Take juicy strawberries and pair them with creamy white chocolate, and you’ve got a dynamite flavor combination. In fact, it’s one of the reasons I love these strawberry white chocolate scones so much! I make them in my air fryer for convenience, but they work in the oven too!
I have to admit, scones are one of my favorite baked goods. They’re lighter than a biscuit, but just dense enough to make them feel substantial.
You can make scones in all sorts of varieties, including sweet and savory options! That makes them adaptable for a lot of occasions, and perfect for breakfast, brunch, a snack, or tea time.
The perfect combo of strawberries and white chocolate makes these scones just sweet enough to feel like you’re getting a treat. Of course, you can also swap out the fruit and chocolate for different kinds as well based on your personal tastes.
I don’t think there’s anything better than a freshly baked scone with a cup of coffee or tea!
Why the Air Fryer?
I typically cook my scones in the air fryer instead of the oven, and there are a few reasons for that!
Cooking Time. Scones take 10-12 minutes on average in the air fryer, versus 15-20 in the oven, making them ready faster. This is convenient, and also conserves power!
Preheating Time. Most air fryers preheat in 3-5 minutes, whereas your conventional oven will take around 10-15 minutes on average. That’s a third of the time for the air fryer!
Heat Output. The air fryer doesn’t heat up your whole house like the oven does. So, when you make these scones with fresh berries in the summer when they’re ripe, you won’t put a huge toll on your AC with the oven!
But, that said, if you don’t have an air fryer, these scones can easily be cooked in the conventional oven and they’ll still come out perfectly.
In a large mixing bowl, mix flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt together
Cut the butter into cubes, then mix into the dry ingredients by hand or using a pastry blender until coarse crumbs form
Add in the egg, milk, and vanilla extract, stirring just until you get a crumbly dough. Do not overmix, as that will create tough scones
Fold in the strawberries and white chocolate chips
Flour your work surface and then dump the dough out on it. Pat it together to form a flat circle about 1” thick (it doesn’t need to be entirely precise)
Cut the dough into 8 even pie-shaped pieces with a sharp knife, or use a cookie cutter to cut out circles if preferred
Air Fryer Instructions
Place the scones into your air fryer basket in a single layer, allowing at least ½” air space between them for expansion (I like to use perforated parchment for easy cleanup)
Cook on the air fry setting for 10-12 minutes at 350°F, or until scones are golden brown (you do not need to preheat your air fryer, but cooking times may vary by 1-2 minutes based on your specific appliance)
Oven Instructions
Preheat the oven to 400°F
Place scones on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper (or coated in nonstick spray) with at least 1” of air space between each one
Bake for 15-20 minutes, until golden brown
Finishing Steps
While scones bake, combine powdered sugar, extract, milk, and dried strawberries in a small bowl
Remove the scones from the air fryer or oven and transfer to a wire rack to cool
Drizzle the glaze over top of the scones before serving
What to Pair With Strawberry White Chocolate Scones
Whipped cream
Clotted cream
Honey
Strawberry jam
Chocolate sauce
Chocolate covered strawberries
Coffee
Tea
Strawberry lemonade
Strawberry cocktails
Chocolate cocktails
Prosecco
Mimosas
There are lots of great toppings and drinks to pair with your strawberry white chocolate scones for the perfect bite! They’re also great as part of a larger spread of breakfast foods as a sweet option.
Yes, you can use frozen strawberries for this recipe, but it’s recommended to thaw and drain them before adding them to the scone dough.
Excess moisture from frozen strawberries can affect the texture of the scones. Pat them dry with a paper towel after thawing to prevent the dough from becoming too wet.
What Type of White Chocolate is Best for Scones?
For the best results, choose high-quality white chocolate that contains cocoa butter. Look for white chocolate bars or chips with a creamy and smooth texture.
If you have to use white baking chips that contain palm oil or hydrogenated oils, they may not provide the desired flavor and consistency. However, they will still work for the purposes of this recipe.
Can I Substitute All Purpose Flour With Whole Wheat Flour?
Yes, you can substitute a portion or all of the all purpose flour with whole wheat flour to add a nutty flavor and extra nutrients to the scones. However, know that using 100% whole wheat flour may result in denser scones.
Aim for a blend of 50% whole wheat flour and 50% all purpose flour for a more balanced texture.
How Do I Prevent the Scones From Turning Too Dense?
To prevent dense scones, avoid overworking the dough. Mix the ingredients until they just come together; overmixing can lead to tough scones. Additionally, handle the dough gently and avoid pressing it down too firmly when shaping.
Using cold ingredients and a hot baking temperature also helps to create a flaky and light texture.
Can I Add Nuts or Other Mix-ins to the Scone Dough?
Absolutely! You can customize your strawberry white chocolate scones by adding chopped nuts like almonds or pecans, or even dried fruit like cranberries or blueberries.
Incorporate the mix-ins when you add the strawberries and white chocolate chunks to ensure even distribution throughout the dough.
