great for a breakfast treat, a snack, or even dessert. Let's learn how to make them!
Scones get a bad rap. Dry, dense and crumbly? Not here! This recipe produces eight beautiful scones with a crisp exterior bite and a soft, moist inside. The perfect way to eat Dessert for Breakfast!
Scones can also be incredibly easy to make. If you've never made them before, be sure to check out our post: How to Make Vegan Scones. The tips you find here will help give you perfect scones every time.
Looking for more apple cinnamon recipes? Try our Vegan Apple Cinnamon Cupcakes and our Vegan Apple Cider Donuts.
Vegan apple cinnamon scone ingredients:
Here's a breakdown of each ingredient in these scones:
- all-purpose flour: Forms the base structure of the scones, providing a stable framework for the dough while maintaining tenderness.
- granulated sugar: Adds sweetness to balance the tartness of the apples and enhances the flavor of the cinnamon.
- baking powder: Acts as a leavening agent, helping the scones rise and become light and fluffy.
- salt: Enhances the overall flavor by balancing sweetness and bringing out the cinnamon and apple notes.
- cinnamon: Adds warm, spicy flavor that complements the apples perfectly, giving the scones their signature fall-inspired taste.
- vegan butter: Provides richness and creates a flaky, tender texture by forming small pockets of fat in the dough.
- nondairy milk: Binds the ingredients together into a cohesive dough.
- apples: Add moisture, natural sweetness, and texture to the scones. You can use any apples you like.
Each ingredient plays a critical role in achieving the ideal flavor, texture, and structure for these vegan apple cinnamon scones.
Streusel topping ingredients:
- all-purpose flour: All purpose flour is added to streusel topping to help bind the mixture together and give it a crumbly texture.
- brown sugar: Bring sweetness along with a nice golden color to the scones.
- cinnamon: Cinnamon brings a beautiful warmth to streusel. It cuts through the sweetness of the sugar and provides greater dimension in flavor.
- ginger: Ginger adds "spiciness" to baked goods. It pairs well with other warming spices in sugary eats.
- vegan butter: Works as the "glue" in the streusel. Provides richness and gives scones their crisp exterior.
How to make vegan apple cinnamon scones (with pictures!):
Please see the recipe card at the bottom of the page for full instructions and ingredient measurements.
Begin by chilling the dry ingredients - flour, sugar, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Stir in the diced apples. Add the nondairy milk and stir until dough comes together. Wrap dough disk in plastic and chill for at least 30 minutes.
Lay the chilled dough on a lightly-floured surface. Roll/shape into a circle with an 8-9 inch diameter. Cut into 8 equal pieces. Lay triangles on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Prepare the streusel by adding all of the ingredients to a bowl and mixing until no large butter clumps remain.
Lightly brush each scone with nondairy milk. Sprinkle heavily with streusel topping. Bake on center rack of an oven preheated to 375 degrees F (190 C) for 20-25 minutes or until golden.
Allow scones to cool completely before drizzling with the glaze. Serve.
What to avoid when making scones:
When making scones, here are some common pitfalls to avoid for the best results:
- Over-mixing the Dough: Over-working the dough can activate the gluten in the flour, leading to dense, tough scones instead of light and tender ones. Mix just until the ingredients come together.
- Using Warm Butter: Warm or melted butter won’t create the small pockets of fat needed for flaky layers. Always use cold butter and handle it quickly to prevent it from softening.
- Adding Too Much Liquid: Adding excessive liquid can make the dough too wet, resulting in heavy scones. Start with the lower end of the liquid measurement and add more gradually if needed.
- Skipping the Chill Time: If the dough gets too warm, the butter will melt before baking, reducing flakiness. Chill the dough before baking, especially if it’s been handled a lot.
- Cutting the Scones Too Thin: Thinly cut scones won’t rise properly and may bake unevenly. Aim for a thickness of at least 1–1.5 inches.
- Overcrowding the Baking Sheet: Place scones with some space between them to allow for even baking and proper rise. Crowding can cause uneven heat distribution.
By paying attention to these potential issues, you’ll ensure your scones come out light, flaky, and delicious every time.
Tips and tricks:
Here are some tips that will ensure your scones turn out perfectly:
- Don't over-mix the dough: Stop stirring as soon as the dough comes together.
- Adjust liquid gradually: Start with the lower end of the liquid measurement and add more as needed. The dough should hold together without being overly sticky.
- Handle the dough gently: When shaping the dough, handle it gently to avoid overworking it. Pat it into a disc and cut out scones using a sharp, floured cutter or shape them into rustic triangles.
- Dice apples evenly: Cut the apples into small, uniform pieces (about ¼ inch) to ensure even distribution and consistent baking.
- Chill the scones before baking: Place the shaped scones on a baking sheet and refrigerate them for about 15-20 minutes before baking. Chilling helps solidify the fat in the dough, resulting in flakier scones.
- Avoid over-baking: Check the scones for doneness at the minimum bake time. Over-baking can dry them out. They should be golden on the outside and slightly firm.
