Make your mornings brighter with these soft, buttery lightly sweet cherry almond scones.
cherry almond scones

I was informed by one of my gym instructors this week that abs are made in the kitchen.

Yes, well.

So are scones.

And I’m pretty sure you can’t have both.

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But given that I’ve gone exactly 27 years and 4 months without a single visible ab….how necessary can they really be?

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Dried cherry and almond stuffed butter soft flaky breakfast pastries, on the other hand?

Non-negotiable.

Especially where the weekend is concerned.

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Admittedly, scones used to scare me, which is why you’ll find so few recipes for them on my site. I blame it on one too many a dry and flavorless version from a certain coffee chain that rhymes with Sbarstucks. But I’m slowly but surely coming around.

These scones in particular were quick and easy enough to be thrown together on a weekday morning before work, which is really saying something. They are only lightly sweet, but with juicy bursts of cherry throughout and a hefty sugar crust on top your sweet tooth will most certainly be satisfied.

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Worth every ab lost. And then some.

Cherry Almond Scones
 
Make your mornings brighter with these soft, buttery lightly sweet cherry almond scones.
Yield: 8-12 scones
Ingredients
  • 2½ cups all purpose flour
  • ¼ cup sugar, plus more for sprinkling
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp grated lemon zest
  • ¾ tsp kosher salt
  • ¼ tsp baking soda
  • 10 tbsp cold unsalted butter, cut into ½-inch dice
  • ½ cup dried tart cherries, chopped
  • ½ cup sliced blanched almonds, toasted
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • ¼ tsp vanilla extract
  • ¼ tsp almond extract
  • ¼ cup heavy cream, for brushing
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 425F.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, lemon zest, salt, and baking soda. Using a pastry blender or your fingers, cut the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse sand. Stir in the cherries and the almonds.
  3. Fold the buttermilk, vanilla extract, and almond extract into the batter with a spatula until it just comes together. Turn out onto a piece of parchment paper and knead the dough together until it is smooth and all the ingredients are incorporated. Pat the dough into a 9-inch round, 1-inch thick circle. Cut the dough into 8-12 wedges, depending on how big you want your scones.
  4. Put the scones on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Brush with the heavy cream and then generously sprinkle with sugar. Bake for 10 minutes. Rotate the pan and then lower the heat to 350, baking for an additional 15 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through.
  5. Let cool briefly but serve while still warm.
Notes
Nutrition Information
Serving size: 1 scone

For more scone recipes to dress up your breakfast, check out these:

cinnamon honey scones

Cinnamon Honey Scones

cheddar scallion scones

Cheddar Scallion Scones

From Around the Web:

Glazed Vanilla Bean Scones from The Baker Chick

Black Pepper Cheddar Scones from Blogging Over Thyme

Strawberry Almond Scones from Love & Olive Oil

Berry Scones from Recipe Girl

Cinnamon Chocolate Scones from A Thought For Food

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60 Responses to Cherry Almond Scones

  1. Zainab says:

    Abs are made in the kitchen? How come I am always in the kitchen and I got none? Lol! Scones scare me too but these ones need to exist in my kitchen ASAP!

  2. Joanne these are gorgeous… I have an intense weakness for scones and cherries!!

  3. Several years ago I used to not be a huge fan of scones…then I tried a few recipes that came out great and became a HUGE fan! These scones look fantastic! They’d pair well with my coffee on this dreary morning…quick shipment to Boston? 😉

  4. Nicole, RD says:

    These remind me a bit of your Cherry Almond Muffin Waffles (which I’ve made twice and will be blogging about any day now, finally)…and girl, the combo of almond + cherry = amazing. 🙂

  5. Leah Davis says:

    I love scones and this combination sounds delicious! A little sweet with the dried cherries but not too sweet. Happy Friday 🙂

  6. Beth says:

    I don’t eat scones often, but I love them when I do. I know I’d love these cherry and almond ones.

