Apple and Cranberry Scones
A sweet treat for any time of the day, by our friend Kristy, from Chocolate Slopes!
We are in the thick of winter here in Michigan but that doesn’t stop my family from enjoying apples daily. Did you know that Michigan Apples are available from August through June thanks to controlled atmosphere storage? And not only are they readily available but they are also budget-friendly. There is almost always one variety of Michigan Apples on sale at my local grocery store which definitely helps with my budget.
As a mom of three young children I love that apples are simple snacks, but I also love to add them to baked goods and meals whenever possible. Recently, I have been adding apples to not only muffins, but also to roasted vegetables and now scones. I love how easy it is to incorporate apples into many of our favorite foods without much effort. So next time you make your favorite dish, try adding apples to it, you’ll be amazed at how delicious it can be!
Apple and Cranberry Scones
Ingredients:
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 1/2 cup whole wheat white flour
• 1/4 cup old fashioned oats
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 6 tablespoons cold butter
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup buttermilk (or 1/2 cup milk + 1 teaspoon white vinegar)
• 1 cup Michigan Apples, peeled and chopped (your favorite variety)
• 1 cup fresh cranberries
• 1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
• Optional: 1/2 cup powdered sugar + 1 tablespoon milk
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. In a large bowl combine sugar, flour, oats, baking powder, salt and cinnamon.
3. Add cold butter to dry ingredients and stir in using a pastry cutter or your fingers.
4. Add in egg and buttermilk.
5. Fold in apples, cranberries and walnuts.
6. Place dough on a flour covered cutting board. Shape dough into a circle and cut into 8 equal triangles.
7. Add dough to a parchment paper lined baking sheet spaced apart evenly.
8. Bake for 18-25 minutes or until golden brown.
9. Optional: combine powdered sugar and milk and mix together until smooth. Drizzle over top of cooled scones.
Kristy Hegner is a registered dietitian and author of Chocolate Slopes, a blog focused on nutritious recipes and realistic healthy living. She lives in Metro Detroit with her husband and 3 young children. You can follow her on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram and Twitter.
