Fresh baked scones are always better than store bought and these cranberry orange scones with white chocolate chips are so easy to make! Bake a batch for breakfast or brunch and watch them disappear fast!
With so many great holiday flavors available at this time of year, cranberry and orange is probably my favorite combination! And it isn't just for making cranberry sauce at Thanksgiving, the flavor combination works perfectly with homemade cranberry orange bread and these cranberry orange scones.
Homemade scones are one of the easiest things to bake and require only a handful of simple ingredients that are usually in your kitchen. When I made these, my goal was to make them just like the Starbucks version only much better.
That means having them fresh, loaded with orange flavor and covered in a white chocolate drizzle. Serve these with your favorite espresso or latte.
Are these cranberry orange scones easy to make?
They definitely are and you can be pulling a batch from the oven on a lazy weekend morning even before anyone else is out of bed!
The secrets to making the best cranberry orange scones
- Handle the dough as gently and as little as possible. It shouldn't be worked like a bread dough or it'll become tough making it harder for the scones to rise properly.
- Use fresh orange zest and don't skimp on the white chocolate.
- Keep the scones close together on your baking sheet. This will help them rise upwards and not outwards and your scones will have softer edges.
- I always like to grate my cold butter into the flour. This helps the butter be more evenly distributed through the dough.
- Make sure your baking powder is fresh. Anything over six months is considered old and although it'll still work, your scones might not rise as high as they could.
- If you have time, place the scones back into the fridge for 10 minutes before baking them. This will firm up the butter and create less of a spread when they are baking.
FAQ's about this recipe
Can I use fresh cranberries? No, they wouldn't be cooked properly in the short baking time and would be sour. Dried cranberries are sweet and juicy and perfect for baking with.
How will I know when my scones are fully baked? It's easier to tel from the base of the scone, the bottoms should be a light golden color with a slightly darker ring around the edges. The tops should be golden and firm.
How do I keep my scones from drying out? Always store baked scones in a sealed plastic container with a paper towel between them and the lid. This will help absorb the moisture.
Are baking soda and baking powder the same thing? Similar but the main difference is baking soda needs a liquid and an acid to react. Baking powder only needs a liquid as it already has sodium bicarbonate in it.
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