Fresh Apple Cinnamon Scones (20.5)

 

Fall is the best time of year to make apple treats. After having so much success with the pumpkin scones, I had a feeling this one would be spectacular. 

I combined the dry ingredients (flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, a generous teaspoon of cinnamon, and a few grinds of fresh nutmeg) in a bowl. I cut in the cold butter with a pastry blender, until it was about halfway incorporated, leaving some larger pieces in the bowl. 

Next, the chopped apple and cinnamon chips were incorporated. I used a granny smith apple, which I had run through my apple peeler/corer/slicer, and then cut into smaller chunks. I set this bowl aside. 

In a smaller bowl, I cracked in the eggs and gave them a quick whisk. Then I incorporated the apple sauce and vanilla with the eggs until thoroughly mixed. I dumped the wet ingredients on top of the dry, and gave it a few quick folds until I could no longer see any dry flour bits. Then I put down the spatula and walked away. Over stir=gluten development=tough scones. 

I divided the dough into two equal halves, and pressed each half into a 5.5 inch round on a cookie sheet, lined with parchment paper. I brushed both circles with milk, and instead of mixing together the "topping" as instructed, I sprinkled on the cinnamon and large sugar crystals individually, so as to get an even coating. 

I used a knife to cut each circle into 6 (woefully uneven) wedges. I am horrible at eyeballing
that sort of thing. I pulled each wedge back a bit from its neighbor, and placed the whole pan straight into the freezer for 30 minutes. 

Towards the end of the chilling time,  I preheated my oven to 425. At the end of the 30 minutes, I popped the pan directly into the oven. It took about 26 minutes, in my oven, to be cooked through. 

Look at that delicious interior! Since I chopped the apples fairly small, they were perfectly soft. The cinnamon chips were a pop of flavor in every bite. They had a tight, moist crumb that was so soft and heavenly. 

I brought these straight from the oven to a brunch with friends. On their own, they were fantastic. When spread with a little homemade apple butter, they were amazing. They are a tiny bit more work than a regular apple muffin, but I'd say they're worth it. I honestly can't think of a single thing I'd change next time. Perfect 5 from me!

Scores (out of 5): Dustin: 4.5 . Breanna: 5. Michael: 4.5 James: 3.5. Andrew: 3. Total  20.5/25

https://www.kingarthurbaking.com/recipes/fresh-apple-cinnamon-scones-recipe