With these scone tips, your vegan apple cinnamon scones will turn out flavorful, flaky, and delicious every time!
Best apples to use when making scones:
The best apples for scones are those that hold their shape during baking and provide a balance of sweetness and tartness. Here are some great choices:
- Granny Smith: Their firm texture holds up well in baking, preventing the apples from turning mushy, and their tartness balances the sweetness of the scones.
- Honeycrisp: They maintain their structure while baking and add a refreshing sweetness that pairs well with cinnamon.
- Fuji: Their natural sweetness can reduce the need for additional sugar in the recipe, and they stay firm when baked.
- Braeburn: Sweet-tart apples with subtle spice notes. They are flavorful and hold their shape.
- Pink Lady (Cripps Pink): Their balance of sweetness and acidity enhances the overall flavor of the scones, while their firm texture prevents them from becoming mushy.
Avoid Soft Apple varieties like Red Delicious or McIntosh which are too soft and may become overly mushy during baking, affecting the scone's texture.
Frequently asked questions:
Yes, but keep in mind that whole wheat flour can make the scones denser. To maintain a lighter texture, you can use a 50/50 mix of whole wheat and all-purpose flour. Alternatively, use white whole wheat flour for a milder flavor.
Peeling is recommended for a smoother texture, but you can leave the skins on for added fiber and a more rustic look if desired.
Coconut oil (chilled and solid) or a vegan shortening can be used as a substitute for vegan butter. Keep it cold for the best results.
This can happen if the dough wasn’t chilled or if too much liquid was added. Ensure the vegan butter stays cold and adjust the liquid carefully.
Ensure the vegan butter is very cold and avoid overmixing the dough. Also, chilling the shaped dough before baking helps retain the flaky texture.
The scones are ready when they are golden brown on the edges and firm to the touch. This usually takes about 15–20 minutes at 400°F (200°C).
Yes! Prepare the dough, shape it, and refrigerate overnight. Bake directly from the fridge the next day, adding 1–2 extra minutes to the baking time.
How to store vegan apple cinnamon scones:
Allow the scones to cool completely before storing them. They will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days or can be frozen for up to 1 month!
Please remember if you make this recipe to snap a pic and share with @censoredbaker on instagram!
PrintVegan Apple Cinnamon Scones
Classic apple scones topped with a crumbly streusel topping and sticky-sweet glaze! Great for breakfast, snacks and dessert.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Bake Time: 20
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 8 scones 1x
- Category: Dessert for Breakfast
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
For the Scones
2 cups all purpose flour
⅓ cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ cup vegan butter, cold
¼-½ cup nondairy milk, cold
1 ½ cups apples, peeled and diced (¼ inch in size)
For the Streusel Topping
½ cup all purpose flour
3 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground ginger
pinch of salt
2 tablespoons vegan butter, softened
For the Glaze
1 cup powdered sugar
1 tablespoon nondairy milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
⅛ teaspoon ground cinnamon
pinch of salt
Instructions
- Chill Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together all purpose flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Place this bowl in the freezer while you peel and dice your apples. The colder your ingredients the better.
- Make Dough: Once apples are ready, remove your dry ingredients from the freezer and cut in cold butter using a pastry cutter until mixture is fine and crumbly. Stir in the apples, distributing evenly. Add ¼ cup cold, nondairy milk to the bowl and stir until dough begins to come together. Pull dough into a ball using your hands. If dough is still too dry, continue adding in nondairy milk 1 tablespoon at a time until dough comes together. You do not want it to be too wet. Do not overwork. Shape into a small disk, wrap in plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
- Streusel Topping: To make the streusel topping, combine all purpose flour, brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, ginger and salt in a bowl. Add vegan butter and work with a fork until ingredients are well-combined and there are no large chunks of butter.
- Prepare Scones: Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 C) and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside. Remove dough from the fridge and place on a lightly floured surface. Roll/shape disk into a circle that is roughly 8-9 inches in diameter. Using a sharp knife, cut circle into 8 equal-sized triangle pieces. Place each of the scones onto your prepared baking sheet leaving a little space between each. Place baking sheet in the freezer for 10 minutes.
- Bake: Brush each scone with nondairy milk and sprinkle generously with streusel topping. Really pack it on. Place baking sheet on center rack of preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes or until scones look golden grown. Remove from the oven and allow to cool on baking sheet at least 15 minutes prior to serving.
- Glaze: Whisk all of the glaze ingredients together in a bowl until smooth. Drizzle over cooled scones. Serve.
Notes
*Scones will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days. They can also be frozen for up to 1 month.
*It's important to add apples to the dry ingredients prior to adding the nondairy milk. This will make it easier to evenly distribute them throughout.
More vegan scone recipes:
- Vegan Strawberry Rhubarb Scones
- Vegan Chocolate Chip Scones
- Vegan Pumpkin Scones
- Vegan Lemon Blueberry Scones
Leela says
Lyndsey Hiltner says
Thank you for the review!!