Description
Delightful orange cranberry cream scones bring British bakery magic to morning tables with tangy citrus and sweet berries. Buttery, flaky pastries offer a perfect companion to afternoon tea, promising pure culinary comfort you cannot resist.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients:
- 2 cups (280 grams) all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon (15 grams) baking powder
- 3 tablespoons (40 grams) sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon (3 grams) salt
Wet Ingredients:
- 1 cup (200–220 milliliters/7–8 fluid ounces) cold heavy cream
- 5 tablespoons (70 grams) unsalted butter, cold and cubed
Flavor Enhancers:
- Zest of 1 orange
- 1/2 cup (80 grams) dried cranberries, diced
Instructions
- Prepare the oven by heating it to 428°F (220°C), ensuring a perfectly calibrated baking environment for the scones.
- Combine the dry ingredients in a spacious mixing bowl, whisking flour, baking powder, sugar, salt, and fragrant orange zest until thoroughly integrated.
- Incorporate cold, cubed butter into the dry mixture, using fingertips or two knives to create a texture resembling coarse, crumbly breadcrumbs.
- Gently fold the diced cranberries into the butter-flour mixture, distributing them evenly throughout the dough.
- Gradually pour in the cold heavy cream, carefully mixing with a spatula or fork until the ingredients bind into a cohesive dough.
- Transfer the delicate dough onto a lightly floured surface, performing minimal kneading—no more than 10 gentle presses—to maintain its tender structure.
- Shape the dough into a round disc approximately 1.5 inches thick, ensuring uniform thickness for consistent baking.
- Using a floured round cutter or sharp knife, precisely cut the dough into elegant circles or rustic wedges, positioning them one inch apart on a lined baking sheet.
- Slide the baking sheet into the preheated oven, allowing the scones to transform into golden-brown delicacies over 12-15 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and let the scones rest briefly, serving them while still warm or at a comfortable room temperature for optimal enjoyment.
Notes
- Butter Temperature Matters: Keep butter extremely cold and work quickly to maintain small, unmelted butter pieces for achieving ultra-flaky scones.
- Minimal Handling Technique: Overworking the dough develops gluten, resulting in tough scones, so handle the mixture gently and knead minimally.
- Zest Booster: Enhance orange flavor by rubbing orange zest into sugar before mixing to release more essential oils and intensify citrus notes.
- Dietary Adaptations: Swap heavy cream with coconut cream for dairy-free version, or use gluten-free flour blend for celiac-friendly alternative.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12-15 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 21g
- Saturated Fat: 13g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 70mg