Description
Classic Barefoot Contessa cranberry orange scones combine zesty citrus with tart berries for a delightful breakfast treat. Ina Garten’s recipe offers a perfect balance of flavors you’ll savor with morning coffee or afternoon tea.
Ingredients
Scale
- 340 grams (12 oz) cold unsalted butter, diced
- 4 extra-large eggs, lightly beaten
- 4.25 cups (530 g) all-purpose flour
- 240 ml (1 cup) cold heavy cream
- 120 g dried cranberries
- 2 tbsps baking powder
- 50 g sugar
- 2 tsps kosher salt
- 2 tsps grated orange zest (from 2 oranges)
- 4 tsps freshly squeezed orange juice
- 1 egg beaten with 2 tbsps water (for egg wash)
- 0.5 cup plus 2 tbsps (75 g) confectioners’ sugar
- Extra sugar for sprinkling
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Set the oven to 200°C (400°F) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper for optimal baking conditions.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and orange zest in a stand mixer with paddle attachment, ensuring even distribution of ingredients.
- Incorporate Butter: Add cold unsalted butter to the dry mixture, mixing on low speed until the texture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Blend Wet Ingredients: Whisk eggs and heavy cream in a separate bowl, creating a smooth liquid mixture.
- Form Dough: Pour cream mixture into dry ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Lightly flour dried cranberries and fold into the dough with minimal stirring.
- Shape Scones: Transfer dough to a floured surface, gently knead into a ball, and roll to 2.5 centimeters thickness. Cut out rounds using a 7.5 centimeters pastry cutter, re-rolling scraps to maximize yield.
- Prepare for Baking: Arrange scones on the prepared baking sheet, brush tops with egg wash, and sprinkle with granulated sugar for a golden finish.
- Bake and Glaze: Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown and firm. Cool for 15 minutes, then drizzle with a glaze made from icing sugar and fresh orange juice.
Notes
- Prevent Cranberry Sinking: Lightly dust cranberries with flour to stop them from dropping to the bottom during baking, ensuring even distribution throughout the scone.
- Master Butter Incorporation: Cut cold butter into small pieces and mix until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs, which creates the signature flaky scone texture.
- Avoid Overworking Dough: Mix ingredients just until combined to keep scones tender and light, preventing tough, dense results from excessive handling.
- Maximize Golden Crust: Brush egg wash and sprinkle sugar on top to create a beautiful, crisp exterior with a professional bakery-style finish.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 469
- Sugar: 16 g
- Sodium: 323 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 17 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 48 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 109 mg