Cranberry Orange Scones Recipe (2024)

by Nicole 38 Comments

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Bursting with cranberries and bright orange flavor, these sweet buttery little scones are my new favorite winter treat. They are easy to put together and perfect to share with friends and family.

Cranberry Orange Scones Recipe (2)

Recently, my friends Alisa and Enriqueasked me to collaborate on a little recipevideo forFresYes, a local blog that focuses on cool stuff happening around the valley. I’m a big fan of Enrique’svideo workand have been really been enjoying Alisa’slocal food posts,so I created this cranberry orangescone recipe and invited the two of them into my kitchen for a night of take-out pizza and scone making.

Despite my huge fear of being on camera, we had a lot of fun and the resulting recipe and cute little videoweredefinitely worth the discomfort.

Since it’s December, I decided to make these slightly sweeter than my other scone recipes. With their beautifulsweet orange glaze, these petite scones can easily take the place of fancy cookies on a gift plate.

As you’ll see in the video, these scones really are quick and easy to put together. The photos below show you how to shape them once the dough is mixed.

Cranberry Orange Scones Recipe (4)

Since these are small scones, the dough needs to be divided into two piecesbefore being sliced into triangles.

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It’s really easy to shape these scones. Just cut them up like pies and they’re ready to bake.

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Once transferred to a parchment-lined baking sheet, the scones are ready for the oven. Make sure you preheat the oven before you begin, because this recipe goes pretty fast!

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My oven bakes these scones perfectly in 12 minutes every time. But it’s always good to check them a little early since every oven is different.

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Once they have cooled completely, it’s time to mix the glaze and dip the scones right in the glaze. As long as you dip only the tops of the scones, you should have just enough glaze to cover all of them. Make sure you lay some waxed paper or newspaper under the rack before beginning the dipping process. This makes cleanup much easier!

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Enjoy!

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Cranberry Orange Scones Recipe (11)

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 12 minutes

Additional Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 52 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • scant 1/2 cup half and half
  • zest of one orange, divided
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cut in small pieces and well chilled
  • 1/2 cup dried cranberries, roughly chopped

Glaze:

  • 1 cup sifted powdered sugar
  • 2 tablespoons orange juice (from the zested orange)
  • 1/2 teaspoon orange zest (reserved from above)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar.
  3. In a separate small bowl, whisk together egg, half and half, and most of the orange zest (reserve about 1/2 teaspoon for the glaze); set aside.
  4. Rub cold butter pieces into the flour mixture with your fingertips (or use a pastry blender) until it resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in the chopped cranberries.
  5. Add the egg mixture to the flour mixture all at once and stir until the mixture clumps together. Dump mixture out onto a floured countertop and, with floured hands, gather into a ball and knead once or twice to combine everything. If it’s quite sticky, just sprinkle some extra flour on the counter and on top of the dough to keep it from sticking. Cut dough into two equal pieces and pat each into a circle about 3/4 inch thick. Cut each circle like a pie into 8 slices. Arrange scones on the parchment-lined baking sheet.
  6. Bake in a preheated 425 degree oven for 12 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove to a cooling rack and let cool completely before dipping in the glaze.
  7. Glaze: Put some waxed paper or newspaper underneath the cooling rack to catch dripping glaze. In a small bowl that is wide enough to dip a scone, combine 1 cup sifted powdered sugar with 2 tablespoons orange juice and the reserved orange zest. Whisk until smooth. Dip tops of the scones in the glaze and place them (glaze side up) on the cooling rack. Once glaze is dry, scones can be stored in a container or covered in plastic wrap. They are best eaten the day they are made, but will stay somewhat fresh for a day or two if carefully wrapped.
Nutrition Information:

Yield: 16Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 185Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 30mgSodium: 138mgCarbohydrates: 29gFiber: 1gSugar: 16gProtein: 2g

Related Recipes:

  • Buttermilk Cranberry Scones
  • Pumpkin Spice Scones
  • Apricot Cream Scones
  • Cherry Banana Muffins with White Chocolate Chips
  • Cheddar, Parmesan, and Cracked Pepper Scones

Around the Web:

Big thanks to Enrique atMeza Filmsand Alisa fromFresYesfor coming to hang out in my kitchen for a delicious night of scone making. Here are a few behind-the-scenes photos from the videoshoot taken by my husband Phil.

Cranberry Orange Scones Recipe (12)
Cranberry Orange Scones Recipe (13)
Cranberry Orange Scones Recipe (14)
Cranberry Orange Scones Recipe (15)

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Barb says

    These are quick, easy and absolutely wonderful! Thanks for sharing.

    Reply

  2. Leslie Berg says

    Hello -- will these stay fresh longer if I skip the glaze? I'm hoping to make them for a bridal shower and would like to make them ahead.

    Reply

  3. Christine says

    I have been using your recipe for years and every time they are DELICIOUS! Bringing a double batch to work today for coworkers, who get so excited whenever I bring them in. Thank you!

    Reply

    • Nicole says

      Thanks, Christine!

      Reply

    • Nicole says

      Glad you enjoyed the recipe! :-)

      Reply

  4. Sherrie says

    Yum! We loved these. Had to sub gluten free flour and egg replacer, and they were still fantastic!

    Reply

    • Nicole says

      Great! Thanks for letting us know about the gluten-free flour. My husband can no longer eat wheat so I've been experimenting with swapping in gluten-free flour for him, but haven't done scones yet.

      Reply

  5. Joanna says

    We are new to baking and these are very fun and delicious to make!

