Cranberry Orange Scones (Printable Version)
Buttery scones with tart cranberries and fresh orange zest, ideal for breakfast or afternoon tea.
# What You Need:
→ Dry Ingredients
01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1/3 cup granulated sugar
03 - 1 tablespoon baking powder
04 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
→ Cold Ingredients
05 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
→ Wet Ingredients
06 - 2/3 cup heavy cream, plus extra for brushing
07 - 1 large egg
08 - 1 tablespoon orange zest (from 1 large orange)
09 - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
→ Add-ins
10 - 1 cup fresh or dried cranberries
11 - 1 tablespoon coarse sugar (optional, for topping)
→ Orange Glaze (Optional)
12 - 1/2 cup powdered sugar
13 - 1–2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
# How to Make It:
01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
03 - Add cold, cubed butter to the dry ingredients. Cut in with a pastry blender or fingers until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
04 - In a separate bowl, whisk together heavy cream, egg, orange zest, and vanilla extract.
05 - Pour wet mixture over dry ingredients. Add cranberries and stir gently just until combined to avoid overmixing.
06 - Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface. Pat into a 1-inch thick circle approximately 8 inches in diameter.
07 - Cut dough circle into 8 wedges. Transfer to prepared baking sheet, spacing evenly.
08 - Brush scone tops with heavy cream and optionally sprinkle with coarse sugar.
09 - Bake for 16 to 18 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack.
10 - Mix powdered sugar and fresh orange juice to create a thick, pourable glaze. Drizzle over cooled scones if desired.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- They feel like a secret you can share only with close friends, perfectly tender and bursting with brightness
- The balance of tart cranberries and sweet orange zest makes these scones impossible to stop eating
02 -
- Keep the butter cold until baking to get those flaky layers everyone loves
- Gently folding the dough is the secret; overmixing leads to tough scones and no one wants that
03 -
- Use fresh orange zest over dried for the brightest flavor
- Chilling the dough before baking can help maintain a tender crumb