Print

Easy Bakery-Style Cranberry Orange Scones with Bright Glaze

Two halves of flaky cranberry orange scones topped with a white glaze, served on a white plate.
Print Recipe
Save Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

No reviews

Make tender, flaky cranberry orange scones at home. This recipe uses simple techniques to achieve a bakery texture, packed with tart cranberries and fresh orange zest, finished with a sweet citrus glaze.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into small cubes
  • 1 cup dried or frozen cranberries
  • Zest of 1 large orange
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream, plus more for brushing
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • For the Glaze: 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt.
  3. Cut the cold butter into the dry ingredients using a pastry blender or your fingertips until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-sized pieces of butter remaining. This step is key for flaky breakfast pastries.
  4. Gently stir in the cranberries and orange zest until evenly distributed.
  5. In a small bowl, whisk together the egg, 1/2 cup heavy cream, and vanilla extract.
  6. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Mix with a fork just until a shaggy dough forms. Do not overmix.
  7. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Gently knead 3 or 4 times until it just comes together. Pat the dough into a 3/4-inch thick circle.
  8. Cut the circle into 8 equal wedges. Place the wedges onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
  9. Brush the tops lightly with a little extra heavy cream for browning.
  10. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes, or until the tops are golden brown. Let the scones cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
  11. Prepare the glaze: Whisk together the powdered sugar and orange juice until smooth. If the glaze is too thick, add a few more drops of juice. If it is too thin, add a little more powdered sugar.
  12. Drizzle the orange glaze over the cooled scones. Let the glaze set before serving your homemade scones.

Notes

  • For the flakiest texture, keep your butter as cold as possible. Work quickly when mixing the dough.
  • You can use fresh or frozen cranberries; if using frozen, do not thaw them first.
  • These freezer friendly scones can be frozen unglazed. Wrap tightly and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight and then apply the glaze before serving.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://kingscook.com/cranberry-orange-scones-recipe-flaky-glaze/