Cranberry Orange Sour Cream Scones Recipe
These Cranberry Orange Sour Cream Scones are a delightful blend of tart cranberries and zesty orange, enriched with creamy sour cream for moisture and tenderness. Perfect for a cozy breakfast or afternoon tea, these scones offer a tender crumb with a golden crust, making them an irresistible treat to indulge in any time of day.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 8 scones 1x
- Category: Baked Goods
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
- 1 cup fresh cranberries, chopped
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) to ensure it is hot and ready for baking the scones evenly.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt, stirring thoroughly to distribute all the dry ingredients.
- Add butter: Add the cold, cubed unsalted butter to the dry ingredients. Using a pastry cutter or your fingers, mix until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with pea-sized bits of butter.
- Incorporate cranberries and zest: Gently fold in the chopped fresh cranberries and the orange zest, ensuring they are evenly spread throughout the mixture.
- Prepare wet ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the sour cream, egg, and vanilla extract until smooth and well combined.
- Combine wet and dry: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry mixture. Stir just until all ingredients are combined; avoid overmixing to keep the scones tender.
- Shape the dough: Lightly flour your work surface and turn the dough out onto it. Pat and shape it into a rough circle about 8 inches in diameter and about 1 inch thick.
- Cut and arrange: Using a sharp knife or pastry cutter, cut the dough into 8 equal wedges. Place the wedges spaced apart on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Bake: Bake the scones in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes until they turn golden brown and a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- Cool and serve: Remove the scones from the oven and let them cool slightly on a wire rack before serving warm for the best flavor and texture.
Notes
- Use fresh cranberries for the best tart flavor and texture.
- Adjust the sugar quantity to suit your desired sweetness level.
- Handle the dough gently to avoid overworking, which can result in tough scones.
- For an added touch, brush scones with a little milk or egg wash before baking for a shinier crust.
Keywords: cranberry orange scones, sour cream scones, breakfast scones, American baked goods, citrus zest scones, fresh cranberry recipe
