So simple yet elegant, Cranberry Orange Scones are bursting with fresh strong orange and cranberry flavor on the inside and then topped with a mouthwatering and drool-worthy orange glaze. These fluffy breakfast scones have a sweet and tart taste you will absolutely fall in love with.
And that glaze-- seriously, you will want to lick it out of the bowl with your finger. It is absolutely amazing.
We are thrilled to share this homemade recipe with you to enjoy just in time for Thanksgiving and Christmas while the grocery stores are stocked with fresh cranberries.
Plus it is the time of year when we tend to eat more heavy and sugary sweetened treats like cookies, tarts, pies, and cakes {or is that just us?!}. This zesty and fresh-flavored recipe helps to balance out all those flavors and gives your taste buds a nice change.
A close family friend recently shared with me a picture of cranberry orange scones she had baked earlier in the day and they where absolutely stunning and mouthwatering looking. I just had to replicate a similar recipe for our family and the gluten and dairy free community to bake and serve.
Enjoy tasting these along with warm apple cider or coffee for a delightful morning or brunch treat as you go about your day.
Love scones? Try our Raspberry scone recipe!
cranberry orange scone ingredients
- dairy free milk-- we use refrigerated unsweetened almond milk
- white vinegar
- egg
- gluten free all-purpose flour-- using the spoon and level method, our favorite brand is Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free 1 to 1 Baking Mix. We buy it in bulk here to save money. This brand contains xanthan gum.
- xanthan gum-- omit if your all-purpose flour contains this or guar gum in its blend
- granulated sugar
- fresh orange zest and juice
- baking powder-- keep in mind once the container has been opened it loses its potency after 6 months. We suggest labeling new containers with the opened date.
- baking soda-- this too will lose its potency after being opened 6 months
- kosher salt
- dairy free butter-- we enjoy baking with Earth Balance Buttery Sticks
- fresh or frozen and thawed cranberries-- washed and dried, cut some in half and leave the rest whole
- egg wash-- this step can be omitted; however it does add a beautiful brown shiny color to the baked scones
- confectioners' sugar
frequently asked questions
what kind of kitchen zester works best
We recently purchased this citrus zester. Honestly-- I wish we wouldn't have waited so long. Needless to say this is my new favorite kitchen gadget! It is so much easier to use than the big bulky grater we made work for years.
are all cranberries good
No. Select a bag of plump, dark red cranberries from the store. And they should be firm to touch. Throw out any shriveled or rotten cranberries.
how do I store cranberries
Store your fresh store-bought cranberries in the refrigerator up to 2 months.
can we freeze leftover cranberries
Cranberries freeze well, and when properly stored, retain good flavor and texture up to 9 months.
When ready to use, thaw cranberries and drain well as needed.
should I clean my cranberries
Yes, it is best to rinse cranberries in cold water and allow them to dry before using in recipes.
what is the difference between a scone and a biscuit
You will find the main distinction between biscuits and scones is their texture.
Biscuits are flaky and buttery. Scones, on the other hand, are more dense and crunchy, drier and crumblier than biscuits. This is because biscuits have more butter, while scone recipes have heavier ingredients.
But don't fret-- we added extra moisture to our Cranberry Orange Scone recipe so they aren't noticeably dry.
can these be baked ahead of time
Yes. These can be baked the night before and glazed in the morning. Store leftovers in an airtight container on the countertop.
We created this gluten and dairy free recipe from a traditional cranberry orange scone recipe found at Suzie Sweet Tooth. We altered a few steps and ingredients to make this recipe work with our recommended ingredient brands.
more fall recipes everyone loves
- chocolate chip pumpkin bread-- this recipe loads a moist quick bread with tons of semi-sweet chocolate chips
- fried apple fritters-- an old-fashioned fruit recipe with an abundance of fresh apples wrapped in soft buttery donuts with a rich icing
- glazed apple spice loaf-- deliciously flavored with apple butter and all the best fall spices in a fresh nutmeg glaze
- pumpkin cinnamon sugar donuts-- incredibly soft and moist donuts on the inside with a sweet crunchy cinnamon sugar coating on the outside
lastly
While scones are a British pastry, they are loved and ordered often in bakeries across the United States. They are just a bit crumbly-- but we still have no problem enjoying them in our car or when traveling.
This Cranberry Orange Scone recipe is baked with loads of fresh cranberries and orange zest, then topped with a sweet orange glaze that is mouthwatering.
This recipe will be a Thanksgiving and Christmas favorite for your close family and friends.
Plus this is the perfect recipe to gift to friends, neighbors, coworkers, and family.
Have you pinned and printed off more of our Thanksgiving and Christmastime recipes yet? Here is our Thanksgiving Day roundup and Christmas Desserts. You will find all you need to have the best holiday season yet.
We absolutely love sharing our favorite family recipes with you!
Be sure to follow along on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram. Like and comment often so our posts keep showing up in your feed.
And visit our social media stories often as we like to show new items lining the grocery store shelves and found online.
We want you to enjoy the very best of eating gluten and dairy free.
Eat well and feel well,
Jill
Ingredients
Scone Batter
- ½ c dairy free milk
- 1½ teaspoon white vinegar
- 1 large egg
- 2¼ c gluten free all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon xanthan gum omit if your gf blend contains this or guar gum
- ¼ c granulated sugar
- zest of one orange
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 12 tablespoon dairy free butter cold, cut into small cubes
- 1 heaping cup fresh or thawed cranberries cut some in half
- optional-- one egg for egg wash
Orange Glaze
- 2 tablespoon orange juice fresh
- 1 c confectioners' sugar
- zest of 1 orange
- pinch of salt
Instructions
- Combine the milk and vinegar in a measuring cup for 10 minutes. Then whisk in the egg.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, xanthan gum if needed, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and orange zest.
- With a pastry blender cut the butter into the mixture until it resembles the size of peas.
- Then add the milk/vinegar mixture until the dough comes together. It will be quite sticky.
- Gently fold in the cranberries.
- Place the mixture on a large piece of plastic wrap and with floured hands flatten the dough into an evenly rounded disk, about 1 inch thick.
- Wrap with the plastic wrap and freeze for 30 minutes. If freezing overnight, allow to thaw some at room temperature.
- Preheat the oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Cut the chilled scone dough with a pizza cutter into 8 equal triangles, placing scones 1-2 inches apart the parchment paper.
- Gently brush each scone with egg wash and transfer to the oven.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes or until scones are golden brown and set.
- Remove from the oven and let cool. In the meantime prepare the orange glaze.
- Combine all the glaze ingredients. You want a thick consistency, use more sugar to make the glaze thicker and more orange juice to make it runnier.
- Once scones are somewhat cooled, drizzle the orange glaze over the top of the scones.
- Store leftover scones in an airtight container on the countertop up to 3 days. These are best within 1-2 days of baking.
Nutritional Disclaimer
These Nutritional Facts are ESTIMATED. Your actual nutritional info with this recipe may vary depending on the brands you choose. “Eating Gluten and Dairy Free” is not a registered dietician or nutritionist. The provided nutritional info above is based on a generic calculator, if you want more accurate info, use your nutritional calculator of choice where you can choose brands and get more info that way.
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