These cranberry scones, ideal for breakfast or afternoon tea, are simple to prepare yet wonderfully rich.
My first encounter with these wonderful cranberry scones happened while I was employed at a local jewelry store.
One workday, a lovely china plate sat in the staff area, holding a line of cranberry scones, neatly sliced and buttered; next to it, in a sweet little jar, were jam and a small knife.
During a quiet period among customers, I selected one and took a swift taste.
I was truly amazed.
It proved to be the finest scone I had ever experienced!
I soon discovered who created such a delightful treat, and she kindly offered her recipe, which originated with her mother.
Although it had been ages since I baked, I felt these buttermilk cranberry scones deserved a special moment.
What you will require for this cranberry scone recipe
- 2 1/2 cups of flour
- 4 teaspoons of sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons of baking powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon of salt
- 1/3 cup of unsalted butter, kept cold
- 1 cup of buttermilk
- 1 egg
- 2 teaspoons of maple syrup
- 1 cup of dried cranberries – I specifically used craisens
Guidance for making buttermilk cranberry scones, step by step
- In a sizable bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Using a pastry blender or two knives, incorporate the butter until the mix resembles coarse oatmeal.
- In a separate bowl, combine the egg, buttermilk, and maple syrup.
- Combine the wet and dry components entirely, then gently stir until mingled.
- Incorporate the craisins, stirring until they are evenly distributed throughout the dough.
- Shape the dough on a lightly dusted surface to 1/2″ thickness, then cut with a biscuit cutter; a pastry cloth set is wonderful for this.
- Place the cut scones roughly 1 inch apart on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake at 425 degrees for around 15 minutes, until they begin to achieve a golden hue. Transfer the scones straight from the sheet to a wire rack to cool.
Enjoy them warm alongside butter and your preferred jam.
This batch yielded 12 scones using a 3 inch cutter; perhaps next time a smaller cutter and a slightly shorter bake time would be worthwhile.
Helpful Insights and Suggestions
- It is important to handle the dough minimally to prevent it from becoming tough.
- For guidance on dough rolling and time-saving tools, review this article.
- Should buttermilk be unavailable, create a substitute: In a 1 cup measure, mix 2 1/2 teaspoons of lemon juice or vinegar with enough milk to reach the 1 cup line, allowing it to rest briefly. A curdled appearance is normal and this will substitute buttermilk perfectly.
What are the keys to achieving superior scones?
After some investigation, I have gathered pointers and techniques for getting scones precisely as you desire!
- Refrain from overworking the dough; use a delicate touch and mix only until the dough comes together.
- To achieve significant lift, position the scones close together on the baking sheet, just touching, which encourages height and soft sides. Alternatively, spacing them about 1 inch apart works well; they seem to prefer being close!
- Some suggest using cold butter instead of room temperature butter aids in better rising; a chilled bowl and pastry cutter can also assist!
- Opt for dried fruit rather than juicy fruit.
Suggested Equipment for This Recipe
Note: The links below are Amazon affiliate links for your purchasing convenience.
- Biscuit cutter-“Users appreciate the cutter’s durability, value, size, and ease of cleaning; the handles make it simple to manage, it is dishwasher-safe, and maintains good hygiene.” – Amazon
- This rolling mat and rolling pin cover set resembles the vintage set I utilize.
Visit my Amazon store for curated collections of my favored kitchen implements and other household items.
Other delectable treats ideal for an afternoon tea gathering:
- These scones, being gluten-free, are ideal for those with specific dietary needs.
- The lemon bar recipe inherited from my Grandma tastes wonderfully rich.
- Consider Cranberry lemon bars an innovative variation on traditional brownies.
- This dependable sugar cookies recipes suits any festive gathering.
Cranberry Scones Recipe
These cranberry scones are wonderfully simple to create, making them superb for breakfast or afternoon tea. Warming them up with butter and jam creates an irresistible treat!
Ingredients
Method
- In a large bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
- Cut in butter using a pastry blender or two knives until the mixture resembles course oatmeal.
- In a seperate bowl, beat together the egg, milk, and maple syrup.
- Add the liquid ingredients to the dry ingredients all at once and stir to combine.
- Add the craisens and stir until incorporated into the mixture.
- Turn out the dough onto a lightly floured surface and roll out to 1/2″ thick and cut with a 3 inch biscuit cutter. (I love using a pastry cloth set for rolling dough.)
- Arrange the cut out scones about 1 inch apart on a parchment lined baking sheet. Bake at 425 degrees for about 15 minutes, or until they are just starting to turn golden brown. Remove scones immediately from the baking sheet and cool on a wire cooling rack.
Notes
Should buttermilk be unavailable, crafting a replacement is simple: Combine 2 1/2 teaspoons of lemon juice or vinegar within a 1 cup measuring cup, then top the cup with milk until it reaches the 1 cup line and allow it to rest briefly. Don't worry if it appears slightly curdled; this is normal and makes an excellent buttermilk substitute for Bildirimlerim.
