Cranberry Orange Scones are flavorful, slightly crunchy on the outside, have a moist interior, and are perfect for the holiday season. The cranberry and orange combination mixed with a cream based dough makes a perfect yet simple breakfast or anytime treat. Use fresh or dried cranberries. Using orange juice concentrate intensifies the orange flavor. Can top with an orange glaze or top simply with raw or coarse sugar for crunch.
1heaping cup of fresh cranberries OR 1 cup dried cranberries
1cupheavy cream
¼cupfrozen orange juice concentrateslightly defrosted
Icing:
1cupconfectioners' sugar
1tablespoonfrozen orange juice concentrate*melted
1tablespoonheavy creamplus more if needed
⅛teaspoonfine salt
For a crunchy topping:
1 tablespoonfrozen orange juice concentrate*defrosted
1tablespoonheavy cream
1 - 2tablespoonssugar- coarse or raw work best
Instructions
Preheat oven 375 degrees.
Line a baking sheet with parchment.
Whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and zest.
Add butter and using a fork, pastry cutter, or your fingers, mix until butter is mostly incorporated. Toss in the cranberries.
Combine the heavy cream and frozen orange juice then add to the flour mixture. Stir until just combined. You will have a shaggy, wet dough.
Sprinkle the counter with a little flour.
Turn out the dough onto floured counter, flip to coat the other side with a little flour. Use a scraper to do this. Pat down into 1" thick round, then cut into 8 wedges. Place the wedges on a parchment lined baking sheet.
Transfer onto parchment lined baking sheet and bake for 20 - 25 minutes. See variations below if you are going for a crunchy topping.
For Glaze Topping:
Make a glaze by combining confectioners' sugar and salt with orange juice and cream. Whisk until smooth. Add a little more cream or milk to thin, if desired. Spoon and drizzle over cooled scones to cover tops.
Variations:
If you rather a crunchy top instead of the glaze, mix orange juice concentrate and cream and brush a little on top of the scones before baking. Sprinkle with some sugar. Raw works wonderfully.
If you want to add walnuts for a nice crunch, chop ½ cup walnuts and toss in with the cranberries.
Notes
Using frozen orange juice concentrate adds orange flavor. If you have an orange or clementine, add zest.You can use the juice from the zested orange instead of the concentrate for the glaze.