Why Make Scones in an Air Fryer?
Scones are a classic tea‑time treat. But baking in a conventional oven can consume time and energy, and small batches may not heat evenly. The air fryer offers advantages:
Rapid hot circulating air gives good rise and browning.
Smaller batches cook more uniformly (less wasted space).
You avoid heating your whole kitchen — good for hot days.
You can test small variations (cheese, fruit) without baking a whole tray.
Multiple sources confirm good results:
BBC Good Food gives an Air‑fryer Scones recipe using self‑raising flour, butter, sugar, milk, etc.
Good Food
Olive Magazine shares a version with buttermilk and a chilling step before air frying.
olivemagazine
AirFryerRecipe.co.uk offers a quick version (225 g self‑raising flour, cold butter, egg, milk) baked ~10–12 min.
airfryerrecipe.co.uk
Jamie Oliver has both a sweet and savory (cheddar & chive) air fryer scone recipe.
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These form the basis for our comprehensive recipe plus best practices.
Ingredient Theory & How to Choose Components
Understanding each ingredient helps you tweak things and avoid mistakes.
Ingredient Why It’s Used Flexibility / Variations
Self‑raising flour Already contains leavening (baking powder) so simpler If using plain flour, you’ll need to add baking powder (often ~2 tsp per 225 g)
Butter (cold) Creates flaky layers by releasing steam in the dough Use unsalted or lightly salted; keep it cold until mixing (don’t overwork)
Sugar Adds sweetness and color You can reduce or omit for savory scones; substitute with brown sugar or honey (adjust moisture)
Milk (or buttermilk) Hydrates the dough; buttermilk gives tang and tender crumb You can use milk + a splash of vinegar or yogurt to mimic buttermilk
Egg Adds richness, helps browning, improves structure Some recipes skip egg or use just milk, but including it helps texture and color
Leavening (baking powder) Helps the scones rise If your flour is self‑raising, don’t overdo baking powder; if plain, add enough
Salt Balances flavor Don’t skip — even sweet scones benefit from a touch of salt
Optional add-ins (fruit, cheese, nuts, seeds) To vary flavor & texture Fold gently so as not to deflate dough
Some recipes also call for a chill step (letting dough rest in fridge) to firm up fat and help better rise/browning. Olive Magazine’s recipe does that.
olivemagazine
One notable variant: Cheddar & Chive Air Fryer Scones from Jamie Oliver include mustard powder, cayenne, chives, and plenty of cheese for a savory take.
Jamie Oliver
Another source warns that air-frying scones can lead to uneven bottoms (raw in center) if one isn’t careful with the heat and arrangement.
So we’ll build in techniques to prevent common issues.
Step‑by‑Step Master Air Fryer Scones Recipe
Below is a full, detailed method you can follow (with commentary, tips, and optional paths).
Yield & Timing
Yield: ~6 scones (using ~200–225 g flour)
Prep: ~10–15 minutes
(Optional chilling/rest): 10–20 minutes
Cook (air fryer): ~12–18 minutes (batch by batch)
Total: ~25–35 minutes (or ~40–45 if you include chilling)
Ingredients (Base Sweet Version)
225 g self‑raising flour (plus extra for dusting)
airfryerrecipe.co.uk
50 g cold butter, cut into small cubes
airfryerrecipe.co.uk
25 g caster (granulated) sugar
airfryerrecipe.co.uk
1 egg
100 ml milk
airfryerrecipe.co.uk
Pinch of salt
Optional: add raisins, chocolate chips, dried cranberries, or flavourings (e.g. vanilla, lemon zest)
For brushing: extra milk or egg wash
If you prefer a richer / tangier version, you can use buttermilk + milk combinations (as in the Olive version).
olivemagazine
For savory: Jamie’s cheddar & chive version calls for 200 g self‑raising flour, 1 tsp baking powder, mustard powder, cayenne, 75 g butter, 120 g cheese, chives, 70 ml milk, etc.
