Keep this Dried Cherry Scone Mix on the shelf and you’re never far from a pan of tender, lightly sweet scones. The dry mix comes together ahead of time, the dried cherries get a quick soak in brandy or apricot nectar, and the finished scones bake up with crisp edges, a soft center, and little bursts of sweet-tart fruit.
It also makes a smart food gift because the base mix stores well and the add-ins stay separate until baking day. If you like keeping homemade breakfast shortcuts on hand, this one earns its space right beside Irish Tea Scones Mix and Blueberry Scones Mix.
- 🍒 What You’ll Need
- 🥣 How to Make the Mix
- 🔥 How to Bake the Scones
- 💡 Tips for Better Scones
- 🔄 Easy Variations
- 🧊 Storage and Shelf Life
- 🍽️ Serving Suggestions
- 💸 Budget101® Price Breakdown: Dried Cherry Scone Mix
- 🛒 Walmart Grocery List
- ❓ Frequently Asked Questions about Dried Cherry Scone Mix
- 📌 Love this Dried Cherry Scone Mix? Pin it!
- 🖨️ Print-Friendly Dried Cherry Scone Mix
What You’ll Need
This mix starts with pantry basics: flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and shortening. Chopped toasted pecans get packed with the dry mix, while the dried cherries and a small bottle of brandy or apricot nectar are attached separately so the fruit can soften before you bake.
That quick soak matters. It plumps the cherries so they stay pleasantly chewy instead of turning into little pebbles in your scone. If you’d rather skip the brandy, apricot nectar works nicely and keeps the fruit flavor front and center.
How to Make the Mix
- Combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and shortening until the mixture resembles coarse cornmeal.
- Transfer the dry mixture to a jar or vacuum-seal bag.
- Add the toasted chopped pecans to the package.
- Attach 1/2 cup dried cherries and one 2-ounce bottle of brandy or apricot nectar with the baking directions.
If you’re packing this as a gift, keep the liquid separate from the mix until it’s time to bake. Dry ingredients hold best when they stay dry. Not exactly shocking, but worth saying once.
How to Bake the Scones
- Combine the dried cherries with 2 tablespoons of brandy or apricot nectar in a small bowl and let them stand for 15 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 400°F and leave a baking sheet ungreased.
- In a mixing bowl, combine 1 package of the mix, the soaked cherries, 1 beaten egg, and 1/3 cup half-and-half.
- Blend just until a soft dough forms.
- Knead the dough 12 to 15 strokes.
- Roll or pat the dough into a 7-inch circle, then cut it into 8 wedges.
- Place the wedges 1 inch apart on the baking sheet.
- Brush the tops with 1 tablespoon half-and-half and sprinkle with 2 teaspoons sugar.
- Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, until lightly golden.
- Cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes before serving.
The brief kneading gives the dough enough structure to rise without turning the scones tough. Keep a light hand here. Scones are happiest when you stop messing with them just before you think you should.
Tips for Better Scones
Measure the flour lightly. Packing flour into the cup can make the dough dry, and dry scones are nobody’s favorite.
Do not overmix. Stir only until the dough comes together, then knead just the stated 12 to 15 strokes.
Soak the cherries first. That short 15-minute rest softens the fruit and spreads the flavor more evenly through the dough.
Check your baking powder. Since baking powder is the main leavener here, an older container can leave you with flat, heavy scones. The USDA notes that baking powder keeps about 6 months unopened and about 3 months after opening for best quality, so it pays to use a fresh canister.
Easy Variations
Swap the pecans for walnuts if that’s what you have. You can also use apricot nectar instead of brandy for a softer fruit flavor without the alcohol note.
For a slightly different finish, skip the sugar topping and serve the baked scones with butter or a spoonful of preserves. If cherry season has you inspired, Cherry Berry Bread Mix and Simple Blueberry Lemon Scones are worth a look too.
Storage and Shelf Life
Dry mix: Store the sealed mix in an airtight jar or vacuum-sealed bag in a cool, dry cupboard for up to 3 months for best results. That’s a conservative estimate based on the baking powder, which loses strength faster than the flour or sugar.
Attached add-ins: Keep the dried cherries tightly sealed at room temperature. Store the unopened 2-ounce bottle of brandy or apricot nectar according to its package directions, then add it only when you’re ready to bake.
Baked scones: Once baked, cool completely and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. For longer storage, freeze them well wrapped for up to 3 months. If you want the best texture, rewarm chilled or frozen scones in a low oven before serving.
Serving Suggestions
These scones fit right in at breakfast, brunch, or an afternoon coffee break. Serve them warm with butter, cream cheese, or cherry preserves if you want to lean into the fruit.
They also pair well with hot tea, coffee, or a simple fruit salad. Since the scones are lightly sweet rather than cake-level sweet, they work nicely beside eggs and bacon on a brunch table too.
