Air Fryer Mincemeat Scones are classic British scones, with added mincemeat and they taste just like Christmas! What’s even better is that you can make four delicious light and fluffy festive scones in your air fryer in no time at all.
Why make Air Fryer Mincemeat Scones?
These scones are perfect to make as an alternative to mince pies especially if you serve them with my homemade Brandy Butter. I love mince pies but I’m not likely to eat them for breakfast (at least not too often!) whereas scones are okay for breakfast, right?
Scones are always best when they are fresh and still warm, so baking a few in your air fryer is ideal. They are also a brilliant way to use leftover mincemeat when there just isn’t enough for any other recipe.
What is an Air Fryer?
An air fryer is a bit like a mini oven. However, the element is only at the top of the air fryer and it uses a powerful fan to circulate the heat. This combination of intense heat and circulation means that food crisps up quickly.
Air fryers were originally sold for their ability to create ‘fried’ food with less fat. But the air fryer has developed and more people are recognising the potential to cook and bake all kinds of foods in this way.
Why should I bake Mincemeat Scones in my Air Fryer?
I find that my air fryer is really convenient for cooking and baking in small quantities. Compared to your oven, an air fryer will heat up quickly due to the smaller size and the fan. And cooking in an air fryer is about half the cost of cooking in a standard oven. Because you need to bake scones at high heat anyway, the circulating heat in the air fryer helps to ensure they bake evenly all over.
What kind of Air Fryer can I use to bake Mincemeat Scones?
You will need the kind of air fryer that has temperature control as well as a timer and no paddle. Otherwise, any air fryer brand should do the job very well.
I have two air fryers, one is the kind with a pull-out square drawer and it needs to be pre-heated before use. The other is an oven-style air fryer and I’ve successfully baked scones in both. If you have a different kind of air fryer you may need to adjust the timing or temperature by a minute or two either way.
What ingredients do I need for Air Fryer Scones?
You probably have most of the ingredients you need to make mincemeat scones in your larder and fridge. Here is what you need:
- mincemeat
- self raising flour
- baking powder
- mixed spice
- salt
- butter
- sugar
- milk
A full list of the ingredients and the required quantities is found in the recipe card at the end of this article.
What is mincemeat?
Mincemeat is a rich mixture of dried fruits, spices, apples, citrus zest and juice, alcohol and suet or butter. It’s a traditional British mixture that’s usually served in mince pies at Christmas. You can make your own or you can buy it ready-made.
What kind of mincemeat should I use for the Air Fryer Mincemeat Scones?
Make your own mincemeat for the best flavour. You can customise the recipe to suit your own tastes too. I have several different recipes that you can try:
- Slow Cooker Mincemeat is so simple to make, all the ingredients go into the slow cooker and it cooks itself.
- Dark Chocolate Mincemeat combines the rich fruity flavours of traditional mincemeat with dark chocolate for a decadent sweet treat.
- Instant Mincemeat is a quick and easy recipe that you can make and use immediately. It has a fresh light flavour but still packs a fruity punch.
If you don’t want to make your own mincemeat there are lots of different brands available. If you don’t have a favourite brand then I recommend that you buy the best you can afford.
What can I substitute for self-raising flour?
If you don’t have self-raising flour you can make it at home using plain (all-purpose flour) and baking powder.
This recipe uses 150g self-raising flour therefore you need to add one and a half teaspoons baking powder to plain (all-purpose) flour. This gives you self-raising flour, you will still need to include the additional baking powder as listed in the recipe.
What is baking powder?
Baking powder is a chemical raising agent that is a combination of bicarbonate of soda and cream of tartar.
Can I make my own baking powder?
To make homemade baking powder combine ¼ of a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda with ½ a teaspoon of cream of tartar for every teaspoon of baking powder your chosen baking recipe requires.
What is mixed spice?
Mixed Spice is readily available in UK supermarkets and baking suppliers. It is a combination of the following ground spices:
- allspice
- cinnamon
- nutmeg
- mace
- cloves
- coriander
- ginger
If you can’t source ready-made mixed spice you can make your own.
Can I use baking spread instead of butter for the Air Fryer Mincemeat Scones?
