Quick and Easy Air Fryer Cheese Scones Recipe

Serve these easy-to-make cheese scones at a savory afternoon tea, paired with crumbly local blue cheese, cherry tomatoes, and chutney! They’re also a fantastic addition to any soup! This recipe yields a small batch (5 scones, using a 5cm round cutter), ensuring they air fry evenly and quickly.

If you’re a fan of scones, you may also enjoy my sweet air fryer scone recipe, which pairs perfectly with jam and clotted cream! ✔️ Why you’ll love this recipe:

A quick and easy air fryer cheese scone recipe.
Customizable with various flavors and add-ins like herbs, spices, or different cheeses.
Freezer-friendly, making it perfect for batch cooking.
Ideal for lunch or a savory afternoon tea.

Ingredient Notes

Flour – Self-raising flour is used to give the scones a light, fluffy rise.
Salt – Enhances the flavor.
Cayenne – Adds a subtle kick of heat, which complements the cheese.
Mustard Powder – Brings out the rich flavor of extra mature cheddar.
Baking Powder – Assists in the scones’ rise.
Butter – Chilled and cubed. Unsalted butter is preferable for better control over salt levels.
Cheese – Grated extra-mature cheddar, though feel free to swap with other cheeses like Red Leicester.
Milk – Whole full-fat milk (or semi-skimmed) works best.
Lemon Juice – Used to sour the milk, contributing to the scones’ light and fluffy texture.

You’ll also need a little plain flour for kneading and extra milk for glazing.

🔪 How to make cheese scones in an air fryer
You’ll find the full recipe card with ingredient quantities and detailed instructions at the bottom of this post.

Preheat your air fryer to 200°C (400°F).
In a large mixing bowl, combine the dry ingredients: self-raising flour, salt, cayenne, mustard powder, and baking powder. Mix them well. Add the chilled cubed butter to the bowl and rub it in with your hands until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.
Stir in 100g of the grated cheese (reserve the remaining cheese for the tops).
Heat the milk in the microwave for about 20 seconds, then add around ¼ teaspoon of lemon juice. Let the mixture stand for 2-3 minutes. Pour the soured milk into the bowl and use a metal dinner knife to mix it in.
Once the dough starts coming together, use your hands to form it into a ball.
Lightly flour your work surface, then gently knead the dough for a few seconds to cover it in flour. Shape the dough into a 3 cm thick disc with your hands, then use a 5cm cookie cutter to stamp out 5 scones. You may need to reshape the dough into a disc a few times to use it all up.
Using a pastry brush, glaze the tops of the scones with milk, then sprinkle the remaining grated cheese on top.
Place the scones in the air fryer basket and air fry for 8 minutes, until the scones have risen and turned golden brown.

Top Tips:

Always use cold cubed butter. Warm butter will make the dough sticky, while cold butter ensures a flaky texture once baked.
You don’t need a rolling pin to roll out the dough – simply shape it into a disc with your hands.
Try to handle the dough as little as possible to prevent warming the butter with your hands, which can lead to a dense, tough texture.
Ensure your self-raising flour and baking powder are within their expiry dates for optimal rising results.
Alternatively, you can use a food processor to make the dough by pulsing the ingredients. Just be cautious not to overwork it!

🍴 Serving Suggestions:
Cheese scones are a quintessential British treat, best served warm with butter, chutney, cheese, and salad vegetables.

Easy Air Fryer Cheese Scones

Make delicious cheese scones in your air fryer! Quick, easy, and perfect for a savory tea time. These fluffy, golden scones are packed with cheesy goodness.

Course: Baking
Prep Time: 8 minutes
Cook Time: 8 minutes
Total Time: 16 minutes
Servings: 5
Calories: 329 kcal

Equipment:

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

Ingredients:

Metric (US Customary)
175g Self-Raising Flour
¼ teaspoon Salt
⅛ teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
¼ teaspoon Mustard Powder
½ teaspoon Baking Powder
55g Unsalted Butter (chilled and cubed)
120g Extra Mature Cheddar Cheese (grated)
85ml Whole Milk
¼ teaspoon Lemon Juice (fresh)
Other Ingredients:
2 tablespoons Plain Flour (for dusting)
2 tablespoons Milk (for glazing)

Instructions:

Preheat the air fryer to 200°C (400°F).
In a large mixing bowl, combine the dry ingredients: self-raising flour, salt, cayenne, mustard powder, and baking powder. Mix well.
Add the chilled cubed butter to the dry mixture and rub it in with your hands until it forms fine breadcrumbs.
Stir in the grated cheese, saving a few heaping tablespoons for the topping.
Heat the milk in the microwave for 20 seconds, then add about ¼ teaspoon of lemon juice. Let it sit for 2-3 minutes. Pour the soured milk into the bowl and use a metal dinner knife to mix it into the dough.
Once the dough begins to come together, use your hands to form it into a ball.
Lightly flour your work surface and knead the dough for a few seconds. Shape it into a 3 cm thick disc, then stamp out 5 scones using a 5cm cookie cutter. Keep reshaping the dough into a disc until you’ve used it all up.
Brush the tops of the scones with milk, then sprinkle with the reserved grated cheese.
Place the scones in the air fryer basket and air fry for 8 minutes until they are risen and golden brown.

Expert Tips:

Cold butter is key! Avoid using soft or warm butter, as it will make the dough sticky and result in a less flaky texture.
No rolling pin needed! Shape the dough into a disc with your hands.
Handle the dough minimally and keep your hands cool to avoid melting the butter, which can lead to tough scones.
Ensure your self-raising flour and baking powder are fresh and in-date for optimal rising.
For convenience, use a food processor with the pulse function to make the dough, but don’t overwork it!

Variations:

Different cheeses: Try swapping the cheddar for blue cheese, gruyere, or Parmesan. You could also add chopped walnuts for crunch!
Flavour options: Add a pinch of garlic powder, dried thyme, or fresh oregano/rosemary for extra flavor.
Heat: Add a pinch of chili powder for a spicy kick.
Bacon: Stir in cooked bacon pieces for a smoky, savory flavor.

Storage:

Store: Keep air fryer cheese scones at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 2-3 days. Let them cool completely before storing.
Reheat: Place the scones back in the air fryer for a few minutes to warm them through, or use the microwave/oven.
Freeze: Freeze cooled scones in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 3 months. Defrost at room temperature before serving.