Orange Cranberry Scones

Orange Cranberry Scones


Since I only have a handful of free days left before I go back to school/work, I'm spending them in the kitchen! This recipe is a breakfast recipe from Ina Garten's book 'Barefoot Contessa at Home'. I love scones and I know my family is always pleased with a serving a scones so I bake them quite often. They're so much more than a biscuit served at a high tea.

Ina gives a very helpful tip on baking scones: "It's the pieces of butter in the dough that make the difference between light and flaky scones and those hocky pucks we've all had at one time or another. You want to be sure that the butter isn't completely incorporated into the dough but rather cut up in small pieces throughout."

I substituted the dried cranberries for golden raisins, as I don't like cranberries. But other than that it was a really nice recipe. The orange glaze (not photographed) made them tasty enough, to eat them without cream and jam. Rating: 4 out of 5.


Orange Cranberry Scones




Orange Cranberry Scones: Ina Garten - Barefoot Contessa

Ingredients: yields 14 to 16 scones
- 4 cups plus 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup sugar, plus additional for sprinkling
- 2 tablespoons baking powder
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon grated orange zest
- 3/4 pound cold unsalted butter, diced
- 4 extra-large eggs, lightly beaten
- 1 cup cold heavy cream
- 1 cup dried cranberries
- 1 egg beaten with 2 tablespoons water or milk, for egg wash
- 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar, plus 2 tablespoons
- 4 teaspoons freshly squeezed orange juice

Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, mix 4 cups of flour, 1/4 cup sugar, the baking powder, salt and orange zest. Add the cold butter and mix at the lowest speed until the butter is the size of peas. Combine the eggs and heavy cream and, with the mixer on low speed, slowly pour into the flour and butter mixture. Mix until just blended. The dough will look lumpy! Combine the dried cranberries and 1/4 cup of flour, add to the dough, and mix on low speed until blended.
- Dump the dough onto a well-floured surface and knead it into a ball. Flour your hands and a rolling pin and roll the dough 3/4-inch thick. You should see small bits of butter in the dough. Keep moving the dough on the floured board so it doesn't stick. Flour a 3-inch round plain or fluted cutter and cut circles of dough. Place the scones on a baking pan lined with parchment paper. Collect the scraps neatly, roll them out, and cut more circles.
- Brush the tops of the scones with egg wash, sprinkle with sugar, and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the tops are browned and the insides are fully baked. The scones will be firm to the touch. Allow the scones to cool for 15 minutes and then whisk together the confectioners' sugar and orange juice, and drizzle over the scones.


I love my Villeroy & Boch pastry flatware!

Orange Cranberry Scones

Comments

Unknown said…
I like the sound of this glaze sounds amazing! I love the flavor of orange. It's so fresh and citrusy. And with fall just around the corner this recipe sounds awesome! Orange and cranberry is such a comforting flavor combo :)

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