These Cranberry Orange Scones are the perfect breakfast or brunch treat! Made with candied orange peel and craisins, these scones are delicious and easy to make. They’re the perfect Christmas scone but tasty any time of year!
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I love scones. They’re just so delicious and so versatile. They’re perfect for a sweet breakfast or brunch, an afternoon snack, or even a dessert. There’s never really a wrong time to make them. For a long time, I was intimidated by the idea of making them, but once I figured out that they’re essentially just sweet biscuits, I knew I had to give them a try.
This delicious recipe starts with a simple, classic scone dough. Then, I add craisins, candied orange peel, and orange zest for a sweet and tangy kick of flavor. Finally, I bake them to golden perfection and top them with a simple orange vanilla glaze to complete the dish. I serve these for a breakfast on their own, with other breakfast treats, or at holiday brunch with my friends or family.
If you love cranberry recipes, you’ve got to try our Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad, Cranberry Crumble, or these Cranberry Cinnamon Rolls.
Why You’ll Love This Orange Cranberry Scones Recipe
- Great Flavor Combination. There’s something so delicious about sweet orange paired with tart cranberries! So delicious!
- Easy to Make. Even beginner cooks can master this recipe in a flash! It’s pretty much nothing more difficult than homemade biscuits. Plus I’m laying it out there for you with lots of tips and tricks so you get it right the first time.
- Enjoy Anytime. They’re great to serve for breakfast, brunch, a midday snack, or even dessert. We love them for Christmas, Thanksgiving, but I’ve been known to make them in the summer too!
Ingredients
The majority of the ingredients for this cranberry and orange scones recipe are kitchen staples that you probably have in your pantry right now. Anything you don’t have is readily available at your local grocery store.
- Baking basics: We’re using all-purpose flour for the structure the scones need and granulated sugar to sweeten the dough.
- Leavener: We are using a combination of baking powder and baking soda to give the scones a bit of lift. Make sure it’s fresh for the best results.
- Butter: It’s crucial that you start with cold butter.
- Craisins: A pantry staple to add the tart cranberry flavor that pairs so well with the orange.
- Candied orange peel: For an even more complex orange flavor! We like this candied orange peel by Paradise Fruit Company.
- Fresh orange: We will be using the orange zest (peel) and the orange juice. The zest intensifies the orange flavor without adding too much sweetness or liquid to the dough. The orange juice dissolves the powdered sugar for the orange glaze.
- Half and half: Adds richness along with the moisture you need to form the dough. You can use whole milk instead but the overall recipe will be a bit less rich in flavor.
- Powdered sugar: Perfect for making the creamy orange glaze to top the scones.
Recipe Variations
- Swap the orange. Lemon also pairs great with cranberries. Use lemon juice, zest, and candied lemon peel to make lemon cranberry scones.
- Add chocolate chips. Try adding chocolate chips for extra sweetness and flavor. These would also work great with white chocolate chips.
- Add nuts. Fold in chopped walnuts, pecans, or almonds for more flavor and crunch.
How to Make Orange Cranberry Scones
Making this recipe for cranberry orange scones is no more difficult than making biscuits, and almost everyone knows how to do that. It only takes a few simple steps and about 45 minutes from start to finish.
- Step 1: Prep. To get started, preheat your oven to 425 degrees F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Step 2: Combine the Dry Ingredients. Whisk the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together in a large mixing bowl.
- Step 3: Cut in the Butter. Add the butter to the dry ingredients and use a pastry cutter or two forks to cut in the butter until the mixture is crumbly. Add the craisins, candied orange peel, and orange zest and mix.
- Step 5: Combine the Wet Ingredients. Combine the orange juice and half-and-half in a small bowl and stir.
- Step 6: Make the Dough. Pour the wet ingredients into the flour mixture and, with clean hands, mix the ingredients until just combined. Add additional orange juice if the dough doesn’t hold together.
- Step 7: Make the Scones. Flatten out the dough into a rectangle about 1-inch thick. Sprinkle the top with coarse sugar and gently pat it into the dough. Cut the dough into 8 to 10 triangle wedges and place them on the baking sheet.