Jamie Oliver
Equipment & Setup
Air fryer (basket or drawer style); note capacity and heating behavior
Mixing bowl
Pastry cutter / fork (or fingers) to rub in butter
Rolling / flattening tool or your hands
Sharp cutter (round or fluted) or knife
Parchment paper (cut to fit air fryer basket)
Pastry brush
Cooling rack
Instructions (Base Sweet Scones)
1. Prepare & Preheat
Preheat your air fryer to 180 °C (≈ 356 °F) (many recipes use this)
Good Food
Alternatively, some start at 190 °C (for hotter finish)
olivemagazine
Rub the air fryer basket/tray lightly with oil or line with parchment (making holes for air circulation)
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2. Mix Dry Ingredients & Rub in Butter
In a bowl, combine self‑raising flour, sugar, and a pinch of salt
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Add cold butter cubes; using fingertips (or a pastry cutter), rub the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs or small flakes
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The idea is to have bits of butter still intact for steam/flakiness, not to fully mix.
3. Add Wet Ingredients & Form Dough
In a separate small bowl, whisk the egg + milk (or plus buttermilk) together
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airfryerrecipe.co.uk
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Pour the wet mixture into the flour + butter mixture, stirring gently until a soft dough forms. Don’t overmix — you want just combined.
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If too dry, you may add a splash more milk; if too sticky, lightly dust with more flour.
4. (Optional) Chill the Dough
Some recipes recommend chilling the dough for ~10–20 minutes to firm up the butter and improve rise and texture. Olive version does this.
olivemagazine
Chilling can also help with clean cuts and reducing spreading.
5. Shape & Cut
Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface.
Gently knead (a few folds) to bring together; avoid overworking.
Pat or roll to an even thickness (e.g. ~2 cm or ~3 cm thick, depending on your preference)
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Use a sharp cutter (round or fluted) to cut scones. Press straight down; avoid twisting, which can inhibit rise.
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Re‑roll offcuts to cut more scones (minimal handling).
6. Brush & Arrange in Air Fryer
Lightly brush the tops of scones with milk or egg wash for better browning.
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Place them spaced apart in the air fryer basket (they need room to rise). Don’t overcrowd. Some recipes say you may need to bake in batches.
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7. Air Fry / Bake
Bake at ~180 °C for 12 minutes (some do 14–18 min) until golden, risen, and baked through.
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If your air fryer is larger or hotter, check around 10 min.
Rotate or reposition mid‑bake if necessary to ensure even cooking.
8. Cool & Serve
Remove scones gently; place on a cooling rack.
Let cool slightly (a few minutes) — still warm is ideal.
Serve with jam, clotted cream, butter, or toppings of your choice.
Full Printable Master Air Fryer Scones Recipe
Here’s a consolidated version you can print or follow offline.
Air Fryer Scones (Sweet Version)
Makes ~6 scones
Total Time: ~25–35 minutes
Ingredients
225 g self-raising flour
50 g cold butter, cubed
25 g caster sugar
1 egg
100 ml milk
Pinch of salt
(Optional add-ins: raisins, chocolate chips, dried fruit)
For brushing: extra milk or egg wash
Method
Preheat air fryer to 180 °C; grease or line basket.
Mix flour, sugar, salt. Rub in cold butter until crumbly.
Whisk egg + milk; pour into dry mix and stir to form soft dough.
(Optional) Chill dough 10–20 min.
Turn onto floured surface; knead lightly. Pat to ~2 cm thickness.
Cut out scones with sharp cutter; re-roll offcuts.
Brush tops with milk or egg wash.
Place scones in air fryer spaced apart.
Cook ~12 minutes (adjust 10–14 min by your fryer) until golden and risen.
Cool slightly and serve warm with jam, cream, or butter.
Variations, Savory Versions & Flavor Twists
You can go beyond basic sweet scones. Here are flavorful ideas:
Cheddar & Chive Scones (Savory)
From Jamie Oliver: use cheddar cheese, chives, mustard powder, cayenne, salt, butter, milk. Bake 12 min at 180 °C in air fryer.
Jamie Oliver
Great served with soup, salad, or in a savory platter.
Lemon & Poppy Seed Scones
Jamie Oliver offers this version: zest lemon, use poppy seeds, milk, flour, etc. Bake ~12 min at 180 °C.
Jamie Oliver
Serve with ricotta, berries, or jam.
