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    Home » Recipes » Air Fryer

    Easy Air Fryer Cheese Scones Recipe

    Published: Mar 15, 2023 by Beth Sachs · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases · 2 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Air fryer cheese scones pin image.

    Easy air fryer cheese scones, baked to golden perfection in just eight minutes!

    The savoury scones are packed with rich and tangy cheddar cheese and have a light and soft texture, perfect for spreading with creamy butter.

    Cheese scones on a wooden serving board with cherry tomatoes, chutney, salad leaves and crumbly blue cheese.

    Serve these easy cheese scones for a savoury afternoon tea with crumbly local blue cheese, cherry tomatoes, and chutney! They're also great with soup!

    This recipe makes a small batch (5 scones if you use a 5cm round cutter), and that way they air fry evenly and quickly!

    Check out my eBook⭐Easy Air Fryer Recipes⭐ which includes 20 straightforward and easy-to-follow recipes for your air fryer. You'll be a pro at air fryer cooking in no time! Don't miss out, get your copy today!

    You might also like my sweet air fryer scone recipe, which is perfect with jam and clotted cream!

    Jump to:
    • ✔️ Why you'll love this recipe!
    • 🛒 Ingredient notes
    • 🥄 Equipment
    • 🔪 How to make cheese scones in air fryer
    • 💭 Expert tips
    • 🍴 Serving suggestions
    • 📖 Variations
    • 🥡 Storage
    • ❓ Frequently asked questions
    • 😋 More easy air fryer recipes
    • Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    ✔️ Why you'll love this recipe!

    • A quick and easy cheese on toast in air fryer recipe.
    • Experiment with different flavours and add-ins, such as herbs, spices, or different types of cheese.
    • Freezer-friendly and great for batch cooking.
    • Perfect for lunch or a savoury afternoon tea.

    🛒 Ingredient notes

    Flour - self-raising flour is used for cheese scones to get a nice rise.

    Salt - for seasoning and flavour.

    Cayenne - adds a touch of heat which contrasts well with the cheese.

    Mustard Powder - helps to bring out the flavour of the extra mature cheddar.

    Baking Powder - to help the scones rise.

    Butter - chilled and cubed. Unsalted is best as it allows you to control the salt content.

    Cheese - grated extra-mature cheddar cheese, but use other cheeses if you prefer such as red leicester.

    Milk - full-fat whole milk (or semi-skimmed).

    Lemon Juice - lemon juice is used to sour the milk which helps to produce a light and fluffy textured scone.

    You'll also need a little bit of plain flour for kneading and a small amount of extra milk for glazing.

    🥄 Equipment

    Which air fryer? I use the Ninja Foodi 5.8 litre Grill and Air Fryer with 4 customisable cooking functions including air fry, roast, bake, and dehydrate!

    🔪 How to make cheese scones in air fryer

    The recipe card with ingredient quantities and detailed instructions can be found at the bottom of the post

    One: Preheat the air fryer to 200C (400F).

    Two: Place the dry ingredients (self-raising flour, salt, cayenne, mustard powder and baking powder) in a large mixing bowl and give them a mix. Add the chilled cubed butter to the mixing bowl and rub it in with your hands until you get fine breadcrumbs form.

    Three: Stir in 100g of the grated cheese (the rest is needed for the tops).

    Four: Heat the milk in the microwave for 20 seconds, squeeze in a little lemon juice (about ¼ teaspoon) and leave it to stand for 2-3 minutes. Pour the soured milk into the mixing bowl and use a metal dinner knife to stir it in.

    Five: Once the scone dough has started to come together, use your hands to bring it together into a ball.

    Scone dough in a mixing bowl.

    Six: Lightly flour your work surface then knead the scone dough for a few seconds to cover it in flour. Shape the dough into a disc about 3 cm thick with your hands then stamp out 5 scones with a 5cm cookie cutter. You'll need to keep reforming the dough into a disc with your hands until you have used it all up.

    Seven: Using a pastry brush, glaze the tops of the scones with milk then sprinkle over the reserved grated cheese.

    Eight: Place the scones in your air fryer basket and air fry for 8 minutes until risen and golden brown.

