Vegan Apple Scones made gluten-free, dairy-free, and egg-free. This healthier scone recipe is warmly-spiced with cinnamon and studded with fresh apple for an amazing melt-in-your-mouth breakfast or snack!
My grandparent’s apple trees produced an otherworldly amount of fruit this year, so I was blessed with about 27,692 apples.
Hyperbole perhaps, but I have already made my Gluten-Free Apple Cobbler, Baked Gluten-Free Apple Fritters, Paleo Apple Pie Bars, I’m back with another apple treat, and I STILL have more than half of my supply left.
What are your favorite apple treats? I must know!
The lure of these vegan apple scones knows no bounds!
Biting into one of these vegan apple scones is a whirlwind of an experience.
You get the crispy outside which gives way to the fluffy, soft interior which is warmly-spiced with cinnamon and studded with delicious soft apples.
The apples form little pockets of moisture around them, so when you get an apple pocket, it basically explodes with sweet, tangy apple cinnamon essence.
Then there’s also the glaze. My oh MY the glaze is amazing (I almost said “amaze” to make it rhyme, but I’m not ready for you to cancel me yet).
While the glaze is purely optional, I think it really adds something special to the scones. It’s actually the same recipe I use on my Maple Pecan Vegan Cinnamon Rolls maple-pecan-vegan-cinnamon-rolls-gluten-free . Perfectly sweet and creamy with maple and cinnamon essence, it really just seals the deal on the whole experience.
Have I mentioned the pockets of gooey apple splooge? If you don’t do it for the glaze, do it for the apple pockets.
Have you tried one of my scone recipes yet??
I mentioned this in my Vegan Blueberry Scones recipe, but after I discovered the formula for gluten-free vegan scones, I have shared over a dozen renditions.
All intoxicatingly addicting in their own unique right.
My top three personal favorite scone recipes on this site are my Paleo Vegan Lemon Poppy Seed Scones, Paleo Pecan Chocolate Chip Scones, and my Cranberry Orange Vegan Scones.
But after making these Vegan Apple Scones, I feel I need to squeeze them into my Top 3, because they are everything you want out of a cozy fall experience wrapped up into one neat package.
How about we discuss ingredients? We only need 5 of them for the scones, and the glaze is optional but recommended.
Ingredients for Vegan Apple Scones:
Gluten-Free All-Purpose Flour: In keeping the scones gluten-free, I use Bob’s Red Mill gluten-free 1-to-1 baking flour which is a gluten-free flour blend. While I haven’t tested the recipe using a different gluten-free blend, most blends should work great.
Do note that different brands of GF flour have slightly different absorbencies, so if your dough is sticky or doesn’t come together in a ball easily, you can simply add more flour until a workable dough forms.
It is normal for the dough to stick to your hands a little bit, but it shouldn’t be overly sticky. Similarly, if the dough is too dry, add a small amount of additional coconut milk until a good dough forms.
Full Fat Canned Coconut Milk: Canned coconut milk takes the place of butter in these vegan scones. The fat content of coconut milk ensures the scones turn out moist and fluffy and hold together perfectly. Be sure you use full-fat canned coconut milk (not light or coconut milk from a carton), or the scones won’t have the right texture.
Vanilla Extract: A warming ingredient that makes a baked good taste inviting and well-balanced. If you don’t keep vanilla extract on hand, skip it!
Baking Powder: This ingredient gives the scones that iconic crispy outside and keeps them held together. Don’t skip it, even if your flour blend contains xanthan gum and/or baking powder.
Brown Sugar (Or Raw Cane Sugar, Maple Sugar, or Coconut Sugar): The sweetener portion of the recipe. You can use brown sugar, granulated cane sugar, maple sugar, coconut sugar or a sugar-free sweetener.
Sea salt: Epic flavor enhancer! Be sure to add it, as it will bring out the flavors of the cinnamon and apple and also make the scones taste sweeter without the need for additional sweetener.
Apples: The main feature! Chop up your favorite apples for these scones. I used apples from my grandparent’s tree. It’s customary to use Granny Smith in recipes like this but I also love Gala apples.
Optional Glaze: Coconut butter, coconut milk, pure maple syrup, cinnamon, sea salt. You can also make a basic powdered sugar glaze or leave the scones as is!
How to Make Vegan Apple Scones:
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
Add the gluten-free all-purpose flour, sugar, baking powder and sea salt to a mixing bowl and stir well to combine.