You can use baking spread to make Air Fryer Fruit Scones. You can also use other vegetable spreads as long as they are full fat. Spreadable butter and low-fat spreads are not suitable as they contain a high proportion of water that will affect the recipe.
What kind of sugar do I need?
I use caster (superfine) sugar in the scone mixture. You can use granulated sugar but it does not dissolve as easily as caster sugar so there may be a slightly more gritty texture to your scones.
I also sprinkle demerara sugar on top of the scones before baking. It’s not essential but it gives a lovely sweet crunchy topping. If you don’t have demerara sugar then you can do without or substitute with pearl sugar or granulated sugar.
Why should I add salt to a sweet scone mix?
There are two reasons to add salt to your sweet bakes and desserts. The first is that it works together with baking powder for a better rise. The second reason is it helps balance the flavours and enhance their flavour. You won’t taste the salt but it will help improve your scones.
What kind of milk should I use?
I use whole milk or semi-skimmed milk in these scones. However, you can use any milk that you have in the fridge.
I have not tested plant milk in this recipe, there is no reason why it should not work just as well as dairy milk. I recommend that you try out different types of plant milk to find your own favourite as the flavour and richness of the milk will influence the taste of the scones.
Can I make Air Fryer Mincemeat Scones ahead of time?
Scones are best eaten the same day you make them. If you want to get ahead then I recommend that you make up the scone mixture to the dry breadcrumb stage and store it in the fridge in an airtight container until you plan to make your Air Fryer Mincemeat Scones.
You can store the mix in the fridge for up to 3 weeks. The scones only take 11 minutes to bake so it’s great to have some scone mix ready to go.
Can I freeze Air Fryer Fruit Scones?
Scones freeze really well and it’s an ideal way to store baked scones. Let the scones cool completely on a cooling rack before freezing them in a freezer-proof container or freezer bag.
You can store them for up to 3 months without deterioration. Defrost on a cooling tray covered with a clean tea towel. Or use the defrost setting on your microwave.
Can I make more than four scones?
I can fit four scones cut with a 6 cm (2 1/2 in) cutter into my air fryer and maybe a little extra one made from the last of the trimmings! If you use a larger double-drawer air fryer or an oven style air fryer then you can double the mixture. Also If you cut the scones with a smaller cutter then you can definitely fit in more scones.
If you have a standard air fryer and plan to make a batch of 8 scones or more then it’s probably more efficient to bake them in the oven at 200C (400F) for 10 minutes.
Tips for making great scones!
I’ve never had any problems baking scones but I know that some people struggle, so here are some of the tips I have learned that will help you to get the best scones:
- Rub the butter or baking spread thoroughly into the flour (or whizz in a food processor) the result should look like fine breadcrumbs
- Add the milk slowly until you get a soft slightly sticky dough. You may need slightly more or less than the recipe suggests because different flours absorb liquid at different rates.
- Do not overmix. Gently bring together the mixture and roll or pat it into a thick round before cutting out the scones.
- Do not twist your scone cutter, this seals the edges of the dough and stops the scones from rising. Press straight down and lift, if you dust the cutter with flour it will lift off easily.
Safety Note
Do not put the baking parchment into the air fryer when preheating your air fryer. The paper will rise up with the air circulation and burn on the heating element. Once the air fryer is preheated it is safe to put in the parchment and place the scones on top. The weight of the scones will hold down the paper and it is perfectly safe.
Vegetarian
If you use vegetarian mincemeat then Air Fryer Mincemeat Scones are suitable for vegetarians.
Gluten Free
This scone recipe contains wheat flour and is not suitable for a gluten-free diet. The Gluten Free Alchemist has a recipe for Gluten Free Christmas Scones with Mincemeat.
For more information regarding any dietary information provided on this website, please refer to my Nutritional Disclaimer.
How should I serve Air Fryer Mincemeat Scones?
My favourite way to serve mincemeat scones is with brandy butter, which is a sweetened butter laced with brandy. It’s easy to make and a real indulgence, one I tend to keep for the holiday season.