  7. Monica says:

    haha – that is so funny and true! I made a batch of chocolate-orange scones yesterday to stow away in the freezer so you know I’m with you. I need to shake up my very limited scone repertoire and this sounds terrific. Love how cherries and almonds come together.

  8. Those scones look wonderful! Speaking of abs being made in the kitchen, have you read this interesting, but tragic, piece about what it takes for some women to stay thin http://thenewinquiry.com/blogs/the-beheld/youre-right-i-didnt-eat-that/ ? So joyless!

  9. OMG these look amazing! So funny I made scones the other day, but haven’t had the time to post them yet. Love these!

  10. Barbara says:

    I’ll willingly give up abs for these, Joanne. Yum!

  11. Monique says:

    I suck at scones. They always come out cakey.
    These look beautiful!!! (and delicious)

  12. I haven’t had a scone in a really long while…these look so beautiful and delectable.

  13. Almonds and cherries are so wonderful together – glad you got over your scone making fear to bring us these!

  14. Scones are like my ultimate breakfast weakness. Paired with a cup (or 5) of coffee and I’m ready to conquer the world! I love the combo of cherries and almonds you used in the gorgeous scones. And your photos are mind-blowing GORGEOUS. This is looking 10x better than the plain bowl of oatmeal I had this morning. 😉 Pinned!

  15. cheri says:

    Love this combination of flavors, anything with cherries is great. But they really look good too, sometimes hard to do with the scone. Happy Friday!

  16. gloria says:

    Delicious Joanne! And love your plate look beautiful!

  17. I love your plate and I love this flavor combo!! I agree I would rather have abs than scones ANY day!!

  18. Scones scare me a bit, too, but maybe I should give them another chance (as you did!) In the UK cafes usually sell plain, cheese or fruit scones and that’s it. I have to admit, when done well they are still delicious, but this cherry and almond combo sounds so much more interesting. I can’t believe you ‘whipped them up’ before work, though! It usually takes me half an hour just to get all my ingredients out of the cupboard (probably shouldn’t be admitting this!)

  19. Heather says:

    I love a good scone, but have actually never made any… Not sure why!

  20. Julia says:

    I’ve always felt abs are overrated and I’m perfectly happy adding a layer of cherry almond scone over mine 😉 Love these, girly!

  21. Scones > abs. Just saying. These look divine. Can I dive head first into them?

  22. sandra says:

    scones used to be my passion. I made them all the time. This was well before I had a food blog. Perhaps it is time to delve into the scone again… these look amazing!

    And I want to know what that means – abs are made in the kitchen – did he mean to say that they are unmade in the kitchen?

  23. Scrumptious scones > abs, any day! And this is coming from someone who hopes to see the even slightest chisel in the abs one day. These look gorgeous!

  24. My gym instructor insists I can lose weight in the kitchen but I think I would rather have these scones!

  25. Huh I’d choose one of this scones over abs every time! They look so flaky that they’re unreal ohhhhhh my! I’m sure they make a brilliant breakfast!
    Hope you have a great (ahem scone-filled ahem) weekend! xxx

  26. Abs are made in the kitchen? How? Because I’m in my kitchen all the time and I sure haven’t made any….

    Scones on the other hand – those I have made! These look wonderful, and oh yeah, I happen to have some dried cherries sitting in my fridge, woohoo!!

    I agree with you about Sbarstucks’ scones – pretty terrible….

  27. Lisa says:

    Beautiful. Scones and biscuits are one of my favorite ways to get baking in the kitchen. Never mind the abs 🙂 I’ll take my slightly tummy over the option of not eating biscuits.

  28. Who needs abs when you can have scones. Perfection.

  29. Pam says:

    I want one of those scones so badly!! Who cares about abs when you can eat one of those beauties.

  30. abs are wayyyyyy overrated! Scones on the other hand are not. Ate one for breakfast!