- Step 8: Bake. Bake the scones for 16 to 20 minutes until browned. Then, remove from the oven and let them cool.
- Step 9: Make the Glaze. While the scones are baking, combine the powdered sugar, orange juice, and orange zest. When the scones are cooled but still warm, drizzle with the sweet orange glaze and serve.
Expert Tips
- Don’t overmix your dough. Stop mixing as soon as the ingredients are just combined. Too much mixing makes them tough.
- Place close together on the pan. For the perfect scones, place them on the baking sheet so they touch. This encourages them to rise rather than spread.
- Line your pan. Always line your baking sheet with parchment paper so the scones don’t burn or stick.
Serving Suggestions
Scones are super versatile and can be served with savory breakfast options to start the day, sweet additions for brunch, or even enjoyed as a dessert for meals.
- Pair them with other breakfast sweets like Maple Iced Donuts and Banana Parfaits.
- Serve them up for breakfast or brunch with favorites like this Breakfast Lasagna and our Italian Sausage Breakfast Casserole along with hash browns, sausage, or bacon.
- For dessert top them with a generous dollop of whipped cream, chocolate drizzle, and some fresh fruit.
- Spread them with jam, butter, honey, or even some tangy lemon curd.
How to Store Leftover Scones
Store these scones in an airtight container at room temperature for a couple of days. You can refrigerate them for up to a week in an airtight container.
For longer storage, place the scones in single layers separated by wax or parchment paper in an air-tight, freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months.
Recipe FAQ
We have three secrets for the best scones! First, use the coldest butter possible. Second, Don’t overmix the dough. And last, chill the dough before baking or place them directly next to each other so they rise, rather than spread.
You can use buttermilk for ultra-tender scones. In addition, if you freeze your scones before baking them, it will make the butter melt more slowly while baking for more moist scones.
Try These Delicious Orange and Cranberry Scones Today
These orange craisin scones are full of the classic, sweet and tangy flavor combination of oranges and cranberries. They’re so easy to make and so delicious, and everyone always comes back for more. With a combination like that, you’re sure to love them. Give them a try, and I know they’ll have a permanent place in your recipe rotation.
More Delicious Pastries You’ll Enjoy
And, these Lemon Blueberry Scones from Great Grub, Delicious Treats. A sweet treat made with fresh lemon and blueberries, baked to a golden brown, and then drizzled with a homemade glaze.
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Orange Craisin Scones
Ingredients
Cranberry Orange Scones
- 2 โ cup all purpose flour
- โ cup sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ยฝ teaspoon baking soda
- ยผ teaspoon salt
- ยฝ cup butter, cut into small pieces
- ยฝ cup craisins, coarsely chopped
- ยฝ cup candied orange peel
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- ยผ cup orange juice
- ยผ cup half and half
- 1 teaspoon sugar
Orange Glaze
- ยฝ cup powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon orange juice
- 1 teaspoon orange zest
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425ยฐ and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt together.
- Using a pastry cutter or fork, add butter and mix until crumbly.
- Add craisins, candied orange peel and orange zest. Stir.
- In a small bowl, pour orange juice and half and half, stir.
- Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients, and with clean hands, mix until just combined. Add additional orange juice if more liquid is needed.
- On a clean surface, lightly covered with flour, knead dough about 8 times.
- Flatten out dough to about 1 inch high and form into a rectangle.
- Sprinkle the top with coarse sugar. Gently pat into dough.
- But into 8-10 triangle pieces and place on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for 16-20 minutes or until browned.
- Remove from oven and once cool, drizzle with orange glaze and enjoy.
Notes
- Don’t overmix your dough. Stop mixing as soon as the ingredients are just combined. Too much mixing makes them tough.
- Place close together on the pan. For the perfect scones, place them on the baking sheet so they touch. This encourages them to rise rather than spread.
- Line your pan. Always line your baking sheet with parchment paper so the scones don’t burn or stick.
Veลygood
Simple and delicious!