White Chocolate & Raspberry Scones
From Taste: 300 g self‑raising flour, 40 g butter, 60 g white chocolate, 185 ml milk, frozen raspberries, cook at 180 °C for ~12 min.
www.taste.com.au
Everything Scones
Jamie’s “everything” version: seeds (poppy, sesame, nigella, garlic granules) folded into dough; then topped as garnish; serve with cream cheese, smoked salmon, dill.
Jamie Oliver
Cream Soda Scones
Tesco Real Food has a “cream soda” scone using cream soda / lemonade + cream in place of milk + buttermilk, baked ~12 min in air fryer.
تيسكو طعام حقيقي
Cheese Scones (3‑ingredient style)
Reddit user shares a simple recipe: 1 cup self-raising flour, ~2 cups cheese (cheddar + Parmesan), ½ cup milk. Bake at 200 °C for 8 min, flip, another few minutes.
Each variation follows the same baseline technique: cold fat, minimal mixing, sharp cut, spaced in fryer, bake until golden.
Tips, Troubleshooting & Best Practices
When adapting to your specific air fryer (size, heat, airflow), applying these tips will help you get consistent results.
Common Issues & How to Fix Them
Issue Cause Solution
Scones golden on top but raw inside Air fryer too hot / cooking too fast on outside Reduce temperature slightly, extend time, or cook lower for longer
Underside soggy or pale Not enough heat or airflow at bottom Preheat basket, use perforated parchment, flip mid‑cook if possible
Tough or dense scones Overmixing dough, rough handling Mix just until combined; handle dough gently; avoid overworking
Scones don’t rise Butter too warm, dough warm, or no leavening Use cold butter, chill dough, ensure flour has correct rising agent
Scones stick to basket Basket not greased or parchment not used Lightly oil basket or use parchment with holes for air circulation
Burnt edges Too high heat or too long Lower the temperature or shorten cooking time
Dry interior Overcooking, too much flour, not enough fat Reduce flour, shorten bake, add fat (butter, milk)
Best Practices & Tips
Cold butter is essential — this gives flakiness and helps create layers.
Don’t overmix — stop when the dough just comes together.
Sharp cutter, not twisting — press straight down to cut so scones rise well.
Space generously in air fryer — allow circulation for rise and browning.
Chill the dough (optional) — especially in warm kitchens, chilling helps preserve butter pieces and improve texture.
Preheat your air fryer — start with a hot basket so scones begin rising immediately.
Rotate or flip (if needed) — some air fryers have hotspots.
Check early — since air fryer models differ widely, check a minute or two before expected finish.
Serve fresh or warm — scones are best when warm. A quick reheat (~30 sec) helps revive them.
One Reddit user reported that their first attempt in an air fryer gave a beautiful top but raw bottom, requiring flipping and re-baking.
That underscores you may need to adapt timing or method depending on your machine.
Another shared that making scones in the air fryer doesn’t always go well — some found the texture off or dryness issues compared to oven scones.
So be ready to test and adjust.
Example Workflow & Timing (for a 6‑scone batch)
Step Task Time Estimate
Preheat air fryer & basket 2–3 min preheat to ~180 °C
Mix dry ingredients + rub in butter 2 min flour, sugar, salt, butter
Whisk wet (milk + egg) + combine to dough 1–2 min form soft dough
Chill dough (optional) 10 min helps texture, firm dough
Shape & cut scones 2–3 min pat to thickness, cut shapes
Brush and load into air fryer basket ~1 min brush tops, place spaced apart
Air fry 10–14 min cook until golden and risen
Cool & serve ~2 min transfer, slightly cool, eat
On many air fryers, you may need to do two batches if the basket is small.
Serving Suggestions & Pairings
Serve with jam and clotted cream (classic) — BBC version suggests serving that way.
Good Food
Butter + honey, or fresh berries + whipped cream
With tea or coffee for a breakfast or snack
In savory form (cheese & chive) serve alongside soup, salad, or cold cuts
Serve warm — reheat gently if needed
If you like, I can adapt this into a metric & Morrocan air fryer version (with local ingredients, oven/air fryer considerations) or send you a gluten‑free air fryer scone version. Do you want me to prepare one of those now?
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