Cranberry-Orange Scones Recipe (2024)

By Yossy Arefi

Cranberry-Orange Scones Recipe (1)

Total Time
35 minutes, plus cooling
Rating
4(943)
Notes
Read community notes

Cranberries and orange are a classic sweet-tart pairing in these scones, which are quick-to-make but super satisfying. Folding the dough a few times, and using a combination of buttermilk and cream creates a flaky and tender texture that is irresistible. The glaze adds another punch of orange flavor, but it is totally optional, if you prefer a simpler scone. The scones freeze well after baking, but for the best texture, make sure to defrost them at room temperature and warm gently before serving. Feel free to swap in another citrus fruit for the orange, and just about any other dried fruit for the cranberries. Tart cherries and lime also make a great combination.

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Ingredients

Yield:9 scones

    For the Scones

    • 1medium orange
    • ¼cup/50 grams granulated sugar, plus more for sprinkling
    • cups/288 grams all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
    • 1tablespoon baking powder
    • ½teaspoon fine salt
    • ½cup/113 grams unsalted butter, cold and cut into cubes
    • 1cup/130 grams dried cranberries, roughly chopped
    • ½cup/115 grams buttermilk, cold
    • ½cup/115 grams heavy cream, cold, plus more to brush over the scones

    For the (optional) Glaze

    • 1cup/100 grams confectioners’ sugar
    • 4 to 6teaspoons orange juice
    • Pinch salt

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Nutritional analysis per serving (9 servings)

368 calories; 12 grams fat; 7 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 3 grams monounsaturated fat; 1 gram polyunsaturated fat; 61 grams carbohydrates; 2 grams dietary fiber; 28 grams sugars; 5 grams protein; 279 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Cranberry-Orange Scones Recipe (2)

Preparation

  1. Step

    1

    Heat oven to 400 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

  2. Step

    2

    Zest the orange into a large bowl. (You should have about 2 teaspoons of zest.) Reserve the remaining orange for the glaze. Add the ¼ cup granulated sugar to the zest and use your fingers to rub the zest into the sugar. The mixture will be very moist and fragrant. Add the flour, baking powder and salt and whisk to combine.

  3. Add the butter to the bowl and toss to coat in flour. Use your fingers or a pastry blender to work the butter into the flour until it is the size of small peas. Add the cranberries and stir to combine. Make a well in the center of the mixture and add the buttermilk and cream. Use a fork to gently stir the mixture into a shaggy dough. (It’s OK if there are a few loose, floury pieces of dough.)

  4. Step

    4

    Dump the dough onto a lightly floured surface and pat it into a 1-inch-thick rectangle. Fold the dough in half then pat it into a rectangle again and fold it one more time. Pat the dough into a square that is about 7 inches wide and 1 inch thick, then cut it into 9 pieces. Transfer the dough to the prepared baking sheet, brush the tops of the scones with a bit of cream and sprinkle with more granulated sugar.

  5. Step

    5

    Bake scones until golden brown and cooked through, 18 to 22 minutes.

  6. Step

    6

    While the scones are baking, make the glaze, if desired: Juice the orange. Add the confectioners’ sugar, 4 teaspoons of orange juice and a pinch of salt to a bowl. Whisk until smooth, adding more juice as needed to make a thick, but pourable glaze.

  7. Step

    7

    Let the scones cool for about 15 minutes, then drizzle or brush the glaze over the scones. These are best the first day, but you can store any leftover scones in an airtight container for a day or two. They also keep well in the freezer for up to 2 weeks.

Ratings

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943

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Private Notes

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Cooking Notes

stubborndreamer

Thanks. A winning combination of flavors. To prevent drying out the edges, I find it best to pat scone dough into a circle, score wedges with a bread knife & bake whole. Once cooled, it's easy to separate them into moist nuggets of chewy triangle without crusty edges capable of shredding the roof of the mouth --

morgan

These are so good and not too dry like so many scone recipes are. The dough is quite wet so a little tricky to form. I do think they make a small batch and it was hard to get 9. Next time I will definitely double the recipe and maybe make them each a bit bigger.

Carol J Winkelman

have been freezing raw scones for years in a plastic zip lock bag...bake straight from the freezer

Caroline L

Just preheating the oven for ANOTHER batch of these luscious so easy to make scones....I have made these so often I fear I will turn into a scone!!! Just a tip, I freeze the butter and grate it into the flour mixture,so simple and even distribution of the butter. I also measure the 2 liquids into a 1cup measure and pop it into the freezer while assembling all the dry ingredients. The key to wonderful scones is all ingredients as cold as possible!! Still refusing to glaze as they are so good.

