Description
Homemade cranberry orange scones combine zesty citrus notes with tart berries in a classic British pastry. Delicate crumb and golden edges invite bakers to savor these elegant breakfast treats that complement morning coffee perfectly.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups (480 ml) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (150 g) cranberries, fresh or frozen, coarsely chopped
- ⅓ cup (67 g) granulated sugar
- ½ cup (120 ml) buttermilk
- ½ cup (113 g) unsalted butter, cold and cut into small pieces
- 1 large egg
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) baking powder
- ½ tsp (2.5 ml) salt
- 1 tsp (5 ml) vanilla extract
- Zest of 1 orange
Instructions
- Oven Preparation: Preheat oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper for even baking.
- Dry Ingredient Fusion: Whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large mixing bowl to create a uniform dry base.
- Butter Integration: Cut cold butter into the dry mixture using fingertips or a pastry cutter until the texture resembles coarse breadcrumbs.
- Flavor Infusion: Gently fold in dried cranberries and freshly grated orange zest, distributing evenly throughout the mixture.
- Liquid Binding: Whisk buttermilk, egg, and vanilla extract in a separate bowl until completely smooth and well-combined.
- Dough Formation: Pour wet ingredients into dry mixture, stirring minimally to prevent overworking the dough, creating a shaggy but cohesive blend.
- Shaping and Cutting: Transfer dough to a lightly floured surface, gently pat into a circular disc about 1-inch thick, then slice into 8 precise wedges.
- Baking Process: Arrange scone wedges on prepared baking sheet, leaving space between each piece, and bake for 15-18 minutes until edges turn golden brown and crisp.
- Cooling and Serving: Transfer baked scones to a wire rack, allowing them to cool and set for optimal texture and flavor development.
Notes
- Butter Temperature Matters: Use extremely cold butter, straight from the refrigerator, to create those signature flaky, tender scone layers that melt in your mouth.
- Minimal Mixing Magic: Stir the dough just until ingredients combine; overmixing leads to tough, dense scones that lack the desired light, delicate texture.
- Zest for Flavor: Generously grate fresh orange zest to infuse vibrant citrus notes that beautifully complement the tart cranberries.
- Freezing Technique: For extra-crisp edges, pop the shaped scones in the freezer for 15 minutes before baking to help them maintain a perfect shape and create a stunning golden exterior.
- Prep Time: 20min
- Cook Time: 18min
- Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 223
- Sugar: 7.4 g
- Sodium: 164 mg
- Fat: 10.2 g
- Saturated Fat: 6.1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4.1 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30.5 g
- Fiber: 1.3 g
- Protein: 3.8 g
- Cholesterol: 37 mg