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Apple and Granola Scones

Apple and Granola Scones

Scones are a great breakfast or tea time snack food. They’re easy to make, delicious and can be subject to what seems like an almost infinite number of variations. Plain scones – served with jam and butter or clotted cream – are always a popular option, but I have a soft spot for a scone with something added into it. Currents, chocolate chips, fresh fruit or simply citrus zest all make a scone a lot more interesting. I’m always looking for new things to add into my scones to expand my repertoire.

For this batch, I decided that apples were the way to go. I always have apples around the house and, as fall really seems to be apple season, they seemed like a natural match for a scone on a cool morning. I diced up the apples after peeling them hastily, purposely leaving small bits of skin on for additional color. I stirred them into a buttermilk batter and realized that I wanted more from this batch of scones. Something crunchy. A box of almond granola in my pantry caught my eye and I mixed a handful of the crispy cereal into the scones just before baking.

The scones turned out perfectly. The bready parts were tender and buttery, with an excellent flavor from the buttermilk that I used. Fresh out of the oven, each scone had a slightly crispy top and a very moist interior; they softened somewhat after storage, but were no less delicious. The apples lent a good flavor and the granola really gave them an interesting feel, adding a small amount of crunch and a nuttiness (from both oats and almonds) that worked extremely well with the fruit. Any flavor of granola will work well in this recipe. I had good results with almond (I used a Trader Joe’s brand) and would try for a pecan granola next time for a little twist.

I topped my scones off with a sprinkling of brown sugar for additional sweetness, but a dusting of cinnamon or of cinnamon-sugar would do just as well here. You could also leave yours plain and give them a brush of melted butter or lightly beaten egg just before baking if you want a really shiny, finished look.

Apple and Granola Scones
2 cups all purpose flour
1 tbsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup butter, chilled and cut into 6 or 8 pieces
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2-3/4 cup buttermilk
1 large apple, peeled and diced
1/3 cup granola (broken up, if large chunkS)
brown sugar, for sprinkling

Preheat oven to 400F.
In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, salt and sugar.
Add the butter to the flour mixture and rub it in with your fingertips, working until mixture is sandy and the butter seems fairly evenly distributed, with a few larger bits, but none larger than a pea.
Stir in 1/2 cup buttermilk (reserving the rest), the apple and the granola. Add the remaining buttermilk 1 tbsp at a time until the dough comes together into a ball. It should not be too sticky, nor should it be floury. Add back an additional tablespoon of flour if your dough becomes too wet (possible if you have a very juicy apple).
Divide ball into two equal discs about 1-inch thick and cut each disc into quarters. Place triangular scones on a parchment-lined baking sheet and sprinkle with brown sugar.
Bake for about 20 minutes at 400F Until light golden brown. The bottoms should be browned.
Cool on a wire rack for at least 5-10 minutes before serving. Scones can be eaten warm or at room temperature.
Makes 8 scones

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10 Comments
  • Heather
    November 5, 2007

    That’s funny – I just made some apple cinnamon scones today! But I didn’t quite like how they turned out – too wheaty tasting. I still have apples on hand, so I’ll try this one too. 🙂

  • Cecilia
    November 5, 2007

    Hi I have a weak spot for scones too, I might add this recipe of yours into my recipe folder – It sounds healthy too by the way! 🙂 I would also like to share with you, two of my fav scone recipe – CWA show scones + Lady Flo’s pumpkin scone recipe.

    The recipe to both of these scones can be found at:

    http://www.theage.com.au/news/epicure/rising-to-the-occasion/2006/09/11/1157826845949.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1

    The CWA show scones (from a famous sydney bakery) are my absolute favourite – they are VERY VERY good

    Lady Flo’s pumpkin scones are very good too! Do try it with sunflower seeds in it – they taste fab!

    Thanks again for your recipe

    Cecilia

  • Julie O'Hara
    November 6, 2007

    The granola was a great idea! Great replacement for tasted nuts, I absolutely love to bake and eat scones and enjoy all the recipes on your site. For fall, I made a batch of cranberry-lemon-walnut scones last week.

  • Barbara
    November 6, 2007

    These look great, I’ll have to try them. I still have a bunch of apples left from 2 large bags from a co-worker. I’ve made Apple Butter and an Apple Galette, but still have a bunch.

    I know you peeled yours, but left bits of skin on. I’m thinking of leaving the skin completely intact. How were the bits with skin, too chewy, too hard, just fine?

  • Nicole
    November 6, 2007

    The bits of skin were just fine, although they were fairly small. Honestly, I don’t have any problems with apple peels in things like scones or muffins, but I know that there are at least a few people pickier than I am out there and if I were intending to serve them, I’d peel the apples completely. Otherwise, go for it with the skins!

  • Amy
    November 12, 2007

    Hi, I made these the other day, and they were promptly scarfed by my friends, which is testament to their total deliciousness!

    I quite often read this site, and have bookmarked so many of the recipes – I love that you manage to make so many baked things that taste fantastic, yet aren’t always laden with fat and sugar.

  • teresa
    April 28, 2010

    For this batch, I decided that apples were the way to go. I always have apples around the house and, as fall really seems to be apple season, they seemed like a natural match for a scone on a cool morning. I diced up the apples after peeling them hastily, purposely leaving small bits of skin on for additional color. I stirred them into a buttermilk batter and realized that I wanted more from this batch of scones. Something crunchy. A box of almond granola in my pantry caught my eye and I mixed a handful of the crispy cereal into the scones just before baking.

  • Catalina
    June 27, 2012

    Mine are in the oven, it’s almost time to take them out!! I’m impatient!!

  • Catalina
    June 27, 2012

    They are delicious, let me tell you. Thank you!!!!

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