    Reply

    • Nicole says

      I'm so happy you tried them! :-)

      Reply

  6. Elise Brown says

    Can you put the dough in the refrigerator before baking them a day or two later?

    Reply

    • Nicole says

      Hi Elise, I'm so sorry for the late reply! I have only tried freezing them and then baking from frozen, which works great!

      Reply

  7. Lauren says

    I made these today and my husband told me it was one of the best things I’ve baked, and I bake a lot! Thank you for a delicious treat!

    Reply

    • Nicole says

      Love it! :-D

      Reply

  8. Marie Guy says

    HelloCan you use orange juice instead of the half and half?Thanks

    Reply

    • Nicole says

      Yes, I am sure that would be fine!

      Reply

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Cranberry Orange Scones Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What are the ingredients in Trader Joe's cranberry orange scones? ›

cake: unbleached enriched flour (wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), unsalted butter, demerra sugar, eggs, sweetened dried cranberries (dried cranberries, sugar, sunflower oil), cultured lowfat buttermilk (nonfat milk, milk, sodium citrate, vitamin a palmitate), orange zest ...

What is Bisconie? ›

Biscotti made from scones or, as we called it, Bisconie. Since then, Bisconie has become a favorite of many. We make it in a variety of flavors and it is available in gluten-free. It's softer than traditional biscotti and is great dunked in tea or coffee.

Why do you put baking soda in scones? ›

Baking soda reacts with acidic ingredients, creating lift when the acid is introduced. For example, when a cake recipe calls for baking soda, you'll typically find an acidic ingredient, such as buttermilk or lemon, in the list.

What type of flour is best for scones? ›

Use all-purpose flour for a higher rising scone that holds its shape nicely, both in and out of the oven. To make more delicate, lower-rising, cake-like scones, substitute cake flour for all-purpose flour. Reduce the liquid in the recipe by 1 to 2 tablespoons, using just enough to bring the dough together.

Is buttermilk or cream better for scones? ›

Heavy Cream or Buttermilk: For the best tasting pastries, stick with a thick liquid such as heavy cream or buttermilk. I usually use heavy cream, but if you want a slightly tangy flavor, use buttermilk.

What are Starbucks scones made of? ›

ENRICHED FLOUR [WHEAT FLOUR, MALTED BARLEY FLOUR, NIACIN, IRON, THIAMIN MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID], VANILLA BEAN GLAZE [SUGAR, WATER, FRUCTOSE, CORN STARCH, CORN SYRUP, GUM ARABIC, HONEY, AGAR, CITRIC ACID, VANILLA BEAN SEEDS, PECTIN, NATURAL FLAVOR, MONO- AND DIGLYCERIDES, LOCUST BEAN GUM], HEAVY CREAM [ ...

What do traditional scones have in them that are not originally in American scones? ›

American scones use much more butter than British scones, and they usually have quite a bit more sugar. The extra butter is what makes them so much denser. This is not really a good or bad thing, as British scones pile on plenty of sugar (in the form of preserves/jam) and butter or clotted cream as toppings.

What are Victoria scones? ›

Victoria scones are also sometimes called empire scones and are a cake baked to celebrate Queen Victoria's coronation and Jubilee. The scone is shaped into a round with a cross cut across the top. A glace cherry is placed in the center of each segment. To represent the jewels in her crown.

What is the difference between biscotti and scones? ›

The answer generally boils down to one ingredient: eggs. Scones have them, biscuits don't.

What is Costco Bisconie? ›

Are Costco's Bisconie the Same as Biscotti? Bisconie are a Costco invention—a mashup of biscotti and scones. They are pastries that are perfect to dunk into your coffee or tea (like biscotti but with a softer texture).

How many calories are in a Costco orange cranberry scone? ›

There are 190 calories in 1 scone (156 g) of Kirkland Signature Cranberry Orange Bisconie. * The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet.

Why don t my scones rise high? ›

The longer you get the dough sit before baking it, the less your scones will rise. Try to bake the dough as soon as you finishing kneading and rolling it out. Letting the mixture sit too long will cause the gas bubbles from the leavening agent to disappear. These gas bubbles are what help the scones rise.

Why are my scones not light and fluffy? ›

Avoid using a food processor to mix scones: A food processor will work, but it often overworks the scone dough. We recommend using your hands until the mixture comes together. Overworking the dough will lead to scones that are tough and chewy, rather than light and flaky.

Why do you rub butter into flour for scones? ›

Why? When cold butter is rubbed into the flour, it creates flaky pockets of flavour (which soft, room temperature butter can't do). Once the cold butter and liquid (e.g milk) hits the oven, the water in the butter and cold liquid begins evaporating.

Should you chill scone dough before baking? ›

Keep scones cold before putting them in the oven: For best results, chill the mixture in the fridge before baking, this will help to stiffen up the butter again, which will stop your scones from slumping as soon as they hit the oven's heat.

Is it better to make scones with butter or oil? ›

For example, if you substitute oil for butter or margarine, you can significantly reduce the amount of saturated fat in your baked goods. This streamlined recipe for Light Scones uses just 3 tablespoons of canola oil, which contains a fraction of the saturated fat found in butter or margarine.

How long should you rest scones before baking? ›

Recipes for scones sometimes provide a make-ahead option that involves refrigerating the dough overnight so it can simply be shaped and then popped into the oven the next day. But now we've found that resting the dough overnight has another benefit: It makes for more symmetrical and attractive pastries.

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