Agave Apple Scones (Vegan!)

I had way too many apples in my house... and I have always wanted to make scones, as I love the texture. My mom also told me to use finish off all my baking ingredients in the house, before I go back to school (so expect a LOT of baking recipes this week!) This recipe helped with all of that AND it tasted absolutely wonderful.

The scones themselves aren't too sweet; they actually remind me of a rich shortbread. So, if you do want added sweetness, I would add powdered sugar to the top of them, after baking. They are awesome alone, though!

Ingredients:
***Use these measurements to make about 16 servings of this dish***

• 1 cup of non-dairy milk
• 1 teaspoon of apple-cider vinegar
• 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
• ¼ cup of cornstarch powder
• 4 cups of whole wheat flour 
• 1 teaspoon of salt
• 2 teaspoons of baking powder
• 1 teaspoon of baking soda
• 1 teaspoon of cinnamon
• 1 cup of (vegan) butter/shortening
• 3 apples
• 1 cup of agave nectar (or maple syrup... if you don't have agave, but it will taste very mapley)
• Optional: powdered sugar and/or agave nectar for topping

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. Grease a baking sheet with nonstick spray or vegan shortening.
3. In a separate cup, pour the milk and add in the apple cider vinegar, vanilla extract, and cornstarch. Do not mix or touch. It will curdle to make a buttermilk-like consistency, which you will use at a later step of the recipe.
4. In a large bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.
5. Soften the butter in the microwave (until it is SOFT, not melted,) and add to the flour mixture. Mix this thoroughly. 
6. Cut your apples into small pieces.
7. Fold the apples into the flour mixture.
8. Once the milk/apple cider vinegar/vanilla/cornstarch mixture is chunky and smells putrid, stir it gently, and then pour it into the flour mixture until it reaches a firm, dough-like consistency.
9. Add your agave nectar to the mixture as well. Mix ingredients until a dough ball forms.
10. Take the dough to a floured area, and knead gently until a secure ball is formed and the ingredients are certainly combined.
11. Break your secure dough ball into two smaller balls, and place onto the baking sheet.
12. Use a knife, and slice up each ball into 8 wedges. You don’t have to separate them, just slice them so the separation post-baking will be easier.
13. Bake in the oven for 30 minutes.
14. Use your knife to cut along the wedge lines and separate.
15. Let scones cool to room temperature before serving. 
16. Serve with powdered sugar for an extra-special treat!

The dry mixture with apples folded in.

 The finished dough.

 The dough divided into two and cut with a knife (not separated.)

 The scones right out of the oven. See how the cutting before helped?

A beautiful finished scone, with powdered sugar on top!

Questions? Comments? Suggestions? Did you try this recipe out?

Please let me know in the comments!