Description
Buttery cranberry orange scones invite warmth from British baking traditions with delightful citrus-tart notes. Breakfast pastry perfection emerges through simple ingredients and careful technique, promising delicious moments when golden edges meet sweet-tangy crumbles.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup (90 g) fresh or dried cranberries
- ½ cup (115 g) unsalted butter, cold and cubed
- ½ cup (120 ml) heavy cream
Sweeteners and Binding Agents:
- ⅓ cup (65 g) granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
Flavoring and Seasoning Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- Zest of 1 orange
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Heavy cream (for brushing)
Orange Glaze (optional):
- 1 cup (120 g) powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
- ½ teaspoon orange zest
Instructions
- Prepare a baking surface by lining a sheet with parchment paper, ensuring a non-stick cooking environment.
- Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a spacious mixing bowl, creating a uniform dry foundation for the scones.
- Incorporate cold butter into the dry mixture, using fingertips or a pastry cutter to break down the butter until the texture resembles coarse, uneven crumbs.
- Whisk heavy cream, egg, orange zest, and vanilla extract in a separate container, blending the liquid ingredients into a fragrant mixture.
- Gently fold the wet ingredients into the dry components, stirring minimally to maintain a tender dough consistency.
- Carefully integrate cranberries into the mixture, distributing them evenly throughout the dough.
- Transfer the dough onto a lightly floured surface, kneading gently to create a cohesive mass.
- Shape the dough into a circular form approximately one inch thick, then divide into eight equal wedges.
- Arrange the scones on the prepared baking sheet, ensuring slight separation between each piece.
- Delicately brush the scone tops with additional heavy cream to enhance golden browning.
- Bake in a preheated 400F (200C) oven for 15-18 minutes until the surfaces achieve a rich, golden hue.
- While cooling, prepare a zesty glaze by whisking powdered sugar with fresh orange juice and additional zest.
- Once slightly cooled, drizzle the vibrant orange glaze over the scones, creating an appealing finish.
- Serve warm or at room temperature for optimal flavor and texture.
Notes
- Freeze butter beforehand for extra flaky texture that melts perfectly during baking.
- Swap fresh cranberries with dried ones if fresh are unavailable, reducing moisture content slightly.
- Keep ingredients cold to ensure maximum rise and tender scone consistency, especially when handling butter and cream.
- Customize recipe by substituting gluten-free flour blend for traditional flour, maintaining similar measurements for dietary restrictions.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1518 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 180 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg