These flaky cranberry orange scones are an ultra buttery and zesty breakfast-for-dessert option. Fresh out of the oven and with a sweet glaze, they’ll be ready faster than you can drive to the nearest coffee shop.
Why You’ll Love These Cranberry Orange Scones
You’ll have to keep an eye on them as they cool if you don’t want to find an empty tray before they’re even glazed.
- Great for the holidays. Give them away in cute bags or boxes, or serve them for breakfast on Christmas morning.
- Beginner-friendly. Scones are some of the easiest treats for beginner bakers because the dough barely needs to be handled.
- Quick. They’re ready in exactly 24 minutes— that’s less than it’ll take you to drive to your favorite coffee shop and back.
- Perfect for on-the-go. Pack them in Ziploc bags for a quick breakfast you can grab on your way out.
What You’ll Need
Tart cranberries and sweet oranges are an under-rated holiday flavor combination. Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of the post for exact amounts.
- All-Purpose flour – Feel free to use whole-wheat flour. Avoid plant-based flours.
- Sugar – Granulated or light brown sugar are great.
- Orange zest – Lemon zest works too.
- Baking powder – Always check the expiration date before adding it in.
- Baking soda – Don’t swap it for more baking powder, otherwise the scones will have a metallic aftertaste.
- Unsalted butter – Skip the salt in the rest of the recipe if you use salted butter.
- Greek yogurt – Unsweetened vanilla yogurt is my favorite for this. Plain yogurt it okay as well.
- Egg – They add richness and help the dough come together.
- Vanilla extract – Almond extract works too.
- Cranberries – Use fresh or dried.
Orange Glaze
- Powdered sugar – This is also called “confectioners’ sugar”. Avoid granulated sugar because it’ll make the glaze grainy.
- Orange juice – Make sure it’s pulp-free.
How to Make Cranberry Orange Scones
Don’t worry if the loose dough looks lumpy as you shape the scones. They’re not supposed to be completely smooth. Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of the post for more detailed instructions.
- Prep the oven. Preheat your oven to 400F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set it aside.
- Mix the dry ingredients. Whisk the flour, sugar, orange zest, baking powder, and baking soda in a large bowl. If your baking powder has clumps, sieve it.
- Incorporate butter. Quickly rub the butter into the dry ingredients until you get a coarse, sandy mixture.
- Prepare the wet mixture. Mix the egg and yogurt in a separate bowl until well combined.
- Combine the mixtures. Stir the yogurt mixture into the dry ingredients until just combined. You should have a very loose dough. Don’t over-mix.
- Add cranberries. Stir in the cranberries, ensuring they are evenly distributed.
- Knead the dough. Place the dough on a lightly floured surface and gently “knead” it 3-4 times until it holds its shape. It will be crumbly, but do your best to bring it together.
- Shape it. Pat the dough into a circle about 1/2″ thick.
- Cut it. Slice the dough into 8 wedges and transfer them to the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake. Pop the baking sheet into the oven for 20-25 minutes or until the tops are beautifully browned. Remove them from the oven and set them aside to cool completely.
- Make the glaze. Whisk the powdered sugar and orange juice until smooth.
- Drizzle them. Use a spoon to drizzle the glaze over the scones. Let it set for 15-20 minutes. Serve and enjoy!
Tips for the Best Scones
Using egg-wash and cutting them into even sizes will give any scones recipe a bakery-style feel.
- Watch the temperature. Make sure all of the ingredients are cold, especially the butter, for the flakiest texture possible. It also helps avoid over-mixing.
- Chill it. Pop the dough into the fridge for 15-20 minutes before shaping and baking to help the dough relax. It also firms up the butter and contributes to more yummy layers.
- Add a wash. Use egg-wash, milk, or water to brush the tops of the scones before baking to ensure a lovely golden exterior.
- More add-ins. Mix 1/2 cup of chopped pecans, walnuts, pistachios, or chocolate chips into the dough for more flavor.
- Swap the glaze. Substitute the orange juice for lemon juice for a lemon glaze. You can also add your favorite cream cheese glaze or leftover frosting.
- Even sizes. The scone wedges should be more or less the same size to ensure even baking. If not, some will be under-baked and others will be over-baked.
Serving Suggestions
Cranberry orange scones are the perfect breakfast with a cup of tea or your favorite coffee. Try them with my Iced Chai Tea Latte or Sweet Cream Iced Coffee. If you want something plant-based, go for my Coconut Milk Thai Iced Coffee. For a festive drink, pair them with hot chocolate. If you want something fruity, then serve them with my Strawberry Banana Smoothie or orange juice.
How to Store Cranberry and Orange Scones
Cranberry & orange scones can be stored at room temperature, in the fridge, or freezer depending on when you plan to eat them.
- Counter: Place the scones in an airtight container or paper bag for up to 3 days. Avoid the paper bag if the area where you live is humid.
