Cranberry Orange Scones

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Delicious cake like Cranberry Orange Scones are bursting with tart fresh cranberries and an orange drizzle on top.

I love to bake.   Practically every weekend I can be found in the kitchen baking up some type of treat or sweet.

One thing that I’ve been making frequently over the last few years are scones.   Once I learned how to make them I’ve been trying as many different flavor combinations as I can dream up.

What are scones?

Scones are lightly sweetened, baked goods that are from Scotland. Scones are usually made with flour, sugar, butter, milk, and baking powder. They are often flavored with fruits, extracts, or nuts. They are usually round or triangular in shape and they have a crumbly texture with a lightly sweetened taste. Scones are often served with butter, jam, or clotted cream. They can also be topped with a glaze. Scones can also be savory.

One of my favorite scones are these Copycat Starbucks Pumpkin Scones with two different glazes on top.  In the winter I love the burst of bright flavor in these Spiced Orange Scones.   When I can get fresh cherries these Cherry Scones are amazing for breakfast or a snack.

Since the holidays are here I’ve had a lot of bags of fresh cranberries sitting around the house.   I’ve been wanting something I can enjoy for breakfast all week long and Cranberry Orange Scones seemed like the perfect fit.

While I have a scone recipe that I use often and tweak to whatever flavors I want this time around I went with a new scone recipe hoping that it would be just as good.

The original recipe called for dried cranberries but I had fresh and I wanted that big pop of tart cranberries in each bite.  I adjusted the recipe to account for the moisture in the cranberries.  I ended up combining several different recipes into this mouthwatering scone recipe.

Can I use Dried Cranberries?

Yes, you can use dried cranberries but know that the tartness from the fresh cranberries won’t be there. Also, add 2 to 3 additional tablespoons of milk if you are used dried cranberries instead of fresh ones. 

While I didn’t add nuts to these scones you can totally add a half cup of chopped pecans that have been toasted in the oven. You can also use additional spices if desired. 

Ingredients:

• all purpose flour (this is the base of your scones)
• baking powder (this will help your scones rise in the oven)
• salt (this helps to balance out the sweet and tart flavors in the scones)
• salted butter (you can also use unsalted but I prefer salted in all of my baked goods)
• milk (I used 2% but you can use whole milk or plant based milk)
• egg (this is a binding agent in the scones)
• fresh cranberries (these will add a wonderful tart flavor against the sweetness of the scones)
• orange (This adds a bright flavor to the scones and the glaze on top)

To make the scones preheat the oven to 375 degrees. 

In a large bowl combine the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and sugar.  Cut the butter into pieces and use your fingers to mix the butter into the flour mixture.  In a small bowl combine the milk and egg.  Add to the flour mixture and mix well to combine.  Add the orange zest and the juice from half of the orange.   Mix well.

Form the dough into a circle that is 3/4 inch thick.   Cut into 8 wedges.   Place the wedges on a baking sheet 2 inches apart.   Bake for 17-20 minutes or until the tops begin to brown.  Remove from oven and cool on a wire rack.

I really liked these cranberry orange scones.  They have a different crumb than any other scone I’ve made but it’s really delicious and perfect for breakfast.

The scones are light and fluffy with a bit of crunch on the outside.  The cranberries add a tasty tartness and the orange glaze adds a nice sweetness.

How do you store the scones?

Store the scones in an air tight container on the counter for up to 1 week.  You can also wrap them in plastic wrap and freeze for up to 3 months.

Cranberry Orange Scones

Light and fluffy cranberry scones topped with an orange glaze.

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Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes minutes

Servings: 8 scones

Author: Hezzi-D

Equipment

• 1 Mixing Bowl
• 1 baking sheet

Ingredients

For the Scones:

• 2 c. flour
• 1 Tablespoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• ½ c. sugar
• 1/2 c. salted butter
• 1/2 c. low fat milk
• 1 egg beaten
• 1 c. fresh cranberries
• 1 orange zested and cut in half

For the glaze:

• 1/2 c. powdered sugar

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
• In a large bowl combine the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and sugar. Mix well.
• Cut the butter into pieces and add to the mixture. Use your fingers and mix the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles wet sand.
• In a small bowl combine the milk and egg and mix well.
• Add the milk mixture to the flour mixture and mix until a dough forms.
• Add in the cranberries, orange zest, and juice from half of the orange and mix until just combined.
• Pat the dough into a circle that is 3/4 inch thick. Cut into 8 wedges.
• Place the wedges on a baking sheet.
• Bake for 17-20 minutes or until the tops are brown.
• Remove from oven and cool completely.
• To make the glaze combine the powdered sugar with juice from the remaining orange half and whisk until smooth. Drizzle over top of the scones and let sit for 15 minutes before enjoying.

Notes

A Hezzi-D Original Recipe