Can I Make These Scones Ahead of Time and Reheat Them?
Yes, you can make the scones ahead of time. After baking and allowing them to cool completely, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days.
To reheat, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C), and warm the scones for about 5-7 minutes until they are heated through, or air fry for 2-3 minutes at 350°F. This will help restore their flakiness and freshness.
Recipe Pro Tips
Use wax paper to cover your work surface for easy cleanup after shaping and cutting the dough, and for drizzling the glaze
Storage and Reheating Tips
Store leftover scones in an airtight container in a cool, dark place for up to 2 days. For longer storage, they may be refrigerated for up to a week or frozen for up to 3 months
Reheat scones in the air fryer for 2-3 minutes at 350°F (add 2 minutes if reheating from frozen), or microwave for 30-40 seconds. They are also delicious enjoyed at room temperature, so reheating is entirely optional!
These strawberry white chocolate scones are the perfect combination in this delightful baked good. Whether you bake them in the oven or the air fryer, they’ll come out delicious!
In the air fryer, they’ll bake up in under 15 minutes, which fits even in busy schedules. They make for a great grab and go breakfast option for hectic mornings!
I also love scones because they’re not too complicated of a recipe to make, making them great even for beginning bakers to create!
You can experiment with tons of different flavor options to suit your tastes, or make a bunch for the ultimate breakfast or brunch spread. Pair with some savory offerings and mimosas for the perfect combination.
Strawberry White Chocolate Scones (Air Fryer or Oven)
These amazing strawberry white chocolate scones are a perfect sweet treat for breakfast, snack time, or tea time. They’re easy to make and perfect for grab and go!
In a large mixing bowl, mix flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt together
2 Cups all purpose flour, 2 Tbsp granulated sugar, 2 Tsp baking powder, ½ Tsp salt
Cut the butter into cubes, then mix into the dry ingredients by hand or using a pastry blender until coarse crumbs form
6 Tbsp cold butter
Add in the egg, milk, and vanilla extract, stirring just until you get a crumbly dough. Do not overmix, as that will create tough scones
1 Large egg, ⅓ Cup milk, 1 Tsp vanilla extract
Fold in the strawberries and white chocolate chips
1 Cup chopped fresh strawberries, ½ Cup white chocolate chips or chunks
Flour your work surface and then dump the dough out on it. Pat it together to form a flat circle about 1” thick (it doesn’t need to be entirely precise)
Cut the dough into 8 even pie-shaped pieces with a sharp knife, or use a cookie cutter to cut out circles if preferred
Air Fryer Instructions
Place the scones into your air fryer basket in a single layer, allowing at least ½” air space between them for expansion (I like to use perforated parchment for easy cleanup)
Cook on the air fry setting for 10-12 minutes at 350°F, or until scones are golden brown (you do not need to preheat your air fryer, but cooking times may vary by 1-2 minutes based on your specific appliance)
Oven Instructions
Preheat the oven to 400°F
Place scones on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper (or coated in nonstick spray) with at least 1” of air space between each one
Bake for 15-20 minutes, until golden brown
Finishing Steps
While scones bake, combine powdered sugar, extract, milk, and dried strawberries in a small bowl
½ Cup powdered sugar, 1 Tsp vanilla (or strawberry) extract, 1 Tbsp milk, 1 Tbsp crushed freeze dried strawberries
Remove the scones from the air fryer or oven and transfer to a wire rack to cool
Drizzle the glaze over top of the scones before serving
Notes
You can swap the milk for an equal amount of almond milk, buttermilk, cream, sour cream or Greek yogurt (use strawberry or vanilla flavor)
The granulated sugar can be replaced by brown sugar, or a natural sweetener, such as honey, maple syrup, or agave
Frozen strawberries can be used if you don’t have fresh ones. You may want to defrost to making cutting them into pieces easier
Use wax paper to cover your work surface for easy cleanup after shaping and cutting the dough, and for drizzling the glaze
Store leftover scones in an airtight container in a cool, dark place for up to 2 days. For longer storage, they may be refrigerated for up to a week or frozen for up to 3 months
Reheat scones in the air fryer for 2-3 minutes at 350°F (add 2 minutes if reheating from frozen), or microwave for 30-40 seconds. They are also delicious enjoyed at room temperature, so reheating is entirely optional!
Exact nutritional values will vary based on brand of ingredients, any swaps or additions, and actual quantity consumed, so please consider this a guideline only
I enjoy trying new recipes, creating my own, and dabbling with new techniques all the time. My husband loves to protest when I make him my guinea pig, but it’s all for the love of food!
My cooking philosophy is that great tasting food doesn't have to be complicated or time consuming to make. I'm a home cook with over 20 years of experience feeding myself and others. I've learned from a variety of different people, things I've learned online, and some trial and error as well.
I enjoy cooking a variety of foods, from convenience to comfort foods, as well as international cuisine. You can rest assured that all of my recipes have been actually made, thoroughly tested, and most importantly: tasted! I want you to enjoy my food as much as I do!