Elizabeth

These were delicious! My only modification was that I put in 1.5 teaspoons of baking powder instead of the full tablespoon. A T sounded like too much and I thought it could be a typo, so went with 1.5t. I definitely like them iced.

Jane S

So I made the scones again, this time with 2 extra tablespoons of butter, then I soaked the cranberries in 2 tablespoons of orange juice for 10 minutes before adding the berries and juice to the mixture - I added just under 1/2 cup each of heavy cream and buttermilk. The scones were more flavorful and much less dry as a result.

Junebug

I would definitely keep the whole amount of baking powder and make sure not to seal the edges. If the edges are sealed, the scones won’t rise completely. I would start with a hotter oven and turn it down once I’m ready to bake (for the immediate rise). Cranberry and orange…what’s not to love!

Nancy

Oh my. Tender and delicious. One inch was really taller than I thought, so to create a 7" square, I ended up with something more like 3/4". Also couldn't find plain dried cranberries, so used orange-infused cranberries and cut the zest a tiny bit and the 1/4 C sugar in half since I did want to have sugar sprinkled on top. Couldn't wait for icing. Sliced and buttered them hot. Oh my giddy aunt.

Agnieszka

Outstanding, few subs due to ingredients on hand: yoghurt instead of buttermilk,fresh cranberries, demerrara sugar instead of the glaze, 1.5 tsp of baking powder (thanks to previous comments).Light and flaki,perfect sweetness level

Justine Somogyi

Can I use fresh cranberries?

Marci

A little trick I used in a different recipe, zip the sugar and citrus zest in a food processor a few seconds. Really releases the oils/flavors!

Ji Ji

I get bored with steps for a glaze. Sprinkled Demerara sugar on the scones just as removing from oven. Yummy!

Tamara

Subbed fresh cranberries for the dried - let's see for a double recipe I added 3 cups/1 bag (fresh cranberry fans around here). Tossed the fresh cranberries in a tablespoon of flour to make them behave. I was about a 1/4 cup short on my flour as well. No matter - these were DELICIOUS. Oh and I added a generous helping of vanilla bean paste to the dough. Too many cranberries? Nope. Husband noted that the usually dry scone issue was not present - they were perfectly moist. YUM.

SpringPansy

These are really delicious and will be great with morning coffee. I used dried tart cherries with the orange zest and we loved the combo. I followed the suggestions below to weigh ingredients in grams, cut the baking powder (I used 2 tsp), and patted the dough into a round and scored before baking (rather than the individual squares suggested in the recipe). I had to bake it a bit longer (5 - 7 minutes) to be done in the middle, but they're amazing.

Name

I recommend cutting into 18, not 9 (cut squares in half), as a square is about 400 calories with glaze. Really moist for a scone & totally inhalable.

Sandy

Best scones EVER! I sprinkled with turbinado sugar before baking inside of glazing.

cyrus

Totally delicious. The orange and cranberries work as well here as they do in the quickbreads I've made in the past.But I confess to modifications: Used extra zest. Added toasted chopped pecans.No cream in the house, so substituted 2%milk. And they were still outstanding.

L

Amazing texture. I used half buckwheat flour because I was feeling healthy/crazy/needed to use it up and it was perfect. Making again this morning.

CVan

These are really freakin good. I've made them 3x in 2 weeks and have adapted the recipe slightly. I eliminate the sugar and add 1/2cup candied lemon peel to punch up the citrus flavor. I also use clabbered milk instead of buttermilk which I curdle with the juice from the orange. Between the cranberries, OJ, and lemon peel they are plenty sweet. I brush the tops with cream and sprinkle with sanding sugar for extra crunch. I make the whole recipe in the food processor for simplicity. Delish!

LG

I made these with buttermilk, and added currants and lemon zest; no icing as I serve with lemon curd,a tradition.

Stef

I woke up to snow this Saturday morning, a perfect day for staying home, so I used fresh cranberries, halved and quartered, as I had no dried cranberries on hand. A keeper recipe!!

CiCi

I make scones all the time and love the lemon or orange zest but hate to zest. Found that I can put the entire peel of an orange in my blender and it freezes perfectly so I always have “zest” on hand. And it doesn’t ever waste an orange peel!

Mildacrl

My first attempt and the scones were perfect! I would amp up the orange just a bit by placing a small piece of orange on top of each scone before baking.

Sue

Do you think these would work with gluten free flour?

JCM

Fabulous scone recipe. I am always in search of the perfect scone. I think this is it. Followed the recipe as written. Will make and freeze ahead next time to have on had.

Sarah W

This recipe turned out well! When using dried fruits, such as dried cranberries, in baked goods, it's a good idea before adding them to your mixture to moisten them first. You can add a couple of tablespoons of water to them and simmer them briefly in a pan on the stove, or steam them with the water in a bowl in the microwave on a couple of short bursts. Let them cool off before adding them. That way they don't absorb so much moisture from the batter while baking.

