Easy Cinnamon Scones

4.72 from 7 votes

Drop scones like these cinnamon scones are simple to make. The ingredients come together quickly, and they bake to beautiful golden brown.

Prep Time15

Cook Time20

Total Time35

Course: Quick Breads & Muffins

Cuisine: British

Servings: scones

Author: Paige Adams

Ingredients

3 cups all-purpose flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1-1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
6 ounces chilled unsalted butter cubed
1 large egg
3/4 cup milk plus more for brushing scones
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line 2 sheet pans with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, stir together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, 1/3 cup granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon and salt.
Use a fork or a pastry blender to cut the butter into the dry ingredients, until it resembles pea-sized clumps. You can also rub the butter and flour together with your fingers.
In a small bowl, whisk together the egg, milk, maple syrup and vanilla extract. Stir into the flour-butter mixture. The dough will become shaggy. Then press it together with your hands.
Drop the dough by the generous 1/4-cup-full in mounds on the sheet pans, spacing them 3 inches apart. (You can do this with a cookie scoop.)
Combine 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon and 2 tablespoons sugar in a small bowl. Brush the tops of the scones with milk and sprinkle them with cinnamon sugar.
Bake until golden brown, about 18-20 minutes.

Notes

Scones can be served warm or at room temperature.

You can make the dough up to 3 days in advance. Cover it and store it in the refrigerator.

Scones are best the day you bake them. You can store them in an airtight container at room temperature for 1-2 days. Warm them in a 300-degree oven for 5 minutes to get their texture back.

Scones can be frozen either unbaked or baked. For unbaked scones, scoop the dough onto a lined sheet and put them in the freezer. When they are frozen, they can be put in the same airtight container and frozen up to 1 month. Do not thaw unbaked scones before you bake them at 400 degrees F for 18-20 minutes.

Frozen baked scones can be kept in an airtight container up to 1 month. Thaw them in a 325-degree F oven for 12-14 minutes.

Optional Additions:

1/2 cup cinnamon chips

1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

Zest of 1 orange

Chai spices: 1 teaspoon ground ginger, 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom, 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg and 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves in addition to 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon in the dry ingredients

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