Description

These Cranberry Orange Sour Cream Scones are incredibly tender, buttery, and bursting with citrusy goodness. Made with sour cream for a rich, moist texture and packed with dried cranberries and fresh orange zest, these homemade scones are perfect for breakfast, brunch, or an afternoon tea. A drizzle of sweet orange glaze makes them irresistible!

Ingredients

For the Scones:

2 cups all-purpose flour
½ cup granulated sugar
2 tsp baking powder
¼ tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
½ cup cold butter, cubed
½ cup sour cream
¼ cup heavy cream
1 large egg (plus 1 extra for egg wash)
1 tbsp grated fresh orange zest
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
½ cup sweetened dried cranberries (Craisins)
¼ cup sliced almonds, roughly broken (optional)
2 tbsp turbinado sugar (for topping)

For the Orange Glaze (Optional):

1 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp grated orange zest
2 tbsp fresh orange juice

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Instructions

Preheat & Prepare:
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
Mix Dry Ingredients:
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
Cut in Butter:
- Using a pastry blender or two forks, cut cold butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs.
- Stir in the dried cranberries.
Prepare Wet Ingredients:
- In a separate bowl, whisk together sour cream, heavy cream, 1 egg, orange zest, and vanilla extract.
Combine Dough:
- Gradually mix wet ingredients into the dry mixture until the dough is fully moistened.
Form the Dough:
- Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface.
- Gently coat with flour and knead a few times to prevent sticking.
- Pat into an 8-inch circle, about 1 inch thick.
Cut & Arrange:
- Using a sharp, floured knife, cut the dough into 8 wedges.
- Place scones 3 inches apart on the baking sheet.
Egg Wash & Topping:
- In a small bowl, whisk 1 egg with 1 tbsp water.
- Brush over each scone.
- Sprinkle with sliced almonds and turbinado sugar.
Bake:
- Bake for 20-22 minutes, until golden brown.
- Serve warm with whipped cream or orange marmalade, if desired.
Make the Glaze (Optional):
- In a small bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, orange zest, and fresh orange juice.
- Drizzle over warm scones before serving.

Notes

Cold butter is key to flaky scones—keep it chilled until use.
Avoid overmixing the dough to keep the texture light and tender.
If using fresh cranberries, increase sugar slightly to balance tartness.
For extra citrus flavor, add more orange zest to the dough or glaze.

Prep Time: 15min
Cook Time: 25min
Category: Breakfast
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American,British