This easy orange scones recipe gets its warming flavor from organic, dried orange peel and a mix of spices. For lighter, fluffier scones, freeze the butter overnight before preparing the dough or freeze the dough after shaping and cutting it, just before baking it.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Total Time: 22 minutes
Yield: 6 large or 12 small scones
Ingredients:
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup sugar, plus more for sprinkling if you like
- 1 tbsp. organic, dried orange peel bits or organic, dried, grated orange peel
- 2 1/2 tsp. baking powder
- 1/2 tsp. cinnamon powder
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/4 tsp. nutmeg powder
- 1/4 tsp. clove powder
- 1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, frozen (You can freeze the sticks of butter in the wrappers overnight or a few hours before baking.)
- 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup heavy cream
Preparation:
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
- In a large mixing bowl, mix the all dry ingredients together.
- Use a pastry cutter to cut in the butter. (Alternately, use a cheese grater to grate the butter, then mix it in by hand.) The mixture is done when it resembles coarse cornmeal.
- With minimal stirring, add the vanilla extract and mix in just enough heavy cream to make the dough stick together. It will be crumbly and there should still be a little bit of dry flour left in the mixing bowl.
- Turn the dough out on a heavily floured cutting board.
- Knead the dough slightly. When it is done, it should be smooth and easy to handle.
- Gently pat the dough to one large 1–inch thick discs or two small 1-inch thick discs.
- Cut each disc into 6 wedges.
- Transfer the scones to a buttered or parchment-lined baking sheet.
- (Optional) Sprinkle with sugar.
- Bake the scones for 10-15 minutes. The scones are done when they are lightly golden or when an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool on the baking sheet.
- Serve with lemon curd, clotted cream and / or jam. (My friends and I loved it with a green fig jam.) Pair with coffee or a bold tea, such as a Ceylon black tea, Assam tea or a spiced tea.
