Spiced Orange Scones

Enjoy the warm, inviting taste of orange zest and spices with these easy-to-make Spiced Orange Scones.

This post is sponsored in conjunction with #SpringSweetsWeek. I received product samples from sponsor companies to help in the creation of the #SpringSweetsWeek recipes. All opinions are mine alone.

I love scones.  Ever since I made them a few years ago and discovered that not all scones were hard, dry, and flavorless, they've become one of my favorite things to bake. 

I recently received a lovely delivery of produce containing tons of fresh citrus fruits from Melissa's Produce.  Inside were lemons, key limes, and two types of oranges.  The Cara Cara Oranges were screaming my name.

I grabbed the oranges and began looking through my spice cabinet.  Because Cara Cara oranges are so sweet I wanted to pick out some spices to help balance out the sweetness.

Ingredients:

• All purpose flour (you can also use half all purpose and half whole wheat flour)
• Sugar
• Baking powder
• ground cinnamon (I like Selefina Spices because it super fragrant)
• ground allspice (I like Selefina Spices because it smells super fresh)
• salt (I like to use sea salt but you can use table salt)
• butter (I prefer using salted to balance out the sweetness and spice)
• Greek yogurt (I like using vanilla flavored but you can use plain)
• Cara Cara oranges
• Organic Vanilla Bean Paste (I use Taylor & Colledge but you can use extract)
• egg
• powdered sugar

I grabbed ground cinnamon and ground allspice from Selefina Spices.   I just recently started using these spices and I'm totally hooked!  They are fresh, fragrant, and add so much flavor to my baked goods. 

I mixed up a basic scone batter and added the spices into the mix.  I also added in some Taylor & Colledge Vanilla Bean Paste.  I like using the paste because it doesn't change the consistency of the dough and it's more potent then regular extract.

Finally I added in the orange zest and orange juice.  I know a lot of recipes don't add juice to the scones but I find that it adds a subtle flavor and I just use it in place of some of the milk.

What are Cara Cara Oranges?

Cara Cara oranges are a type of navel orange.  They have a thick orange rind with a pinkish-orange interior.  They are sweeter than regular oranges and have a slight berry flavor to them.  They are delicious to eat on their own but also add a bit of sweetness or tartness to baked goods and savory dishes as well.

Can I use orange extract instead of fresh oranges?

No.   I mean obviously you could but don't do it.  Orange extract has a fake taste and it won't give you the same bright flavor as fresh oranges.  Fresh oranges are bright and flavorful and the Cara Cara Oranges have a delicious sweetness to them.

Can I use another citrus fruit?

Yes!  Use your favorite citrus fruit in place of the oranges.   You can use oranges, lemons, limes, or grapefruit.  You may need to adjust the spices based on the citrus fruit you choose.   Simply replace the orange juice and zest with the juice and zest of another citrus fruit.

Can you freeze the scones?

You can freeze the scones before baking them.  Make the dough, cut them into triangles, and place them on a baking sheet.  Freeze for 1 hour.  Wrap each ones in plastic wrap and place in a freezer bag. Freeze for up to 3 months.   When ready to bake simply remove from freezer and place on a baking sheet and allow to thaw at room temperature.   Bake as directed.  You can also bake from the freezer adding 4-6 minutes to the cooking time.

You can also freeze the scones after baking.  Allow them to cool completely. Do not glaze them before freezing!  Place on a baking sheet and freeze for 1 hour.  Wrap each scone in plastic wrap and place in a freezer bag. Freeze for up to 3 months. When ready to eat heat in an oven, thaw in the microwave, or let come to room temperature.

After the dough comes together I usually knead it just a few times then shape it into a circle.  You can then use either a pizza cutter or a knife to cut it into 8 wedges.

The wedges are placed on a baking sheet and baked until the bottom and edges have browned.   As soon as they come out of the oven remove them to a wire cooling rack so they don't overcook on the baking sheet.

More Orange Recipes:

• Blood Orange Loaf Cake
• Orange Pound Cake
• Mandarin Orange and Rhubarb Crisp
• Blood Orange Chess Pie
• Vanilla Chai Cupcakes with Orange frosting

Once the scones have cooled it's time to make the glaze.  I like to make my glaze with fresh orange juice, powdered sugar, and vanilla.  You can also add a pinch of the allspice to the glaze if you'd like a little more spice.

Because I was putting the glaze on top of orange scones and I wanted people to know what they were eating I added just a touch of orange food coloring to give it an orange tone.  Then I drizzled it on top and they were ready to eat.

I gave these scones a try and they are so good.  They are crisp on the outside with a soft and delicious crumb on the inside.   The flavor of orange is bursting from the glaze and scone.

They are sweet but have a nice spice from the allspice.   The glaze adds a bit of tartness and sweetness to the scones.   I have to admit, I was eating them for breakfast and as an after school snack they were so good!

If you’ve tried my Spiced Orange Scones or any other recipe on Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks please take a minute to rate the recipe and leave a comment letting me know how you liked it. I love hearing from you! You can FOLLOW ME on:

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Friday #SpringSweetsWeek Recipes

Applesauce Oatmeal Cookies by Art of Natural Living

Black Forest Snack Cake by A Kitchen Hoor's Adventures

Blender Blood Orange Curd by Shockingly Delicious

Dairy Free Mexican Chocolate Pudding by Frugal & Fit

Frozen Coconut Mojitos by The Spiffy Cookie

Funfetti Pancakes by Family Around the Table

Key Lime Cheesecake Easter Eggs by Magical Ingredients

Key Lime Pie Cookies by Kate's Recipe Box

Kumquat Strawberry Lemonade Cooler by Palatable Pastime

Mixed Citrus Daiquiri by A Day in the Life on the Farm

Morning Glory Cake by Jolene's Recipe Journal

Orange Creamsicle Mousse by Jen Around the World

Pear Blueberry Crisp by Sweet Beginnings

Pink Lemonade Sangria by Cheese Curd In Paradise

Polish Poppy Seed Roll by Cookaholic Wife

Spiced Orange Blondies by Cindy's Recipes and Writings

Spiced Orange Scones by Hezzi-D's Books and Cooks

Strawberry Lemon Lavender Cake by That Recipe

Strawberry Pink Peppercorn Breakfast Smoothie by Blogghetti

White Chocolate Fudge Sauce by Karen's Kitchen Stories

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