These scones are brilliant to serve at breakfast as an alternative to bread and croissants. Serve with butter and/or jam and jelly. They also go very well with orange marmalade and taste great with my Blackberry and Apple Jelly or my Sloe Gin Jelly.
Christmas Afternoon Tea
You can also use a smaller cutter to make dainty scones that you can serve with jam and cream for afternoon tea.
More Mincemeat Recipes
More Air Fryer Scones Recipes
PIN FOR LATER
Air Fryer Mincemeat Scones Recipe
Equipment
- Air Fryer
- Food Processor optional
- Measuring spoons
- weighing scales
- medium bowl
- measuring jug
- small bowl
- blunt knife
- 6 cm (2.5 in) fluted edge pastry cutter
- baking parchment
- Pastry brush
- Cooling rack
Ingredients
- 150 grams (1¼ cups) self raising flour
- ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp mixed spice
- 1 pinch salt
- 40 grams (3 tbsp) butter
- 15 grams (2½ tbsp) caster sugar superfine
- 75 grams (⅓ cups) mincemeat
- 60 ml (¼ cups) milk
- 1 tbsp self-raising flour for dusting
- 2 tsp Demerara sugar optional
Instructions
- Weigh 150 g (1 ¼ cups) self-raising flour into a medium bowl, add ½ tsp baking powder, ½ tsp mixed spice and a pinch of salt.
- Add 40 g (3 tbsp) butter cut into small cubes.
- Rub the butter through the flour with gentle movements until the mixture looks like fine breadcrumbs. OR use a food processor to combine the ingredients.
- Add the 15 grams (2½ tbsp) of caster (superfine) sugar and stir through the mixture.
- Pre heat the air fryer (see safety note).
- Mix the 75 g (⅓ cup) mincemeat and the 60 ml (¼ cup) milk together in a small bowl or jug. Then add to the flour and butter mix.
- Use the blunt knife to stir the mixture together, just enough to combine ( you may need a little extra milk) Then turn the mixture out onto a floured surface.
- Knead the dough quickly and lightly, then pat the dough out into a flat disk about 2.5 cm (1 in ) deep.
- Use a fluted 6 cm (2½ in) cutter to cut out four scones. Pat the dough back together gently so you can use all the dough. You may have a little dough left over but not enough for another full size scone.
- Use a pastry brush to brush the tops of the scones with a little extra milk and sprinkle with 2 tsp demerara sugar if using.
- Put a piece of baking parchment in the base of your air fryer and place four scones, spread apart, onto the baking parchment.
- Close the air fryer and set to 185C (365F). Bake the scones for 11 minutes.
- Remove from the air fryer and cool for at least 5 minutes on a cooling rack.
- Serve the scones split with butter, brandy butter or jam.
Chloe says
Such a great idea for a quick christmassy mincemeat fix, not tried these yet because it’s a bit early for me but as your other air fryer scone recipes work so well, i know they’re going to be fab!
Janice Pattie says
Thank you, so kind.
Sisley says
These were so delicous. I couldn’t resist making another batch.
Janice Pattie says
That’s good to hear!
Cat says
I had a small amount of mincemeat leftover from last Christmas and it was just enough to make these scones. They were absolutely delicious and I can’t wait to make more over Christmas.
Janice Pattie says
They are perfect for leftover mincemeat!
Lesley says
I’ll confess I went out and bought mincemeat to make these scones, they did not disappoint. Can’t wait for the boozy clementine cream to arrive on our shelves at Christmas which is how I’ll be enjoying mine next time!
Janice Pattie says
Oh my boozy clementine cream sounds perfect for Mincemeat Scones!
Heidi says
These are absolutely delicious! Not a fan of mince pies or fruit scones I was surprised how much I enjoyed them myself, after making them for a friend. Gorgeous flavour without the sweetness, lovely.
Janice Pattie says
Well that’s a win. I think because the mincemeat is distributed throughout the scone it’s less intense but still gives that unique mincemeat flavour.
Pauline Ungless says
These are amazing but they didn’t last long with my family . If I triple the recipe would I use the same time and temperature in my main oven?
Janice Pattie says
Thanks, Pauline. So happy to hear you loved the scones. Preheat your main oven to 200C Fan and bake the scones for 10 minutes.