  31. Wow do these look good! I’m making scones today, must be something in the air!

  32. Christine says:

    I used to share the same scone reluctance as you…dry and tasteless. Until I took a knitting class and the instructor brought 2 kinds of homemade scones. OMG, night and day! Thank you so much for these delectable beauties and links to other scone recipes!

  33. Truth is, I’m PRETTY okay with having no abs. No really, I am. Especially if I get to eat a ton of these delicious scones.

  34. Hotly Spiced says:

    I think I last saw my abs when I was 27 – they disappeared after that first pregnancy never to be returned. I love your blue plate! xx

  35. debbie says:

    Not much would go better with coffee than these scones. They look delicious. Have a great weekend!

  36. These scones look superb, deliciously light but flavoursome 😀

    Cheers
    Choc Chip Uru

  37. Joanne you crack me up! These scones look delicious! Cherry Almond is one of my favorite scone flavor combinations.

  38. I’ve never made homemade scones before , but I’ve always wanted to give them a try! They have always kind of scared me too, not sure why, but whatever it is, it is enough to deter me from every making them. Maybe I will just have to get over my fear and try them out! I love the cherry almond combo!

  39. Scones > abs. Truth. These scones >> abs. Cherry almond scones are actually my favourite flavour 🙂

  40. I’ve lived my whole life without seeing a single ab and I seem to be doing okay:-) So overrated. A good scone? Underrated!

  41. Lori says:

    You make an excellent point. And seeing as seeing a good scone lifts my mood far more than seeing a good set of abs, I agree. Scones are my number one pastry and these look outstanding!

  42. Kathy says:

    I love to have a good scone with my morning tea. This one sounds perfect! Lovely!

  43. teehee, yeah I never knew I liked scones until I made my own thanks to Sbarbuch’s version ;J)
    The only ones I’ve made (a few times) and posted on my site are a savory recipe for Cheddar, rosemary and sea salt scones.

  44. Tara says:

    Ah, scones. The very first thing I ever made with a Kitchenaid. They didn’t look as amazing as these as they were just a very standard recipe but they will always hold a special place in my heart. <3

  45. I’m so happy you’re coming around to scones!! Done right, they’re the best. This recipe looks perfect!

  46. I know one thing for sure – I would never forgo these beauties for abs!!!!!! 😀 I loveeee these scones wayyyy better than a flatter stomach! haha! These look GORGEOUS! I loveeee scones especially for breakfast or tea time! Need to make these stat!!!!!

  47. Susan says:

    I love scones but I don’t think to make them that often! Yours have two of my favorite things – cherries and almonds. You can still look good without a six-pack 🙂

  48. ZazaCook says:

    I never made scones, but my daughter learned how to make scones in Middle school this year.
    Yours look so so Yummy!

  49. Danguole says:

    Pffft your trainer can keep his/her abs! As far as I’m concerned, carbs over a(r)bs, all day long. Pass me one of them scones?

  50. I love scones! Yours look wonderful. I started making scones when I started my blog and I can’t get enough of them.

  51. Monet says:

    Haha. I’d take scones over abs any day of the week.

  52. Kathryn says:

    I’m definitely a scone girl through and through – love the flavours in these!

  53. Megan says:

    These sound like just the thing to wake up to. Love the cherry-almond flavor combo!

  54. tigerfish says:

    For a moment, I thought it was pizza…as I thought I saw baked melting cheese :p A superb in-season sweet bite!

  55. Haha, I am going to hawaii in a week, and I think that these scones are worth every ab lost as well :p

  56. elly says:

    I love scones but hesitate to make them because of all the butter (which is obviously why I love them to begin with). BUT, you’ve made more than a “normal” recipe so, I mean, really each scone has only, like a trace of butter. 🙂

  57. dina says:

    i’d like one for breakfast!

  58. Lynna says:

    Maybe I should give scones a try, homemade version. I`ve tried cafe and restaurant`s scones, but I never liked them much. This makes me want to try making them!

  59. […] Recipe adapted from Eats Well With Others […]

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