💸 Budget101® Price Breakdown: Dried Cherry Scone Mix
Ingredient |
Walmart Item |
Pkg Price |
Amount Used |
Cost Used |
|---|---|---|---|---|
All-purpose flour |
$2.96 |
2 C. |
$0.31 |
|
Sugar |
$2.98 |
3 T. |
$0.06 |
|
Baking powder |
$1.24 |
1 T. |
$0.06 |
|
Salt |
$0.62 |
1/4 t. |
$0.01 |
|
Shortening |
$3.98 |
6 T. |
$0.22 |
|
Chopped pecans |
$4.48 |
1/4 C. |
$0.54 |
|
Dried cherries |
$4.48 |
1/2 C. |
$2.21 |
|
Brandy or apricot nectar |
$7.09 |
2 T. |
$0.23 |
|
Beaten egg |
$1.47 |
1 |
$0.12 |
|
Half-and-half |
$2.68 |
1/3 C. |
$0.22 |
|
Half-and-half |
$2.68 |
1 T. |
$0.04 |
|
Sugar |
$2.98 |
2 t. |
$0.01 |
💸 |
Cost |
|---|---|
🧾 Total Batch Cost |
$4.03 |
👨👩👧👦 Cost Per Serving |
$0.50 |
📅 Walmart prices last verified August 26, 2026. Prices may vary by location and are subject to change. Learn how to calculate the cost of a recipe on your own!
🛒 Walmart Grocery List
- All-Purpose Flour, 5 lb
- Granulated Sugar, 4 lb
- Baking Powder, 8.1 oz
- Salt, 26 oz
- Vegetable Shortening, 48 oz
- Chopped Pecans, 8 oz
- Dried Cherries, 5 oz
- Apricot Nectar, 11.3 fl oz
- Eggs, 12 count
- Half and Half, 16 fl oz
Not sure exactly what this batch costs you per serving? Here’s how to break down the real cost of any recipe so you know before you shop.
Frequently Asked Questions about Dried Cherry Scone Mix
Absolutely. Apricot nectar does the same practical job here because it softens the dried cherries before they go into the dough. You’ll get a fruitier, sweeter finish and skip the sharper brandy note, which makes it a good choice if you want the cherry flavor to stay front and center.
That quick soak helps plump the fruit so it stays tender in the finished scones instead of pulling moisture out of the dough while it bakes. Fifteen minutes is enough to soften the cherries without turning the dough wet or sticky.
Yes, you can leave them out or swap in the same amount of chopped walnuts. The nuts add texture more than structure here, so removing the 1/4 cup pecans won’t wreck the dough. You’ll just get a slightly softer, less crunchy bite.
Add half-and-half 1 teaspoon at a time just until the dough holds together when pressed. Flour measures a little differently from kitchen to kitchen, so a dry dough usually means the flour packed more tightly than expected. Go slowly because scone dough should be soft, not sticky.
Stop mixing as soon as the dough comes together, then keep the kneading to the stated 12 to 15 strokes. Too much handling develops more gluten, and that turns a tender breakfast scone into something better suited for patching drywall. Not the goal.
You can. Let them cool completely, wrap them well, and freeze for up to 3 months for best quality. Reheat in a low oven so the outside perks back up a bit instead of staying soft from the microwave.
Start checking around 12 minutes. The tops should look lightly golden, and the wedges should feel set rather than doughy when you gently touch the edge. If they still look pale and soft in the center, give them another minute or two.
Yes, as long as you double every part of it, including the cherries, egg, half-and-half, topping sugar, and soaking liquid. The easiest method is to make two separate 7-inch rounds so the wedges bake evenly instead of crowding one oversized slab onto the pan.
They’re great with butter, cream cheese, or cherry preserves if you want a simple topping. For brunch, pair them with coffee, tea, eggs, or a bowl of fresh fruit so the sweet scone has something lighter and less rich beside it.
You can mix and shape it ahead, then refrigerate the unbaked wedges briefly until you’re ready to bake the same day. Longer storage works better after baking because the dry mix itself is the real make-ahead shortcut here, and it keeps the leavening more reliable.
📌 Love this Dried Cherry Scone Mix? Pin it!
Did you make this recipe? Tell us how it turned out for you in the comments and whether you used brandy or apricot nectar. That little detail helps the next reader more than you’d think.
🖨️ Print-Friendly Dried Cherry Scone Mix
Dried Cherry Scone Mix
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 6 tablespoons shortening
- ¼ cup chopped pecans toasted
- ½ cup dried cherries
- 2 tablespoons brandy or apricot nectar
- 1 beaten egg
- ⅓ cup half-and-half
- 1 tablespoon half-and-half
- 2 teaspoons sugar
Equipment
Instructions
- Combine the flour, 3 tablespoons sugar, baking powder, salt, and shortening until the mixture resembles coarse cornmeal.
- Stir in the toasted chopped pecans and transfer the mix to a jar or vacuum-seal bag.
- To bake, combine the dried cherries and brandy or apricot nectar in a small bowl and let stand 15 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- In a mixing bowl, combine 1 package mix, the soaked cherries, beaten egg, and 1/3 cup half-and-half to form a soft dough.
- Knead the dough 12 to 15 strokes.
- Pat or roll the dough into a 7-inch circle and cut into 8 wedges.
- Place the wedges 1 inch apart on an ungreased baking sheet.
- Brush the tops with 1 tablespoon half-and-half and sprinkle with 2 teaspoons sugar.
- Bake 12 to 15 minutes and cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes.
Recipe Size Alteration
💡 If you altered the ingredients above by doubling or tripling the recipe, you may also need to change the pan/dish size and adjust the cook time.
Notes
Prep time estimate includes mixing the dough, soaking the cherries for 15 minutes, shaping, and topping the scones.
Store the dry mix airtight in a cool, dry place for up to 3 months for best quality.
Store baked scones refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 4 days or freeze up to 3 months.
