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Cranberry Orange Scones

Cranberry Orange Scones
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These Cranberry Orange Scones are fluffy, tender, and bursting with tart cranberries and bright orange citrus flavor. Perfect for a cozy breakfast or brunch, they are easy to make using simple pantry staples and feature a delightful balance of sweet and tangy tastes with a flaky texture.

Ingredients

Scale

Dry Ingredients

  • 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • ½ teaspoon salt

Butter and Fruit

  • ½ cup cold unsalted butter, cubed
  • 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries

Citrus

  • Zest of 1 large orange
  • 3 tablespoons fresh orange juice

Wet Ingredients

  • ½ cup heavy cream or buttermilk
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Prepare Your Ingredients: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Grate the orange zest, measure the cranberries, and cube the cold butter so that they are ready for mixing.
  2. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt to ensure even distribution and balanced flavor in your scones.
  3. Cut in Cold Butter: Using a pastry cutter or fingertips, cut the cold butter into the dry mixture until the texture resembles coarse crumbs with pea-sized bits of butter visible, which will create flaky layers.
  4. Add Cranberries and Orange Zest: Gently fold in the cranberries and orange zest, spreading them evenly through the dough without crushing the berries.
  5. Combine Wet Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the heavy cream, egg, orange juice, and vanilla extract. Slowly pour this wet mixture into the dry ingredients, stirring just until the dough forms. Avoid overmixing to keep scones tender.
  6. Shape and Cut the Dough: Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and gently pat or roll into a 1-inch thick circle. Cut the dough into 8 equal wedges using a sharp knife or pizza cutter.
  7. Bake to Golden Perfection: Arrange the scones on the prepared baking sheet, leaving space between each wedge. Bake in the preheated oven for 18-22 minutes, until golden brown on top and cooked through.

Notes

  • Use cold butter to ensure flaky, tender scones.
  • Do not overmix the dough to avoid tough texture.
  • Frozen cranberries can be used directly without thawing to avoid color bleeding.
  • Resting the dough in the fridge for 15-20 minutes can improve texture but is optional.
  • Brushing scones with cream before baking adds a beautiful golden sheen.
  • For extra sweetness, drizzle with a powdered sugar glaze flavored with orange juice after baking.

Nutrition

Keywords: cranberry, orange, scones, breakfast, brunch, baked goods, citrus, berries, homemade

Find it online: https://mealsbymary.com/cranberry-orange-scones/