Monday, October 13, 2008

Tweaked Apple Scones

apple scones

Scones are always a favorite around here. My goal is to keep things as varied as possible which means experimenting with many ideas. I start with a concept and go from there. Sometimes, I succeed on the first try. At other times, I have been known to bake the same thing three times in a row just to tweak a recipe ever so slightly until it meets my idea of perfection.

apple scones inside

My first batch of apple scones this week was good but not great. The apple flavor I was looking for wasn't coming through enough and the texture was too much like muffins. I played around with it all morning until it was just right.

apple scone on handle

Apple Scones (makes 10)
If you are not concerned about gluten or wheat, you can use 1 cup all-purpose and 1 cup of whole-wheat white flour instead. You'll also want to omit the xantham.

1/2 cup brown rice flour
1/2 cup sorghum flour
1/2 cup tapioca flour
1/2 cup millet flour
1/4 teaspoon xantham gum
1 tablespoon GF baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup turbinado sugar, or granulated
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1 tablespoon vegetable oil, or roasted walnut oil
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, diced
1 large egg, beaten
1/2 cup soymilk, or lowfat milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup walnut pieces, optional
1 cup cooking apple skin on, diced small


400F preheated oven
oiled cookie-sheet


Place the flours, xantham, baking powder, salt, sugar, and spices in a bowl and mix well.
Drizzle the oil on top and add the butter. With your fingers, work those ingredients in until the flour is well coated and forms clumps when squeezed (this should take about 2 minutes).
In a smaller bowl, combine the egg, milk and vanilla.
Form a well in the middle of the flour bowl and pour in the wet ingredients. With a wooden spoon, make circular motions to mix and form the batter. Add the diced apples.
Divide the batter into 10 patties on the prepared cookie-sheet. Place walnut pieces, if using, on top of each scones. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until bottom of scones look golden.
These are best enjoyed the same day.

scones on coffee grinder

Here's another wonderful scone recipe...
Pumpkin Chocolate Scones

19 comments:

LizNoVeggieGirl said...

I too love scones; but I LOOOOOVE those Apple ones!! Yum!! :0)

Jeanine - The Baking Beauties said...

If these are anything like the pumpkin ones, they'll be awesome!! Love the flour blend that you are using too. I don't like finding a GF recipe that just says "1 cup GF flour blend". DUH! What's in it though?? lol So, love it when I see it broken out like you've got it. Thanks! :) Wish I had an apple in the house now so I could try it!

Deeba PAB said...

I love variety in scones Alexa, & these sound ever so great (walnut oil & all). Love the wooden drawer/accessory too. PRETTY!!

Patricia Scarpin said...

I haven't baked scones in over a year, Alexa! These are inspiring!

Stacey Snacks said...

Alexa,
Great looking scones and I love the antique coffee grinder!

I am antiques dealer, so appreciate the food and the subject matter!

I am adding you to my blog roll on my site!

Stacey Snacks

Mary Ann said...

These look delicious and the pumpkin ones do too. Pumpkin and apples are my favorite things about this time of year!

Dewi said...

That is impressive Alexa, I in general will try once then blame it on the recipe or the people who wrote the recipe if their recipes didn't work. I often put a note on the page "very good" or "never tried this recipe again". And if more then 3 of the recipe in the book didn't work, then I just stop buying the the book from that author. I wish I just have the same attitude like you. Never give up never surrender!

This apple scones is one of your great attitude toward "never give up until you get the standard of your perfection!"

I like your wooden grinder and the photos look really nice!
Cheers, elra

Ramya Vijaykumar said...

Wow, the apple Scones are rocking the pictures are also wonderful... I wish you invite me over for tea...

Usha said...

The scones look very inviting and delicious....there is an award waiting for you at my blog,please check it out :-)

Jacqueline Meldrum said...

Lovely, although there are some unusual ingredients in there for me. I like the quirky presentation. The drawers remind me of old library catalogue drawers, with all the little cards inside. Am I showing my age?

CECIL said...

Looking at this scone, I am thinking..maybe maybe I should do all scones brunch one of these days! Been craving some good yummy scones. And what a lovely antique grinder! Are you a collector? Or it belongs to the family?

Alexa said...

veggiegirl,
A good scone makes your day. Doesn't it?

Jeanine,
Thanks for your nice comments. The texture on those is a little different from the pumpkin scones but still really good.

Deeba,
I am glad you liked the recipe.

Patricia,
I don't think I could go a year without scones. One of my many weaknesses.

Stacey,
Thank you so much. Your job sounds so interesting. I love antiques, especially kitchen type items.

Mary Ann,
Apples and Pumpkins are what makes Fall so special.

Elra,
I stick to it if I like the concept but I am more likely to keep trying if the recipe is my own creation. I am not this forgiving with cookbook authors. I feel that their recipes should have been well tested before they publish them.

Ramya,
I would love to have tea with you. :-)

Usha,
Thank you. You are too kind. I will come and take a look really soon.

Holler,
Are you puzzled about the gluten free flours? I could help you adapt it if you want. I remember those little boxes at the library...

Cecil,
A scone brunch sounds like fun. I am not really a collector. I would love to add to my "very" small collection of antique kitchen items though. I appreciate the elegant simplicity of these practical objects.

test it comm said...

These scones look really good!

Robin said...

These are wonderful, so pretty with the peppermill. The photos look like they are from a gourmet fancy magazine! Well done!

Anonymous said...

Yum these look great! I have a ton of apples and I need ideas to use them up! I'm not quite skillful enough to make a pie or galette, so I will definitely be making these scones this weekend, with the regular flour--thanks for providing the info about alternative ingredients.

vanillasugarblog said...

Whoa!! Now this is a scone. Oh my stars I need to make these.
You did an awesome job on these. Wow!

Sandy Smith said...

Scones are high on my list of the good things in life, so I was very happy to see these amazing-looking beauties - especially since I have 20 pounds of apples in my fridge! Your scones are a vision of edible autumn . . . thanks for the recipe!!

rachel said...

MMMMMMMMMM Alexa, I love scones I love apples- this recipe is a marriage made in baker's heaven.

Anonymous said...

these are the prettiest looking scones i've seen in quite some time! i can definitely see having these with a hot cup of coffee in the morning :)

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