Each mouthful of these buttery homemade Orange Cranberry Scones is packed with flavour thanks to the fresh cranberries, orange zest and cranberry jam. These are a copycat of the scones you find at Starbucks coffee and are perfect for the holiday season.
It is the time of year where I love baking! Nothings beats the smell of a great sweet treat in a warm kitchen when its cold outside.
These work great as an afternoon snack with a cup of coffee or as a sweet breakfast treat.
I've recently grown to love American style scones such as these Air Fryer Pumpkin Scones but I still have a soft spot for English Lavender Scones slathered with clotted cream and jam.
What makes the Starbucks scones unique is the ribbon of cranberry spread sandwiched in the scones. These tender scones
Ingredients:
Full ingredients with measurements are available in the recipe card below at the end of this post
Flour - I have used all purpose flour or plain flour for this recipe.
Heavy cream or double cream - you can also use whole milk but the end result will not be as luxurious.
Butter - butter adds the crumbly, flakiness to the scones. I have used unsalted butter. Ensure to use cold butter. As the butter melts in the oven, steam is released. This steam leads to air pockets allowing for an airy centre.
Sugar - I have used white granulated sugar.
Baking powder and Baking Soda
Cranberries - I have used a mix of dried cranberries and fresh cranberries. The fresh cranberries are also used to make the spread. If you cannot find fresh, you can use frozen cranberries which are more easily available. Alternatively use this Christmas jam to spread.
Orange zest and orange peel - both together provide a mellow orange flavor.
Salt
Orange glaze:
Icing sugar (powdered sugar)
Orange juice - use smooth orange juice rather than one with fruity bits!
Optional:
For a real hit of orange flavour, add a drop of orange oil to the dough.
Top with a sweet orange glaze made with icing sugar and orange juice
Use chocolate chips in place of the cranberries. You can also add white chocolate chips to these orange cranberry scones
Add a drop or two of vanilla extract for a warm sweet aroma.
Vegan Orange Cranberry Scones
Try using full fat coconut milk in replacement of the cream - the fat in the tinned coconut milk leads to better texture
Use vegan butter in replacement of the dairy butter
Cranberry Orange Scone Recipe Method:
You can either use a food processor or a simple large bowl. These scones can be baked in the oven or air fryer
Preheat your oven to gas mark 7 or 200C.
Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
Prepare the cranberry spread by blitzing cranberries and orange juice until you get a thick paste. I used cranberry sauce that I prepared ahead of Christmas dinner.
To make the scones: mix the dry ingredients
In a big mixing bowl whisk together the dry ingredients: the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt
Add in the chilled butter and rub into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
Fold in the wet ingredients
Add the milk/cream and gently mix until a soft dough forms. Fold until no flour clumps remain. Be carful not to over-mix this step.
Fold in orange zest and orange peel if using. Tip in the cranberries.
Divide the dough into two equal portions. Pat dough into an approximately 8-inch circle on a lightly floured surface.
Spread the sauce and slice into triangles
Spread the cranberry mixture on the bottom round layer and set the top layer over the top.
Using a sharp knife, cut the dough into separate wedges or use a pastry cutter for shape of your choice
Sprinkle with sanding sugar if you have it for a frosty appearance.
Air fry or Bake the Scones
Preheat the air fryer to 180 C for 5 minutes.
Place scones into the air fryer basket
Air fry for 5 minutes on 180C
Reduce the heat to 160C and air fryer for another 2-3 minutes or until the top of the scones are lightly golden.
Bake in the oven for 18-20 minutes or until light golden and risen nicely.
Meanwhile, whisk together icing sugar and oranje juice for the glaze
Once the scones have baked and cooled, drizle over the glaze and serve!
Pro Tips
If you have the time, use frozen butter instead of chilled butter. Frozen butter that has been grated is best because it keeps the dough as chilled as possible even after handling the dough.
Chill your dough in the fridge for 15-20 minutes prior to baking to prevent the scones from over spreading as they bake
Storage
These cranberry orange scones will keep well for 3-4 days at room temperature if stored in an airtight container
You can easily make them ahead of time for this reason. You could also prepare the dough in advance, chill and bake when you are ready
Freezing:
Freeze the prepared scones in a freezer safe bag or container. Take a single scone, warm in the microwave and enjoy whenever you feel like!
Serving
These scones are perfect with a cup of tea, coffee!