- Fridge: Refrigerate the scones in airtight containers or bags for up to 7 days. Keep them away from strong-smelling foods to avoid the transfer of odors. Set them on the counter for 10-15 minutes before serving so they come down to room temperature.
- Freezer: Wrap the cooled scones in plastic wrap twice. Place them in a freezer-friendly bag or container. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw them overnight in the fridge or on the counter for 30 minutes.
- To reheat: Sprinkle the scones with 1/4 teaspoon milk and microwave them for 10 seconds at a time until warm. You can also enjoy them at room temperature.
More Scone Recipes
- Easy Gluten Free Lemon Poppy Seed Scones
- Apple Cinnamon Scones
- Blueberry Lemon Scones
- Almond Chocolate Cherry Scones
Cranberry Orange Scones
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 14 minutes
- Total Time: 24 minutes
- Yield: 8 scones 1x
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American
Description
This 25-minute cranberry orange scones recipe is packed with tart and zesty goodness that’s way better than your local coffee shop.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cup All- Purpose Flour
- 1/4 cup of sugar
- 1 tablespoon of orange zest
- 2 tsp. baking powder
- 1/2 tsp. baking soda
- 1/2 cup of unsalted cold butter, cut into small pea size pieces
- 1 cup of vanilla flavored greek yogurt
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup fresh cranberries
Orange Glaze:
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1/2 or 1 tablespoon of orange juice
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400° F.
- In a bowl, combine the flour, sugar, orange zest, baking powder and baking soda.
- Use a pastry blender, or two knives, to cut butter until it resembles small peas and add the butter to flour mixture.
- Stir in the cranberries.
- In a small bowl, mix together the egg and yogurt.
- Stir the yogurt mixture into the dry ingredients and stir until just combined.
- Dump the dough onto a work surface and “knead” 3-4 times. {as much as you can, it will be very crumbly}
- Pat into a circle about 1/2 an inch thick.
- Cut into 8 wedges and transfer to a baking sheet.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes or until tops are browned.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 scone
- Calories: 165
- Sugar: 6g
- Fat: 6g
- Carbohydrates: 23g
- Protein: 5g
44 comments on “Cranberry Orange Scones”
I tried making this a few times but I never get a crumbly dough. Mine is very wet. They taste lovely though.
hhh… if yours is still coning out wet. I’d recommend using half the amount of yogurt.
These were delicious!! Thank you for an easy, healthy, and yummy recipe. I will definitely be making these again!
I am so glad you loved them, Susan! These are the perfect Spring treat!
THE BEST scone recipe! I’ve tried a LOT of scone recipes but will search no more. Flaky, light, perfect texture–not too dry or too moist. And already has wheat flour and yogurt so I didn’t have to adjust on my own (did add a bit less butter, maybe just 4 Tbl) and they were still perfect. Never seen a scone recipe w/ egg but it works! I put them in the freezer for 10-15 minutes before baking and baked them a little longer (probably because of the chilling). PERFECT SCONES! I sent this link out to all my baking friends to share this one. So happy with this recipe. Thank you!
So glad you loved them, and thank you for the love and for sending the recipe to your friends!
I can finally stop looking for a go-to “healthier” scone recipe—have tried a lot and this is the best!! Delicious, flaky, light. I made mine smaller (got 16 scones) and had to bake about 25 minutes. I even used just 4 Tbls butter. and white whole wheat flour (subbing 1/3 cup with almond flour) and turned out great! Didn’t have vanilla Greek yogurt so used plain and added 1/2 tsp vanilla and 1/4 tsp almond extract. Thank you and excited to try more of your recipes!
YES!! Love this! I am so glad you found your scone recipe!!
Probably the worst recipe I have tried. No instructions how to mix, combine: spoon, whisk, spatula?! What does chilled butter mean? No vid or pics to follow along… my dough was not crumby at all, super sticky… thumbs down for this one.
I’m so sorry to hear that. I will test it out again and see if there are any changes I can make.
Can you make this recipe without the wheat flour. Just use 2 cups of flour instead
you sure can valerie!
How many cal. Per scone?
Hey Sean, it is about 165 calories per scone. 🙂 I will also update the other nutritional info in this. Hope that helps!
Hi Krista,
I’m throwing a birthday tea party tomorrow (I’m turning 39!) and would love to make these scones. I don’t have greek yogurt, though…can I replace it with something else, like milk? Or should I go to the store to buy some?
Thanks!
Marina
Hey Marina,
Well Happy 39th Birthday… love that you are throwing a tea party.. too fun! 🙂 You could sub sour cream for the greek yogurt but it wouldn’t be as healthy.. but if your ok with that the go ahead and make that sub. {its for a birthday so the calories don’t count.. right?} Otherwise I would go grab some yogurt. 🙂
Hi Krista,
I’ve been eyeing these for a while. I think I just might make them! Quick question, when you say Greek yogurt, do you use full-fat, 2%, or non-fat? Thanks.
