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Cranberry orange scones are buttery and zesty with a touch of sweetness. This festive flavor combo is perfect for a holiday brunch!

cranberry orange scones with spoon drizzling orange glaze

The holiday season calls for lots of baking and while I love my Thanksgiving pies and Christmas cookies, I also enjoy mixing it up a bit in the kitchen. Today, I’m sharing a recipe for one of my favorite festive breakfast pastries—cranberry orange scones. These scones are buttery, zesty and slightly sweet thanks to the seasonal ingredients.

This flavor combo is a popular around the holidays and it works well in scones. The dried cranberries add a tart sweetness whereas the orange zest and Simply Orange® juice add a bright tangy taste. Both flavors complement the distinctive buttery, flaky texture found in scones. Making it a seasonably delicious treat for a holiday brunch or dessert after dinner.

stack of cranberry orange scones with bottle of orange juice

How do you make cranberry orange scones?

This cranberry orange scone recipe calls for simple ingredients—flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, butter, dried cranberries, orange zest, heavy cream and Simply Orange® Juice. Combine the ingredients quickly starting with the dry ingredients, followed by the butter, then the cranberries and orange zest, finally finishing with the heavy cream and orange juice.

The key to a noticeable orange flavor is to add orange zest and Simply Orange® juice. The two together are a zesty combo. I prefer Simply Orange® Juice because it has no added sugars and is non-GMO. It’s simply, well, orange juice, which is all you need in these scones. You can find Simply Orange® Juice 52oz 2pk and more Coca-Cola products at Sam’s Club.

bowl of flour, cranberries, orange zest and butter, smaller bowl of cream
cuttingboard with scone dough and hand holding circle cookie cutter

Orange glaze for scones

The orange glaze is comprised of only two ingredients—confectioners’ sugar and Simply Orange® Juice. Sift the confectioners’ sugar so there are no clumps in the mixture and double check that your Simply Orange® Juice is pulp-free (I bought the 2-pack at Sam’s Club and it contained no pulp). Depending on your desired consistency for the glaze, start with one tablespoon Simply Orange® Juice and, if you still want a thinner glaze, add more.

handholding tablespoon pouring orange juice into bowl
whisk drizzling orange glaze into bowl

Tips for making scones

The secret to making scones is keeping your ingredients cold. This will result in a flaky, buttery scone. Keep your ingredients in the refrigerator until you are ready to use them and work quickly. Have your oven preheated so once the scones are cut they can go right into the oven!

Another quick tip is using a food processor to combine the butter with the flour. This helps cut the cold butter quickly and into small bits. If you don’t have a food processor, use a pastry blender. Avoid using your hands as your body heat will warm the ingredients. Cutting scones with a sharp knife or cookie cutter creates nice clean edges and maintains height when the scones bake. Dust your knife or cookie cutter with flour so the dough doesn’t stick to it. I prefer round scones as they bake more evenly and are the traditional British shape.

cranberry orange scones with glaze on parchment paper

Cranberry oranges scones have the perfect blend of seasonal flavors. Each scone is perfectly buttery full of orange zest. If you enjoyed this recipe, be sure to try my cranberry orange muffins (they also have an orange glaze!) When you try one of my recipes, please leave a review and tag @ifyougiveablondeakitchen on social media.

cranberry orange scones with spoon drizzling orange glaze

Cranberry Orange Scones

Yield: 10 scones
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 18 mins
Total Time: 28 mins
Cranberry orange scones are buttery and zesty with a touch of sweetness. This festive flavor combo is perfect for a holiday brunch!
5 (4 ratings)
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Ingredients

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon Simply Orange juice
  • 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • 1 tablespoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup unsalted butter, cold and cut into ½-inch cubes
  • ¾ cup dried cranberries
  • 1 tablespoon orange zest
  • ¾ cup to 1 cup heavy cream

Orange Glaze

  • 1-2 tablespoons Simply Orange juice
  • ½ cup confectioners’ sugar, sifted

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 400° F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
  • In a food processor, whisk together (or pulse a couple times) flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Add the cubed butter to the dry ingredients and pulse until a crumbly mixture appears, about 30-60 seconds. The mixture should resemble dry, coarse sand. Transfer mixture to a large bowl and stir in cranberries and orange zest.
  • In a separate bowl, whisk together heavy cream and Simply Orange juice. Slowly pour the cream mixture in to the flour mixture. Use a wooden spoon or spatula to stir until combined. If mixture is dry, add another tablespoon or two of heavy cream. Dough should be firm and slightly sticky. Avoid overworking it with your hands so it remains cold.
  • Put some flour on your work surface and place dough on top. Add some flour onto the top of the dough, and then pat it out into a disk about 8-9 inches in diameter and 1-inch thick. Use a 3-inch round cookie cutter to cut circular scones. Reform the dough scraps and cut again until you have 10 scones.
  • Place scones on baking sheet about 2 inches apart. As an option, you can brush the scones with a tablespoon of heavy cream and sprinkle with granulated sugar. Bake for 18-20 minutes. When scones are golden, remove from oven and let cool.
  • Prepare the glaze as the scones cool. Whisk together the confectioner’s sugar and 1 tablespoon Simply Orange juice. Drizzle orange glaze over the scones and serve.

Notes

  • Simply Orange Juice 52oz 2pk can be purchased at Sam’s Club.
 

Storing scones

Scones are best when eaten the day they are baked, however, they may be kept in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.

Can you freeze scones?

You can also individually wrap and freeze the scones for up to a month. Defrost and reheat in a 325° F oven until warm to the touch. Add glaze after defrosting.

High-altitude adjustments

Flour is drier at high altitudes. Add another tablespoon of heavy cream when combining with the orange juice. If dough is still dry when forming into a ball, add another tablespoon. Bake for 16 to 18 minutes at 425 F.
Calories: 319kcal, Carbohydrates: 42g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 16g, Saturated Fat: 10g, Cholesterol: 49mg, Sodium: 126mg, Potassium: 168mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 17g, Vitamin A: 546IU, Vitamin C: 3mg, Calcium: 71mg, Iron: 1mg
Author: Haley D Williams
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American, English

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