Cranberry Orange Scones

Three scones in a row with cranberry and oranges slices.

This easy homemade Cranberry Orange Scones recipe is perfect for the holiday season, or anytime of year! These flaky scones have a slightly crisp and golden brown exterior with a tender and buttery moist center. Bursting with fresh orange zest, fresh orange juice, fresh cranberries and topped off with a sweet orange glaze.

Course bread, Breakfast

Cuisine American

Keyword cranberry orange scones

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 20

Cooling Time 10

Total Time 45

Servings

Calories 399kcal

Author Jessica - Together as Family

Ingredients

Cranberry Orange Scones

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2½ teaspoons baking powder
2 tablespoons fresh orange zest (about 1 large orange)
½ teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) FROZEN butter
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 large egg whisked
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup FROZEN halved cranberries

Orange Glaze

1 cup powdered sugar
2 tablespoons fresh orange juice (from the orange you zested)

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400℉. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients; all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, orange zest, and salt until combined.
2 cups all-purpose flour, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, 2½ teaspoons baking powder, 2 tablespoons fresh orange zest, ½ teaspoon kosher salt
Use a box grater to grate the frozen butter. Add the grated butter to the bowl of dry ingredients. Use a pastry cutter to cut the butter into the flour until there are pea-sized crumbs.
^{* Do not grab the butter from the freezer until right before grating it. It needs to be grated completely frozen straight from the freezer.}
1/2 cup (1 stick) FROZEN butter
In a medium bowl, whisk together the heavy cream, whisked large egg, and vanilla extract until smooth.
1/2 cup heavy cream, 1 large egg, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Slowly pour the bowl of wet ingredients into the bowl of dry ingredients (butter and flour mixture). Add the halved frozen cranberries and gently stir everything together just until it comes together as a dough.
^{* Don't overmix because when you go in with your hands, in the next step, the dough will come together more.}
1 cup FROZEN halved cranberries
Cover your hands with flour, then work the dough gently for a few times with your hands to bring it together in a ball.
Transfer the dough ball to a lightly floured surface on a clean countertop or large cutting board. Form it into an 8-inch flat & thick disc shape. Divide the disc into 8 equal wedges and then transfer the wedges to the prepared baking sheet with parchment paper.
Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden browned. Remove the pan from the oven and allow to cook for 10 minutes (on the warm baking sheet) before removing the scones to a cooling rack.
Make the glaze by combining the powdered sugar and fresh orange juice until blended. Add the orange glaze to a piping bag, a sandwich bag with the tip cut off, or just use a fork to drizzle it over the tops of each scone.
1 cup powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
Serve the scones warm (my preferred way) or at room temperature.

Notes

Recipe Tips For Scones

When you combine the wet ingredients and the dry ingredients together the mixture will appear sandy at first like it's not coming together. As you go in with clean hands to combine it, it will come together and form a more cohesive dough that can be formed in a ball.

You want the glaze thick enough to coat and set on the scones. if the glaze ends up too thick then thin it out by adding 1 teaspoon of additional fresh orange juice until you reach the desired consistency. To thicken it, add 1 teaspoon of powdered sugar at a time until the glaze reaches the desired consistency.

Sprinkle on some coarse sugar on top of the scones before baking for an added crunch and sweetness.

To cut the round disc into the 8 wedges I use a bench scraper but you can also use a sharp knife to cut it as well. Cut it like you would a pizza.

It's difficult to find frozen cranberries at the grocery store so here is what I do - Measure out 1 cup fresh cranberries, cut each one in half, and then place them inside a freezer-safe container or bag and freeze them overnight in the freezer. It's important to use frozen cranberries in the scone dough so the dough doesn't turn pink and the cranberries don't get smashed into the dough while mixing them in.

Nutrition