Yeah, so glad you are giving in. You wont regret it! 🙂 I use the 2% greek yogurt. Hope they turn out Teresa!
I didn’t actually end up making these until today. They are amazing. I used frozen unsweetened cranberries because fresh aren’t readily available now. I also used Cabot brand vanilla bean greek yogurt. They are delicious, and well worth the wait. Thanks for sharing this recipe.
Ohh… love the cabot brand vanilla bean yogurt!!!!! Yeah, i’ve had to use the frozen ones before too, cranberries have only a short time on the shelf and then its frozen the rest of the year. So glad you enjoyed these scones girl, makes my day! 🙂
Dear Krista, These scones look so delicious. Perfect breakfast treat! Just stopping by from Best of the Weekend. Blessings, Catherine
Thank you so much Catherine, you are too sweet! 🙂 I hope you get a chance to try them. Thank you for stopping by for the Best of the Weekend! Hope you have a great rest of your week!
Hi Krista,
I saw your beautiful scones at Show Stopper Saturday and had to come see more! I love the combination of cranberry and orange and these look so delicious and healthy too. Your photography is fabulous. So glad I found your blog. Have a great weekend.
Your so sweet! Thanks Robyn! Love this recipe, and it is so easy to adapt depending on the type of scone you want to make. 🙂 The yogurt in it is awesome and makes the scones so moist. 🙂
Thanks for stopping by and your sweet comments, you made my day!
Hi Krista!! I really love scones and amazingly so does my 5-year-old, Harrison! These look especially delicious – can’t wait to try them out! I will get Harrison to help me make them – he would love that! Thanks so much for hosting Show Stopper Saturday. Hope you have a wonderful weekend! ~Erin
Sounds like your son and my son would have a blast together…. baking and eating together. hehe 🙂 We love scones over here too, great way to start the morning! 🙂 Thanks for linking up at Show Stopper, you always have amazing looking treats!
We just love scones and I really like the combination of Cranberry and Orange for your delicious scones. Thanks for hosting and have a great weekend!
Miz Helen
Thanks Miz Helen, this are quickly becoming a favorite at our house. The tartness from the cranberries definitely wakes you up in the mornings. 🙂 Thanks for linking up!
Oh so yummy!! And festive. I love the tart cranberries and white chocolate combination. Always amazing 🙂
Thanks Zainab 🙂 The Cranberries are definitely awesome in this! 🙂 No white chocolate in here, but come to think of it, it would be quite amazing in these scones! YUM! Thanks for stopping by!
Krista, how did you know that I have leftover cranberries in my fridge waiting to be used? And that cranberry orange is my favorite combination ever? This posts was written for me I think so thanks!
haha… well what can I say. I have a special talent for knowing what people need. I hope you enjoy these scones Britni, thanks so much for your fun comment. Made my day!
It was cold here too but I did end up braving the cold for a few hours here and there to get some errands done and then hid inside like a hermit for the rest of the weekend and baked up a storm too 🙂 Yum, we love scones and these look wonderfully moist and fluffy Krista! I love the greek yogurt in here and cranberries and orange are always a wonderful combination especially during this time of year! Would definitely love a plate of these for our breakfast 🙂
Yeah for hermits from the cold! 🙂 hehe.. the greek yogurt in these is my favorite part, so moist! You and your fam will love these!
These are SO pretty! Perfect for a Christmas morning breakfast! Pinned.
Thanks Sarah! Definitely a Christmas morning treat! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by Sarah, and the pin!
these sound delicious!! i love orange and cranberry, and haven’t made scones in SO long. one question though, when you say 1 cup of vanilla greek yogurt, do you mean 8 ounces or one of the individual cups (usually 5-6 oz)? thanks 🙂
Thanks Sarah. This is my second time making them and I love it! Especially the greek yogurt, makes them nice and moist. And yes, when I say 1 cup I mean 8 oz. 🙂 Enjoy your scone making or I should say baking!
Thanks, Krista, for the recipe.. It looks great. I love scones. PINNING. Linda
Thanks Linda, if you love scones then you totally need to try these. 🙂 Perfect with a cup of coffee, thanks for the pin!
Looks delicious and moist!
Thanks Paula, thats my favorite thing about these scones. Most scones tend to be a little dry but the addition of the greek yogurt in these make them crazy moist! 🙂
Hi Krista,
Yum, yum, yum, will definitely be going to try these, hubby loves scones, and this is something different and special.
Thank you so much.
I am following you in all ways I can, love your blog and learn so much from it. Thank you very much.
I hope that you have a fantastic day.
Love and best wishes.
Anne
I know thats why I love them, because they feel special or fancy. But seriously so easy!
Anne, you are so sweet! Thank you so much for becoming a follower, love to meet the people that are following! {well, virtually meet that is}