How to Perfectly Make Air Fryer Fruit Scones at Home
Scones are a beloved treat in many cultures, perfect for breakfast, afternoon tea, or a delicious snack. These tender, slightly crumbly pastries are traditionally baked in the oven, but with the rise of air fryers, making scones at home has become even easier and quicker. The beauty of air fryer scones lies in their ability to cook evenly while achieving that crispy exterior and soft, airy inside that we all crave. If you’re a fan of scones and love the sweetness of fruit-based versions, this simple recipe for Air Fryer Fruit Scones will make your day.
In this guide, we’ll show you how to create delicious fruit scones with just a few key ingredients, an air fryer, and a little patience. If you’re specifically looking for a sultana scone recipe, you’re in the right place! With the use of self-raising flour, unsalted butter, and a touch of sweetness, these scones are an easy yet indulgent treat to make at home.
The Benefits of Using an Air Fryer for Scones
Air fryers have revolutionized the way we cook, offering a quick and easy alternative to traditional baking. Whether you’re a busy parent, a working professional, or someone who just loves making homemade treats without a lot of fuss, an air fryer is a kitchen game-changer.
When it comes to baking scones, the air fryer can deliver results comparable to an oven, but much faster. The hot air circulating around the scones helps them bake evenly, creating a golden brown crust with a soft, fluffy interior. Additionally, the air fryer doesn’t require preheating, which cuts down on the total cooking time.
With an air fryer, you can also cook smaller batches of scones, which means no excess leftover baked goods sitting around. Whether you’re making a quick snack for yourself or preparing a treat for your family, the air fryer makes the entire process more efficient.
Key Ingredients for Air Fryer Fruit Scones
Creating the perfect fruit scones requires a combination of quality ingredients that work harmoniously together. In this recipe, the ingredients chosen are both simple and accessible, ensuring you can make these scones anytime you desire.
1. Self-Raising Flour
Self-raising flour is an essential ingredient in this scone recipe because it contains both flour and a leavening agent, such as baking powder. This helps the scones rise while baking, ensuring they have that light, fluffy texture. If you don’t have self-raising flour, you can make your own by adding baking powder to regular all-purpose flour.
2. Unsalted Butter
Butter adds richness and flavor to scones, giving them their tender texture. It’s important to use unsalted butter in this recipe so you can control the salt content yourself. Cold butter is best, as it creates a flaky texture when combined with the flour.
3. Caster Sugar
Caster sugar is a fine sugar that dissolves easily, providing sweetness without making the scone too sugary. It’s the ideal choice for this recipe as it blends well into the dough, giving a delicate sweetness.
4. Currants (or Sultanas)
For the fruit aspect of the scones, currants are used, though you can easily substitute them with sultanas or raisins. The dried fruit provides a natural sweetness and chewy texture that contrasts beautifully with the softness of the scone.
5. Egg
Eggs are vital for binding the dough and giving the scones structure. In this recipe, you’ll use one medium egg for the dough and an additional small beaten egg to brush over the top of the scones before air frying them. The egg wash gives the scones a golden, shiny finish once baked.
6. Skimmed Milk
Skimmed milk helps to bring the dough together. It’s important to add the milk gradually to prevent making the dough too sticky or too dry. Adjust the amount of milk based on the consistency of your dough.
Kitchen Tools You’ll Need for This Recipe
- Air Fryer: The star of this recipe, allowing for quick and efficient scone baking.
- Round Cookie Cutters: You’ll need a set of round cutters to shape your scones. You can use any size you prefer depending on how large or small you want your scones to be.
- Mixing Bowl: A large bowl to combine the dry ingredients and butter before adding the egg and milk.
- Rolling Pin: To roll out the dough to the desired thickness.
- Slotted Spoon: To handle the scones once they’re air-fried, especially if you need to transfer them onto a cooling rack.
Step-by-Step Guide to Making Air Fryer Fruit Scones
Step 1: Preparing the Dry Ingredients
Start by placing the self-raising flour and caster sugar into a large mixing bowl. The flour serves as the base for your dough, while the sugar adds sweetness to the scones.
Step 2: Incorporating the Butter
Cut the unsalted butter into small chunks and add it to the flour and sugar mixture. Using your fingers or a pastry cutter, rub the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs. This step is key to creating a light, flaky texture in your scones.
Step 3: Adding the Egg and Currants
Crack the medium egg into the mixture and stir to combine. The egg will help bind everything together. Once the egg is incorporated, fold in the currants or sultanas. You can add more dried fruit if you like a fruitier scone.
Step 4: Forming the Dough
Gradually add the skimmed milk to the mixture, a little at a time, until the dough comes together. It should be soft but not too sticky. Be careful not to add too much milk—just enough to form a ball of dough that holds together.
Step 5: Rolling Out the Dough
Lightly flour your work surface and rolling pin to prevent the dough from sticking. Roll out the dough to your desired thickness. For smaller scones, aim for about 1.5 cm (0.5 inches) thick. If you want traditional-sized scones, roll the dough a bit thicker.
Step 6: Cutting the Scones
Using a round cookie cutter, cut out the scone shapes from the rolled dough. Place the cut scones on a tray lined with parchment paper, or if you’re ready to cook them, you can place them directly into the air fryer basket.
Step 7: Air Frying the Scones
Preheat your air fryer to 180°C (360°F). Depending on the size of your air fryer and the number of scones, you may need to cook in batches. Place the scones in the air fryer basket, leaving space between them so they can cook evenly. Brush the tops of each scone with the beaten egg to give them a golden finish.
Air fry the scones for 8 minutes, or until they are golden brown on top. Keep an eye on them to ensure they don’t overcook.
Step 8: Serving the Scones
Once cooked, remove the scones from the air fryer using a slotted spoon. Place them on a cooling rack or serving plate to cool slightly before serving. Serve warm with a generous spread of butter, clotted cream, or even some jam for an extra touch of indulgence.
Quick and Easy Air Fryer Fruit Scone Recipe
Ingredients:
- 225 g self-raising flour
- 50 g unsalted butter (cold)
- 35 g caster sugar
- 50 g currants (or sultanas)
- 1 medium egg
- 1 small egg (beaten, for egg wash)
- 60 ml skimmed milk
Instructions:
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a bowl, combine self-raising flour and caster sugar.
- Add Butter: Chop cold butter into small chunks and rub it into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Crack in 1 medium egg and stir. Add currants and combine.
- Form Dough: Gradually add 60 ml of milk to form a soft dough.
- Roll and Cut: Roll dough on a floured surface and cut into rounds using a cookie cutter.
- Air Fry: Brush the scones with the beaten egg wash, place them in the air fryer, and cook at 180°C (360°F) for 8 minutes.
- Serve: Serve warm with butter or jam.
Enjoy your perfect air fryer fruit scones, baked to perfection in minutes!