    Cheese scones in an air fryer.

    💭 Expert tips

    • Always use cold cubed butter straight from the fridge. If you try to rub in soft warm butter you will be left with a sticky mess. Cold butter helps to keep the dough cool and gives the scones the perfect flakey texture once baked.
    • You don't need a rolling pin to roll out the dough. Just shape it with your hands into a disc shape.
    • When shaping the dough, try to handle it as little as possible and keep your hands cool. Warm hands can melt the butter in the dough and lead to a tough texture.
    • Make sure your self-raising flour and baking powder are in date to ensure the scones rise.
    • If you prefer, you can make the scone dough in your food processor instead, using the pulse function. Be careful not to overwork the dough though!

    🍴 Serving suggestions

    Cheese scones are a British classic and best served warm with butter, cheese, chutney and, salad vegetables.

    They can also be eaten with soup, chilli, or taken on a summer picnic!

    Cheese scones on a wooden board with cherry tomatoes and chutney.

    📖 Variations

    • Use different cheeses. Swap the grated cheddar cheese for crumbly blue cheese, gruyere, or Parmesan. You could also add some chopped walnuts for crunch!
    • Add a pinch of garlic powder for more flavour, dried herbs like thyme or even freshly chopped herbs like oregano or rosemary.
    • Love a bit of heat. Add a pinch of chilli powder to the scone dough.
    • Stir some cooked bacon pieces into the dough for a smoky savoury flavour.
    • Make sweet scones instead!

    🥡 Storage

    Store - air fryer cheese scones can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 2-3 days. Let them cool completely before storing them.

    Reheat - to reheat cheese scones, place them back in the air fryer for a few minutes to heat through, or use an oven or microwave.

    Freeze - place the cooled cheese scones in an airtight container or freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost at room temperature before serving.

    A cheddar cheese scone split in half on a blue and white plate and topped with cheese slices.

    ❓ Frequently asked questions

    How does an air fryer work?

    Air fryers use hot air to circulate around the food and cook it at high temperatures. The hot air is created by a heating element and a fan, which blows the air around the food to cook it evenly

    Do I need to preheat the air fryer?

    Yes, it's recommended to preheat the air fryer for a few minutes before baking the scones. This helps ensure that the air fryer is at the right temperature to properly cook the scones.

    Do I need to flip the scones in the air fryer?

    No, you don't need to flip the scones in the air fryer as they will cook evenly on both sides.

    😋 More easy air fryer recipes

    • Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets
    • Air Fryer Baked Camembert
    • Air Fryer Roast Potatoes
    • Air Fryer Turkey and Brie Toastie
    • Air Fryer Sausage Rolls
    • Air Fryer Tuna Melt
    Cheese scones on a wooden board.

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    Recipe

    Air fryer cheese scones with cherry tomatoes and a pot of chutney.
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    5 from 4 votes

    Easy Air Fryer Cheese Scones

    Easy air fryer cheese scones, baked to golden perfection in just eight minutes!
    Course Baking
    Cuisine British
    Keyword air fryer cheese scones, air fryer savoury scones, cheese scones in air fryer
    Prep Time 8 minutes
    Cook Time 8 minutes
    Total Time 16 minutes
    Servings 5
    Calories 329kcal
    Author Beth Sachs
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • Kitchen Scales
    • Measuring Spoons
    • Mixing Bowl
    • 5cm Cookie Cutter
    • Air Fryer
    • Pastry Brush

    Ingredients

    • 175 g Self Raising Flour
    • ¼ teaspoon Salt
    • ⅛ teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
    • ¼ teaspoon Mustard Powder
    • ½ teaspoon Baking Powder
    • 55 g Unsalted Butter chilled and cubed
    • 120 g Extra Mature Cheddar Cheese grated
    • 85 ml Whole Milk
    • ¼ teaspoon Lemon Juice fresh

