There’s nothing quite like enjoying a warm, fluffy scone on a sunny summer day — and making them at home couldn’t be easier, especially with an air fryer. Beth Sachs, a Cornish chef and founder of Effortless Foodie, shares her quick and easy scone recipe that takes just 10 minutes to prepare and only eight minutes to cook.
Beth reveals, “These golden, fluffy air fryer scones pair perfectly with strawberry jam and clotted cream, and best of all, they’re ready in just eight minutes.”
The key to achieving the perfect airy texture lies in one simple ingredient: fresh lemon juice. Adding lemon juice to milk creates a natural buttermilk substitute, which is essential for tender, light scones.
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“A squeeze of fresh lemon juice sours the milk to produce light and fluffy textured scones,” Beth explains. The acidity from the lemon juice gently curdles the milk, enhancing the dough’s softness and providing moisture. This buttermilk effect also triggers the baking powder, helping the scones rise beautifully in the air fryer, resulting in tall, fluffy, and delicious scones.
To make these scones, start by preheating your air fryer to 200°C (392°F) for five minutes. In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and cold cubed butter. Rub the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs — remember, cold butter is vital as it creates steam during cooking, which helps the scones rise. Avoid using room temperature butter, which can make the dough sticky and dense.
Next, stir in caster sugar. Warm milk in the microwave for about 30 seconds, then add fresh lemon juice and a splash of vanilla extract. Let this mixture sit for two minutes to thicken slightly. This is your homemade buttermilk. Combine it with the dry ingredients and gently knead to form a soft, slightly sticky dough.
Lightly flour your work surface and shape the dough into a disc about three centimeters thick. Use a 5cm biscuit cutter to cut out your scones, then place them on the air fryer tray. Brush the tops with a little cold milk to create a golden glaze during cooking.
Cook the scones in the air fryer for eight minutes or until they turn a beautiful golden color. Let them cool for 10 minutes before serving.
Now you have quick, scrumptious scones that are perfect for picnics, afternoon teas, or any sunny day treat. Thanks to the simple addition of lemon juice, your air fryer scones will be lighter, fluffier, and simply irresistible.