So…I’m a sucker for things with apple in them. Honestly. It is a very versatile fruit. So, while pondering a new variety of scones to create for my early-morning gym days, I came up with the idea to take my previous Gluten-Free Apple Cider Scone recipe and step it up a notch by adding chunks of Fuji apple and some candied walnuts. And why not? Had I used agave (which I have in my pantry) instead of honey…these would be completely vegan too. Feel free to substitute!
Recipe: Gluten-Free Apple Cider Scones with Chunks of Apple and Candied Walnuts
Servings: 12
Time: Prep 10 minutes; Bake 15 minutes
Ingredients:
- 2-1/4 cup Pamela’s Products Baking & Pancake Mix
- 1/3 cup sugar (I used Truvia)
- 1-1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tbsp cinnamon
- 1/4 cup candied walnuts (see directions below on how to make your own)
- 1 Fuji apple, peeled and chopped
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1/4 cup + 1 tablespoon unsweetened apple sauce
- 2/3 cup apple cider
Directions:
If making your own candied walnuts, preheat the oven to 325°F.
Roughly chop 1/4 cup of walnuts. Melt down 1 teaspoon margarine and add walnuts. Season with ground cinnamon and nutmeg to taste. Add 1 tablespoon honey (or maple syrup). Mix together until well coated.
Place nuts on a stick-free baking sheet (I recommend parchment paper) and bake for about 15 minutes or until the nuts start to brown.
Cool for 10 minutes, or until dry.
For the scones, turn the oven up to 375°F.
Mix the dry ingredients together.
Add the applesauce, chunks of apple, candied walnuts, honey and apple cider. Mix together with a fork. Dough will be thick.
Drop large, tall dollops of dough (scones will spread when baking) onto lightly greased baking sheet.
Top each with a drizzle of honey and a sprinkling of cinnamon and sugar.
Bake for 15-17 minutes.
~*~*~
What emerged from the oven were soft, delicious scones that smelled like fresh apple pie. Even better, when I reheated these at the office, they reheated to perfection in the microwave. And the taste…just like homemade apple pie (minus the crust). They are a softer scone (due to the use of apple sauce), but they are the perfect hit of sweetness. And who doesn’t like a breakfast that tastes like apple pie, right?
For just messing around with ingredients in the kitchen…these came out fantastic. The addition of the real apple chunks and the candied walnuts just took my original recipe to the next level. And instead of eggs, the use of unsweetened apple sauce just added to that apple flavor that I love.
Give these a try…and see what you think.
The Celiathlete 
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