Cranberry Orange Scones Recipe

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The texture of these cranberry orange scones is phenomenal – billowy soft and crumbly (as evidenced by the next picture). My sister Tanya hosted a ladies brunch/ girls tea party and these were my contribution. Remember the princess party? That’s the one! Everyone loved that these scones weren’t overly sweet (the scones themselves have just 3 Tbsp sugar!) – it’s a fairly low-guilt dessert.

The base of this recipe is modified from the strawberry scones that I guest posted for Better Homes and Gardens. The idea for the orange flavoring and glaze is based on Ina Garten’s Cranberry Orange Scones.

Ingredients for Cranberry Orange Scones:

2 cups all-purpose flour *measured correctly
3 Tbsp sugar
1 Tbsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 Tbsp grated orange zest (from 1/2 orange)
1/2 cup (1 stick) cold butter, cut into chunks
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream + 1 Tbsp to brush the top
3/4 cup dried cranberries
1 Tbsp coarse/raw sugar to sprinkle the top, optional

Ingredients for the Orange Glaze:

2/3 cup powdered sugar
1 Tbsp freshly squeezed orange juice plus a pinch of orange zest

How to Make Cranberry Orange Scones:

Preheat oven to 400˚F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
1. In a large bowl, stir together 2 cups flour, 3 Tbsp sugar, 1 Tbsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp salt and 1/2 Tbsp grated orange zest. Add butter pieces and using a pastry cutter (or 2 knives), cut butter into mixture until you have coarse pea-sized crumbs.

2. Toss in 3/4 cup dried cranberries and stir gently to combine. Make a well in the center and set aside

3. In a medium bowl, whisk together the egg and 1/2 cup heavy cream. Pour egg mixture into the flour mixture and use a spatula to stir just until moistened. tip: don’t wash the dish with your cream/egg mix. Add a little cream to it and use it to brush the scone in the next step!

4. Turn dough out onto a generously floured surface and pull it together into a round disk, about 3/4″ thick. Cut disk into 12 equal wedges and pull apart slightly. Brush tops of scones with 1 Tbsp heavy cream and sprinkle the top with raw sugar if desired. Bake 15-17 min until golden (mine took 16 min)

5. Remove scones from the hot baking sheet and let cool 15 min then whisk together 2/3 cup powdered sugar and 1 Tbsp freshly squeezed orange juice, adding more or less to desired thickness then drizzle over cranberry scones.

Cranberry Orange Scones Recipe

4.95 from 119 votes

Author: Natasha Kravchuk

The texture of these cranberry orange scones is phenomenal - billowy soft and crumbly. And they are not overly sweet.

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Prep Time: 15 minutes mins

Cook Time: 16 minutes mins

Total Time: 31 minutes mins

Ingredients 

US CustomaryMetric

Servings: 12 scones

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3 Tbsp sugar
• 1 Tbsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 Tbsp grated orange zest, from 1/2 orange, plus more for glaze
• 1/2 cup 1 stick cold butter, cut into chunks
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream + 1 Tbsp to brush the top
• 3/4 cup dried cranberries
• 1 Tbsp coarse/raw sugar to sprinkle the top, optional
• 2/3 cup powdered sugar
• 1 Tbsp freshly squeezed orange juice

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Instructions

• Preheat oven to 400˚F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large bowl, sift together 2 cups flour, 3 Tbsp sugar, 1 Tbsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp salt and 1/2 Tbsp grated orange zest.
• Add butter pieces and using a pastry cutter (or 2 knives), cut butter into mixture until you have coarse pea-sized crumbs.
• Toss in 3/4 cup dried cranberries and stir gently to combine. Make a well in the center and set aside.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together 1 eggs and 1/2 cup heavy cream. Pour egg mixture into the flour mixture and use a spatula to stir just until moistened.
• Turn dough out onto a generously floured surface and pull it together into a round disk, about 3/4" thick. Cut disk into 12 equal wedges and pull apart slightly. Brush tops of scones with 1 Tbsp heavy cream and sprinkle with raw sugar if desired. Bake 15-17 min until golden (mine took 16 min).
• Remove scones from the hot baking sheet and let cool 15 min then whisk together 2/3 cup powdered sugar, 1 Tbsp freshly squeezed orange juice and a pinch of orange zest. Add more or less powdered sugar or orange juice to reach desired thickness then drizzle over scones.

• Full Nutrition Label
• Nutrition Disclosure

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Cranberry Orange Scones

Skill Level: Easy

Cost to Make: $

Have you tried scones? What’s your favorite variety?