Easy Air Fryer Cranberry Scones

These Easy Air Fryer Cranberry Scones bake up tender on the inside with lightly crisp, golden edges in a fraction of the time. Studded with tart cranberries and just the right touch of sweetness, they’re perfect for breakfast, brunch, or a cozy afternoon snack.

These Air Fryer Cranberry Scones are what you make when you want bakery-style results without turning on the oven or waiting around all morning.

They’re lightly crisp on the outside, soft and tender in the middle, and dotted with tart cranberries that cut through the buttery dough just right.

Perfect for breakfast, brunch, or a “just one more” afternoon treat, this easy air fryer recipe gives you warm, fresh scones in a fraction of the time—no mixer, no fuss, no sad dry pastries.

Why You Will Love This Recipe!

• No oven required: The air fryer does all the work, which means faster baking and less heat in the kitchen.
• Bakery-style texture: Crisp edges with a soft, buttery center that doesn’t turn dry.
• Perfect cranberry balance: Tart cranberries cut through the richness so every bite tastes just right.
• Quick from start to finish: Great for busy mornings when waiting on the oven isn’t happening.
• Ideal for any time of day: Breakfast, brunch, or an afternoon coffee break snack that disappears fast.

If you love easy air fryer scone recipes try my recipe for Air Fryer Lemonade Scones, Air Fryer Currant Scones or Air Fryer Peach and Cream Scones.

Ingredients Needed

• All-Purpose Flour: Provides structure and is the foundation of your scones.

• Brown Sugar: Adds sweetness to balance the tartness of the cranberries.
• Baking Powder: Helps makes the scones rise and become fluffy.
• Ground Nutmeg: For added flavor. 
• Salt: Enhances the flavors of the other ingredients.
• Unsalted Butter: Creates little pockets of fat that steam during air frying.
• Fresh or Dried Cranberries: A add a lovely tartness, burst of flavor.
• Granulated Sugar: Adds sweetness to balance the tartness of the cranberries.
• Orange Zest: For added flavor. 
• Half and Half Cream: Adds richness and moisture
• Egg: Works as a binding agent.

How To Make Easy Air Fryer Cranberry Scones

Step One: Combine the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, nutmeg, and salt in a large bowl. Then mix in the butter, cream, and egg, and continue to make a dough.

Step Two: Then mix in the cranberries, sugar, and orange zest. Mix lightly.  Remove the dough from the mixing bowl, and knead on a floured surface until the dough is nice and stretchy. 

Step Three: Shape into circles (about 6 inches), then cut that circle into wedges to resemble scones. Then, place the scones, as you make them, into the air fryer basket. Set the air fryer temperature to 365 degrees F, set cook time 10-12 minutes.  About 1/2 way done, check the scones for doneness, as the exact time will depend on your air fryer.

Easy Air Fryer Cranberry Scones Recipe Tips

• Keep the butter cold. Cold butter creates flaky layers, not dense hockey pucks. If it starts to soften, pop the bowl in the fridge for a few minutes.
• Don’t overmix the dough. Stir just until it comes together. Overworking it makes tough scones, and nobody wants that.
• Use parchment or air fryer liners. This keeps the bottoms from browning too fast and makes cleanup painless.
• Check early. Air fryers run hot and vary wildly. Start checking at the low end of the cook time.
• Glaze after cooling. If you’re adding icing, let the scones cool first or it’ll melt right off and vanish.

Storing Instructions

• Room temperature: Store cooled scones in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
• Refrigerator: Keep in a sealed container for up to 5 days; warm slightly before serving.
• Freezer: Freeze baked scones in a freezer-safe bag for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight and reheat in the air fryer for a just-baked feel.

Easy Air Fryer Cranberry Scones Recipe Faqs

Can I use dried cranberries instead of fresh? Yes. Dried cranberries work great here. If they’re extra dry, soak them in warm water for 5 minutes and pat dry before adding so the scones don’t turn out dry.

Do I need to chill the dough before air frying? Not required, but chilling for 15 minutes helps the scones hold their shape and bake up flakier. If your kitchen is warm, it’s worth the extra step.

Can I make these scones gluten-free? Yes, use a 1:1 gluten-free baking flour. The texture may be slightly more crumbly, but they still bake up nicely in the air fryer.

How do I keep scones from spreading in the air fryer? Make sure the butter is cold and don’t overmix the dough. Shaping the dough into firm wedges also helps them stay put.

Can I add a glaze or sugar topping? Absolutely. A simple powdered sugar and milk glaze works well, or brush the tops with cream and sprinkle with coarse sugar before air frying.

How do I know when the scones are done? They should be lightly golden on top and set in the center. A toothpick inserted in the middle should come out mostly clean.

Can I make the dough ahead of time? Yes. You can prep the dough, shape the scones, and refrigerate them for up to 24 hours before air frying.

More Air Fryer Recipes

• AIR FRYER BOSTON BROWN BREAD
• AIR FRYER HOMEMADE PIZZA ROLLS
• EASY AIR FRYER LATKES
• AIR FRYER FRIED GREEN TOMATOES
• AIR FRYER TWICE BAKED SWEET POTATOES
• EASY AIR FRYER PERUVIAN LOMO SALTADO

Share Your Creations! Are you active on Facebook? Join our Air Fryer Recipes Group, where hundreds of thousands of Air Fryer enthusiasts gather and share your photos! I’m always thrilled to see what you’ve made. For those on Instagram, don’t forget to tag me @forktospoon – I can’t wait to admire your culinary adventures!