Pour in the coconut milk and vanilla extract and stir well until a thick dough forms. If the dough is overly sticky and doesn’t come together in a ball easily, add more flour (3 tablespoons at a time), until a thick dough forms. On the other hand, if the dough is too dry, add more coconut milk, 2 tablespoons at a time, until the dough absorbs all of the flour and forms a ball easily.
Add in the chopped apple and use your hands to incorporate them into the dough.
Form a round disc out of the dough and place it on a cutting board. Use a knife to cut the dough into 8 equal-sized triangles. If any chunks of apple pop out of the dough, you can gently poke them back in.
Place the triangles on the parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 22 to 25 minutes, or until the scones are golden brown.
Remove scones from the oven and allow them to cool before serving.
While the scones are baking, prepare the glaze. Melt the coconut butter in the microwave for 20-second intervals, stirring well between intervals, until the coconut butter is liquidy.
Add the rest of the ingredients for the glaze to the coconut butter and stir well until combined. Microwave for 20 to 30 second intervals as needed until the glaze is very gooey.
Note: if your coconut milk is solid, you’ll need to stir it and microwave it until it’s nice and creamy.
If the glaze hardens at any point, you can microwave it again until it softens and is spreadable.
Spread the glaze over the scones and take a bite!
The way I imagine it, these vegan apple scones are perfect for enjoying any ol’ day, are perfect for weekend baking adventures, and are fabulous for serving family or guests over the holidays or any gathering necessitating food.
Not only can you not tell they’re gluten-free and dairy-free, but they are an amazing option to serve to those with food allergies. There’s one in every crowd!
I hope you love these cheerful little lumps of joy as much as I do!
If you’re into these scones, also check out my other recipes for scones for endless breakfast treats.
Apple cinnamon for life!
If you make these apple scones, I would love it if you would share a photo on Instagram and tag @The.Roasted.Root!!
Vegan Apple Scones
Ingredients
- 3 cups gluten-free all-purpose flour*
- 1/2 cup brown sugar raw cane sugar or coconut sugar**
- 1 Tbsp baking powder
- 1 ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp sea salt
- 1 ¼ cups full-fat canned coconut milk
- 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups finely chopped apple
For the Glaze:
- 1/4 cup coconut butter melted
- 1/4 cup full-fat canned coconut milk
- 1 1/2 Tbsp pure maple syrup
- ¼ tsp pumpkin pie spice or ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp pure vanilla extract
- Pinch sea salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Add the gluten-free all-purpose flour, sugar, baking powder and sea salt to a mixing bowl and stir well to combine.
- Pour in the coconut milk and vanilla extract and stir well until a thick dough forms. If the dough is overly sticky and doesn’t come together in a ball easily, add more flour (3 tablespoons at a time), until a thick dough forms. On the other hand, if the dough is too dry, add more coconut milk, 2 tablespoons at a time, until the dough absorbs all of the flour and forms a ball easily.
- Add in the chopped apple and use your hands to incorporate them into the dough.
- Form a round disc out of the dough and place it on a cutting board. Use a knife to cut the dough into 8 equal-sized triangles. If any chunks of apple pop out of the dough, you can gently poke them back in.
- Place the triangles on the parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 22 to 25 minutes, or until the scones are golden brown.
- Remove scones from the oven and allow them to cool before serving.
Make the Glaze:
- While the scones are baking, prepare the glaze. Melt the coconut butter in the microwave for 20-second intervals, stirring well between intervals, until the coconut butter is very creamy and liquid.
- Add the rest of the ingredients for the glaze to the coconut butter and stir well until combined. Microwave for 20 to 30 second intervals as needed until the glaze is very gooey.
- Glaze the scones, and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Can a nut flour be used instead? Looking to increase nutritional value
Thank you! This looks amazing 💫
Hi Desiree! Yes, absolutely. Follow my recipe for Paleo Lemon Poppy Seed Scones but replace the lemon/poppy seeds with chopped apples and cinnamon 😀 Hope you enjoy!
I was wondering if you can use regular butter and milk when the recipe calls for coconut milk and butter? My issue is gluten and my husband is allergic to coconut.
Hi Lisa!
Yes, butter and milk works great in place of coconut milk and butter. So long as you’re replacing the liquid and the fat content (roughly), you’re good to go! Hope you enjoy! xoxox