BonnieC

These were wonderful. Super easy and fresh or even dried cranberries are great. Wouldn't change a thing!!

Erica

These were delicious! I used the full tablespoon of baking powder and they came out beautifully.

mimi

My toddler keeps bringing home little packets of dried cranberries he doesn’t eat at preschool so decided to make this. Made it with him, who especially loved cutting the dough, and it’s a treat! Used yogurt whole milk for buttermilk and used 3/4 recipe amounts of milk for cream and it turned out great. Glaze is a lot so ended up tossing probably about half and still a tad too sweet (for me anyways, but hubby liked it). Will definitely make again as we still have a lot of cranberries…

debinpdx

Followed the recipe exactly this morning and these are the best scones! Fun to make and ooops, I almost forgot. I used my food processor, I almost forgot that part. I wouldn’t make scones without using one. Fast and delicious and smelled good and tasted good with my morning cup of coffee. Perfect for sharing with neighbors too!

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Cranberry-Orange Scones Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why do you rest scones before baking? ›

The explanation is simple: As with other doughs, including pizza dough, resting lets scone dough's gluten relax completely, so that it doesn't snap back during shaping or baking.

What makes scones rise well? ›

A final crucial ingredient in scones is some sort of leavening agent such as baking powder. Be sure to sieve this into the mixture evenly for a better chance of an even rise. In the oven, these leavening agents will react and form carbon dioxide, a gas.

Why are my fruit scones dry and crumbly? ›

Perhaps there wasn't enough liquid, or it could be that the dough was overworked and / or the scones were overbaked. If you're measuring the liquid in a jug, make sure you check the amount at eye level. The dough should be handled gently and feel moist. If there are any crumbs in the bowl it will need a spot more milk.

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? ›

If you are using baking soda, you will want to use buttermilk, an acidic ingredient that will react with the leavener to help them rise. On the other hand, if you use cream or milk, you'll want to use baking powder because it combines the acid needed with baking soda all in one complete powder.

Should you chill scone dough before baking? ›

Not chilling the dough before baking: to really ace your scones, it helps to chill your dough again before it's baked. Using cold ingredients does help, but your hands will warm up the dough when you're working with it and the extra step of chilling will help you get the best result.

Should I refrigerate my scones before baking? ›

Keep scone dough as cold as possible. To avoid over-spreading, I recommend chilling the shaped scones for at least 15 minutes in the refrigerator before baking. In fact, you can even refrigerate overnight for a quick breakfast in the morning! Bake until golden brown.

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.

Should you sift flour for scones? ›

Don't forget to sift!

Be sure to double or even triple sift your flour, as it takes away the clumps in the flour allowing for more air pockets in the scone dough - the result being a fluffier and more crumbly scone.

What happens if you don't put baking powder in scones? ›

If we were to whip or steam the scones, they wouldn't retain their flakiness, and wouldn't rise as much as they would with baking powder. That leaves yeast. Yeast just needs some water and sugar to start producing carbon dioxide.

Is it best to use cold butter for scones? ›

Get Flaky Scones with COLD Butter

Butter must be COLD from the very start to when the dough enters the oven. The cold butter melts upon entering the oven and the water content in butter evaporates in steam. As the steam escapes, it bursts up and creates that beautiful tall, flaky, fluffy texture.

What is the best temperature for baking scones? ›

The first batch into the oven was 'plain' Original Recipe. I preheated the oven to 405 degrees (it runs hot so this is the setting that gives me 425 degrees). The scones came out of the freezer, were set onto a parchment lined cookie sheet, placed into the oven. I set timer for 18 minutes and moved on.

How do you know when scones are done? ›

Bake scones until golden brown and firm to touch, rotating the pan half way throughfor an even bake. Bake REG (4oz) for 28-30 minutes. MINIS (1.75 oz) for 15-18 minutes. - Baking times will vary on your oven.

Should scones be baked touching? ›

Much like cinnamon rolls, arranging your scones side by side, just touching one another, helps in making the scones rise evenly, and higher. Since the heat causes the scones to rise, if they are placed side by side, the scones will be forced to rise upwards, not outwards.

How do you make scones rise and not spread? ›

Pack the scones closely on the baking tray so they will support each other as they rise rather than spreading. Make scones the day you need them – they taste far better warm.

Why do my scones spread out and not rise? ›

You may have used too little raising agent or over handled the dough before it was baked. The oven may have been too cool.

What is the best raising agent for scones and why? ›

A mixture of bicarbonate of soda and cream of tartar, or baking powder (which is a ready paired mixture of the two) are used as the raising agent in scones.

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