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### Instructions:
#### 1. **Preheat the Oven**:
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat to prevent the scones from sticking.
#### 2. **Make the Scone Dough**:
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Add the cubed cold butter to the dry ingredients. Use a pastry cutter or your fingers to work the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. You should still see small bits of butter throughout the dough.
#### 3. **Add the Cranberries and Orange Zest**:
Stir in the chopped cranberries and orange zest, making sure they’re evenly distributed throughout the dough.
#### 4. **Combine the Wet Ingredients**:
In a separate small bowl, whisk together the heavy cream, egg, and vanilla extract until well combined. Pour the wet ingredients into the flour mixture and stir gently until just combined. Be careful not to overwork the dough — you want it to be light and tender.
#### 5. **Shape the Scones**:
Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and gently press it into a disk about 1-inch thick. Use a sharp knife or a bench scraper to cut the dough into 8 wedges, like you would cut a pizza. If you prefer, you can shape the dough into rounds using a biscuit cutter for more uniform scones.
#### 6. **Bake the Scones**:
Transfer the scone wedges to the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 1 inch apart. Brush the tops of the scones with a little extra heavy cream to help them brown nicely in the oven. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the scones are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
#### 7. **Prepare the Glaze**:
While the scones are baking, whisk together the powdered sugar, orange juice, and orange zest (if using) in a small bowl until smooth. Adjust the consistency of the glaze by adding a little more orange juice if it’s too thick or more powdered sugar if it’s too runny.
#### 8. **Glaze the Scones**:
Once the scones are done baking, remove them from the oven and allow them to cool slightly on a wire rack. Drizzle the orange glaze over the warm scones, allowing it to soak into the cracks and crevices.
#### 9. **Serve and Enjoy**:
Allow the glaze to set for a few minutes, and then enjoy your **Glazed Orange Cranberry Scones** with a cup of tea or coffee. These scones are perfect for a cozy morning or special occasion!
### Tips for Perfect Scones:
– **Chill the Butter**: Make sure your butter is cold when working it into the flour. This helps create that desirable flaky texture in the scones.
– **Use Fresh Cranberries**: While dried cranberries work in a pinch, fresh cranberries give these scones the perfect tartness to balance the sweetness of the glaze.
– **Don’t Overmix**: When combining the wet and dry ingredients, mix just until the dough comes together. Overmixing can result in tough scones.
– **Freezer Tip**: If you want to prepare these scones ahead of time, you can freeze the unbaked scones. Place them on a baking sheet, freeze until solid, and then transfer them to a freezer bag. When ready to bake, simply add a few extra minutes to the baking time.
### Nutritional Information (per scone, makes 8 servings):
– **Calories**: 250
– **Fat**: 14g
– **Carbs**: 30g
– **Fiber**: 1g
– **Sugar**: 14g
– **Protein**: 3g
These **Glazed Orange Cranberry Scones** are the perfect combination of sweet, tart, and citrusy goodness. The soft, buttery scones are a delight to bite into, while the fresh orange glaze adds a lovely finish to each bite. Whether you’re treating yourself to a special breakfast or serving them to guests at your next gathering, these scones will quickly become a favorite.
Bake a batch today and enjoy the fresh, seasonal flavors of cranberry and orange in every bite!
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