    Other ingredients

    • 2 tablespoon Plain Flour for dusting
    • 2 tablespoon Milk for glazing

    Instructions

    • Preheat the air fryer to 200C (400F).
    • Place the dry ingredients into a large mixing bowl and give them a mix.
      175 g Self Raising Flour, ¼ teaspoon Salt, ⅛ teaspoon Cayenne Pepper, ¼ teaspoon Mustard Powder, ½ teaspoon Baking Powder
    • Add the chilled cubed butter to the mixing bowl and rub it in with your hands until you get fine breadcrumbs form.
      55 g Unsalted Butter
    • Stir in the grated cheese (reserving a few heaped tablespoons for the tops).
      120 g Extra Mature Cheddar Cheese
    • Heat the milk in the microwave for 20 seconds, squeeze in a little lemon juice (about ¼ teaspoon) and leave it to stand for 2-3 minutes. Pour the soured milk into the mixing bowl and use a metal dinner knife to stir it in.
      85 ml Whole Milk, ¼ teaspoon Lemon Juice
    • Once the scone dough has started to come together, use your hands to bring it together into a ball.
    • Lightly flour your work surface then knead the scone dough for a few seconds to cover it in flour. Shape the dough into a disc about 3 cm thick with your hands then stamp out 5 scones with a 5cm cookie cutter. You'll need to keep reforming the dough into a disc with your hands until you have used it all up.
      2 tablespoon Plain Flour
    • Using a pastry brush, glaze the tops of the scones with milk then sprinkle over the reserved grated cheese.
      2 tablespoon Milk, 120 g Extra Mature Cheddar Cheese
    • Place the scones in your air fryer basket and air fry for 8 minutes until risen and golden brown.

    Notes

    Expert Tips:
    • Always use cold cubed butter straight from the fridge. If you try to rub in soft warm butter you will be left with a sticky mess. Cold butter helps to keep the dough cool and gives the scones the perfect flakey texture once baked.
    • You don't need a rolling pin to roll out the dough. Just shape it with your hands into a disc shape.
    • When shaping the dough, try to handle it as little as possible and keep your hands cool. Warm hands can melt the butter in the dough and lead to a tough texture.
    • Make sure your self-raising flour and baking powder are in date to ensure the scones rise.
    • If you prefer, you can make the scone dough in your food processor instead, using the pulse function. Be careful not to overwork the dough though!
     
    Variations:
    • Use different cheeses. Swap the grated cheddar cheese for crumbly blue cheese, gruyere, or Parmesan. You could also add some chopped walnuts for crunch!
    • Add a pinch of garlic powder for more flavour, dried herbs like thyme or even freshly chopped herbs like oregano or rosemary.
    • Love a bit of heat. Add a pinch of chilli powder to the scone dough.
    • Stir some cooked bacon pieces into the dough for a smoky savoury flavour.
     
    Storage:
    Store - air fryer cheese scones can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 2-3 days. Let them cool completely before storing them.
    Reheat - to reheat cheese scones, place them back in the air fryer for a few minutes to heat through, or use an oven or microwave.
    Freeze - place the cooled cheese scones in an airtight container or freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost at room temperature before serving.
     
    Nutrition:
    The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.
     
    Nutrition Facts
    Easy Air Fryer Cheese Scones
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    329
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    18
    g
    28
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    11
    g
    69
    %
    Trans Fat
     
    0.4
    g
    Polyunsaturated Fat
     
    1
    g
    Monounsaturated Fat
     
    4
    g
    Cholesterol
     
    50
    mg
    17
    %
    Sodium
     
    327
    mg
    14
    %
    Potassium
     
    97
    mg
    3
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    30
    g
    10
    %
    Fiber
     
    1
    g
    4
    %
    Sugar
     
    1
    g
    1
    %
    Protein
     
    11
    g
    22
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    575
    IU
    12
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    0.1
    mg
    0
    %
    Calcium
     
    231
    mg
    23
    %
    Iron
     
    1
    mg
    6
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Sheila

      March 15, 2023 at 3:06 pm

      5 stars
      Wonderful texture and lovely and cheesy!

      Reply
    2. Antony

      March 15, 2023 at 3:07 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious tea time treat!

      Reply

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    Beth Sachs Food Blogger

    Hi, I’m Beth, a Mum of three (and one crazy dog), living in Cornwall, UK. I love creating easy, delicious and fuss-free recipes, perfect for busy families, just like my own.

    More about me →

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