They can be enjoyed for breakfast, in an afternoon tea or as a sweet snack
As these are American scones and not English style scones, they do not need any extra clotted cream, butter or jam.
More Eggless Baking Recipes
Instant pot Coconut Semolina Cake (Revani)
Chocolate, Peanut and Oat Cookies - perfect for Christmas and the Holidays!
As always if you make this recipe, be sure to leave me a comment, rate this recipe and tag me on Instagram @jcookingodyssey or #jcookingodyssey. I love seeing all your photos of my recipe recreations!
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📖 Recipe
Orange Cranberry Scones (Starbucks Style)
Equipment
- 1 Bowl
- 1 Air fryer
- 1 Knife
Ingredients
- 3 ¼ cup plain flour all purpose flour
- 1 cup cranberries fresh
- 1 cup heavy cream also known as double
- ¾ cup butter chilled
- â…“ cup sugar
- 1 orange for zest and juice
- 3 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- â…› cup orange peel
- 4 tablespoon cranberry sauce or jam (optional)
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Orange Glaze
- ¼ cup icing sugar powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoon orange juice
Instructions
- Zest an orange and squeeze juice from it.1 orange
- In a mixing bowl take flour and add sugar, salt, baking powder and baking soda.3 ¼ cup plain flour, ⅓ cup sugar, 3 teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon baking soda, ¼ teaspoon salt
- Whisk everything until well combined.
- Add in the chilled butter and rub into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.¾ cup butter
- Add the milk/cream and gently mix until a soft dough forms.1 cup heavy cream
- Fold in orange zest and orange peel if using. Tip in the cranberries.1 cup cranberries, â…› cup orange peel
- Divide the dough into two equal portions. Pat dough into an approximately 8-inch circle on a lightly floured surface.
- Spread the cranberry mixture/sauce/jam and set the top layer.4 tablespoon cranberry sauce
- Using a sharp knife, cut the dough into separate wedges or use a pastry cutter for shape of your choice
- Sprinkle with sanding sugar if you have it for a frosty appearance.
Air Fryer Method
- Preheat the air fryer to 180 C for 5 minutes.
- Place scones into the air fryer basket.
- Air fry for 5 minutes on 180C.
- Reduce the heat to 160C and air fryer for another 2-3 minutes or until the top of the scones are lightly golden.
- Remove and let it cool completely.
Oven Baking
- Bake in the oven for 18-20 minutes or until light golden and risen nicely.
Orange Glaze
- Whisk together icing sugar and orange juice for the glaze.¼ cup icing sugar, 2 tablespoon orange juice
- Once the scones have baked and cooled, drizle over the glaze and serve!
Video
Notes
Nutrition
PLEASE NOTE: Nutritional values are estimated by a computer and may vary based on ingredients and portion sizes. For personalised dietary advice, please consult a qualified healthcare professional.
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Laura says
Love the combination of Orange zest and cranberry Jam, so delicious. These were perfect!
Hayley says
@Laura, Thanks 🙂
Amy says
I'd been looking for a Starbuck's scone recipe and these are perfect, thank you! The cranberry and orange flavors are so delicious.
Hayley says
@Amy, happy to hear that
Sandhya Ramakrishnan says
Thank you for including air fryer cooking instructions. We love scones as they are mildly sweet and perfect with coffee. These are better than Starbucks in my opinion.
Hayley says
@Sandhya Ramakrishnan, air fryer cooking is my new obsession!
MS says
Orange and cranberry are some of my favorite flavor combination so I knew I had to try this. It did not disappoint!
Hayley says
@MS, so glad to hear that 🙂
Erin says
These scones were so good - better than Starbucks! My kid asked for them again for Christmas. Thanks!
Hayley says
@Erin, so thrilled to hear that 🙂
Loreto and Nicoletta says
Scones are my favorite breakfast! These orange cranberry scones are such a delectable seasonal option, and so festive this time of the year!
Hayley says
@Loreto and Nicoletta, we too love scones 🙂
Maggie says
These were so good especially with a cup of coffee. They taste just like Starbucks.
Hayley says
@Maggie, thank you 🙂
Marta says
I love making scones and these cranberry orange versions were better than any I've had in bakeries or coffee shops. They had the perfect fluffiness to them.
Hayley says
@Marta, thank you for trying out this recipe 🙂
Colleen says
These scones look just as delicious as the Starbuck's version. I plan to make these ahead and bake them for Christmas morning.
Hayley says
@Colleen, let me know how you like it.