Scones are a perfect breakfast or brunch treat that aren’t too sweet. They are similar to a biscuit but usually not as fluffy. Some people think of scones as dry or bland but that isn’t the case if they are made correctly. You only need a few ingredients for the base and then can add your choice of dried fruit such as cranberries, apricots, raisins or fresh cranberries, lemon or orange zest and top with a glaze.

My spouse asks me to make these regularly as they’re his favorite!

Very Easy Cranberry Orange Scones

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 1/2 TBSP baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

6 TBSP cold unsalted butter cubed into pieces

1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

1 large egg

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 cup dried cranberries

1/2 cup fresh cranberries

jest from two oranges

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, baking powder and salt. Using a pastry cutter or fork add the cold cubed butter and cut into the dry ingredients until the dough is pea-sized crumbs. (This entire step can be done in a Cuisinart if you have one.)
  3. In a separate mixing bowl, whisk the heavy cream, egg and vanilla until combined. Add the wet ingredients to the dry and stir until combined. (Stream the wet ingredients into the Cuisinart if using one.)
  4. Add the cranberries (you can use 1 cup dried cranberries if you do not have fresh) and orange jest to the dough mixing gently to combine.
  5. On a floured surface, add the dough and kneed into a round ball. At this point, I divide the dough in two balls and flatten each into a 7′ circle (this makes smaller scones. You can keep the dough in one ball and make larger scones).
  6. Cut the dough into 8 equal size pieces (like a pie) and place them 1/2″ apart on the prepared baking sheet.
  7. Chill the baking sheet in a freezer for 5-10 minutes or refrigerator for 30 minutes. (This keeps the dough from expanding too much when baking.)
  8. Remove and brush each scone with heavy whipping cream. Then, add coarse sugar or brown sugar on top.
  9. Bake at 400 degrees F for 18-22 minutes until lightly browned and cooked through.
  10. Remove from the oven and cool completely.

You can drizzle glaze to the top of each if you wish. (I usually do not since we don’t want them too sweet but it definitely makes them look prettier.) Store in an air-tight container for 3-4 days or freeze.

Enjoy! XOXO Jill