Orange-Cranberry Scones

My wife is very picky about the consistency and flavor of scones and these are her all-time favorites, beating out all the high-end bakery scones she's had. In particular, she likes that they have great flavor and are very light and flaky. I've made variations of these substituting all the orange and cranberries and adding chocolate chips and water and the kids gobble them up.

• Preparation Time: 20 mins
• Cooking Time: 25 mins
• Total Time: 45 mins
• Calories: 346 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• ¼ cup water
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 2 cups rolled oats
• 3 tablespoons white sugar
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
• ¼ cup orange juice
• 1 cup dried cranberries
• 1 cup unsalted butter, cubed
• 1 large orange, zested
• 1 ⅓ cups cold milk
• 2 tablespoons natural (raw) sugar
• ½ cup powdered sugar, or as needed

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).

Step 2

Heat 1/4 cup orange juice and water in a small pan over medium-low heat; add cranberries. Simmer the mixture for 1 minute, then remove from the heat and let sit until it cools slightly.

Step 3

Grind oats with flour, 3 tablespoons sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a food processor or blender. Add butter. Run the machine in short spurts until the mixture has the consistency of sand. Transfer the mixture to a large mixing bowl.

Step 4

Add milk, 1/2 of the orange zest, and the orange-cranberry mixture to the large mixing bowl. Stir until the mixture begins to hold together.

Step 5

Form the dough into a large ball with your hands, adding a bit of milk if necessary. Press or roll out the ball of dough until it is 1 inch thick. Cut the dough into 16 squares or triangles. Sprinkle with the remaining zest and raw sugar. Place on an ungreased baking sheet.

Step 6

Bake scones in the preheated oven until they are lightly browned on the edges, about 20 minutes.

Step 7

While the scones are baking, whip cream cheese, 1/2 cup powdered sugar, and orange juice together to make the topping. If the topping is too thin, thicken with additional powdered sugar.

Step 8

Frost the scones and serve warm.