Cranberry Orange Scones

Afternoon tea and scones may be popular with the British, but it doesn’t mean that we Americans shouldn’t enjoy them too! Here’s a great cranberry orange scone recipe I’d like to share with you from one of my favorite chefs, Ina Garten: The Barefoot Contessa.

My mom, sister, and I have been making these scones for years. I didn’t mention my dad or husband in the last sentence, because they don’t like these…. they say they’re too “girly” and they don’t like dried fruit. So ladies, this is a recipe for you and primarily your girlfriends. Don’t bother the guys with this one, save the cocoa brownies with browned butter and walnuts for them!

For those of you who have never eaten a scone, it’s like eating a sweet biscuit. They are flakey, buttery and the orange zest and dried cranberries result in the perfect combination of flavors in this quick bread. Don’t forget to drizzle some of the orange glaze on top! Enjoy.

Mix flour, sugar, powder, salt and orange zest.

Add the cold butter and mix until the size of peas.

Combine the eggs and heavy cream.

Fole in the dried cranberries.

Knead dough and roll to 3/4-inch thick. Cut circles of dough with a biscuit cutter.

Place cut out dough on parchment-lined baking sheet.

Brush tops with egg wash and sprinkle with sugar.

Bake for 20-25 minutes in a 400 degree F oven. Cool for 15 minutes and drizzle with orange glaze.

Eat up!

Cranberry Orange Scones
Ingredients
4 cups plus 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup
2 Tbsp. baking powder
2 tsp. kosher salt
1 Tbsp. grated orange zest
3/4 pound cold unsalted butter, diced
4 extra-large eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup cold heavy cream
1 cup dried cranberries
1 egg beaten with 2 Tbsp. water or milk for egg wash
1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar, plus 2 Tbsp.
4 tsp. freshly squeezed orange juice

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
2. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, mix 4 cups of flour, 1/4 cup sugar, the baking powder, salt and orange zest. Add the cold butter and mix at the lowest speed until the butter is the size of peas.
3. Combine the eggs and heavy cream and, with the mixer on low speed, slowly pour into the flour and butter mixture. Mix until just blended. The dough will look lumpy!
4. Combine the dried cranberries and 1/4 cup of flour, add to the dough, and mix on low speed until blended.
5. Dump the dough onto a well-floured surface and knead it into a ball. Flour your hands and a rolling pin and roll the dough 3/4 -inch thick. You should see small bits of butter in the dough. Keep moving the dough on the floured board so it doesn’t stick. Flour a 3-inch round plain or fluted cutter and cut circles of dough.
6. Place the scones on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Collect scraps neatly, roll them out, and cut more circles.
7. Brush the tops of the scones with egg wash, sprinkle with sugar, and bake for 20-25 minutes, until the tops are browned and the insides are fully baked. The scones will be firm to the touch. Allow the scones to cool for 15 minutes and then whisk together the confectioners’ sugar and orange juice, and drizzle over the scones.

Yield: 14-16 Scones
Recipe from: Barefoot Contessa

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