Cranberry Orange Scones (Barefoot Contessa) Ina Garten

cookiedog's Note:

Moist scones that include a sweet orange glaze to drizzle over the top. Eat some now, and freeze some for later. This is a Barefoot Contessa recipe.

• Total Time: 50 mins
• Prep Time: 30 mins
• Cook Time: 20 mins

Ingredients:

Serves: 14-16

Yield: 14.0 scones

• 4 cups all-purpose flour, plus
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup sugar, plus
• additional sugar, for sprinkling
• 2 tablespoons baking powder
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 tablespoon grated orange zest
• 3/4 lb cold unsalted butter, diced
• 4 extra-large eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 cup cold heavy cream
• 1 cup dried cranberries

Egg Wash

• 1 egg, beaten with
• 2 tablespoons water or 2 tablespoons milk

Glaze

• 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar, plus
• 2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar
• 4 teaspoons freshly squeezed orange juice

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.

Reviews

[Petite Mommy]

Great recipe--moist scones, easy to make and tasted great. We enjoyed them very much. IMO the glaze is a very important component for the best flavor.

[707heather707]

This is now the only scone recipe I use! After trying many others (I love scones!), this seems to be the best consistency, taste, etc. and you can easily change the flavor to suit your mood--one of my favorites is substituting lemon zest and dried blueberries. I often do not use the glaze and serve with lemon or orange curd--Yum!

[Lemon Girl]

This was my first attempt at making scones, they were so GOOD!!! These turned out better than any scones I had ever had before.