Afternoon tea is one of the finest contributions of the British to civilization. There is nothing quite so comforting or satisfying as having afternoon tea with scones. Warm orange scones for a teatime snack on a cool afternoon with a cup of hot English breakfast tea is mind blowing to me. I enjoy slitting the scone and spreading butter and jam, followed by a sip of English breakfast. It feels like a well-deserved reward.
I have enjoyed visiting the English tea shops, decorated with an ambience of rich history. My favorite ones were the small tea shops that sold freshly baked cakes and other delectable goods. It is the whole experience of sipping hot tea poured from pretty tea pots and eating a slice of buttered scones on a cold, foggy evening. One of my favorite places in England is Stratford-upon-Avon, where I have tasted the best scones ever! The scones were moist, light as a feather, yet sturdy and had a melt-in-your-mouth texture.
Personally, I like my scones soft on the inside without a hard-shell exterior. I have tried searching for scones that are soft and delicious, but I have not had much luck. So, I always bake my own scones. I bake a wide variety of scones for my family, and it has become something of a routine for us to enjoy with some afternoon tea. One of my family’s favorites is the orange scone. Orange Scones are made with flour, milk, eggs, butter, and orange zest, but I sometimes accentuate the scones with other ingredients such as lavender, raisins, mixed fruit peel or ground almonds.
The orange scones recipe is from my husband’s side of the family, and I’m happy to have rediscovered it. I am quite happy adhering to this recipe as it has never let me down and is quite simple and easy to make. I always use fresh and good quality ingredients to make a fine baked good. In light baked goods such as scones, freshness is key. For instance, eggs are considered fresh if the yolks are orange in color. In short, opt for ingredients that are organically produced.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What are the different kinds of scones?
- There are several types of scones such as whole meal, griddle, plain, buttermilk, etc. Here, I have chosen to make the orange scones with a sprinkle of cranberries.
How to make soft yet sturdy scones?
- The key to making fine scones is to bring all the wet and dry ingredients together quickly. Then, turn the dough over onto a floured board.
- Finally, knead the dough lightly and cut into shapes. It is not about over beating the dough or kneading for a long time.
- Most importantly, gently stamp out the scones in one downward and outward push. Do not twist the mold around.
How to make scones rise well?
- Besides weighing the dry ingredients accurately, the leavening agents must be fresh. For instance, use baking powder that has been opened within the past few months and less than eight months old. Additionally, it is a good idea to buy baking powder in small quantities and use it up within six months or so.
- It is essential to stick to the flour quantity as given in the recipe, and just dust lightly while stamping out the scones. Moreover, too much flour will give result in dry scones.
- Use butter and eggs that are cold and not at room temperature.
How to tell if scones are done?
Scones are done if you notice golden brown coloring on top by following the baking time and temperature. You could open a scone to check for a doughy or wet interior that indicates the scones are not completely done.
How to make Orange Scones:
- Pre-heat the oven to 4500F. Mix the flour with the baking powder and salt and sieve them together.
- Cut the butter into cubes. Using only your fingertips, rub the butter into the flour until it resembles breadcrumbs. Do not use the palm of your hands, lest the warmth from your palms will melt the butter. You could use a pastry cutter, if you prefer.
3. Next, stir in the sugar, cranberries, and orange zest.
4. Then, whisk the milk with the eggs and stir into the mixture.
5. Use a fork and quickly combine to form a soft dough. Do not over beat or handle the dough for long.
6. Turn onto a floured board and knead lightly. Roll into half an inch thick oblong and cut into desired shapes.
7. Place on a greased tray ensuring that there is at least 1-2″ between the scones. The scones will increase in size during baking. You could chill for 5 minutes in the refrigerator prior to baking. This step is required if your regular room temperature is generally quite warm.
8. Finally, brush the tops with milk or cream and bake for 10 minutes or until golden brown.
How to serve Orange Scones:
Enjoy the orange scones with butter and jam! Other variations are sandwiching the scones with honey, lemon butter, margarine and jelly or even maple syrup!
You may also want to try my Victoria Sandwich Cake!
Orange Scones
Equipment
- By hand
Ingredients
For the orange scones:
- 1 lb bread flour
- 1 pinch salt
- 3 tsp baking powder leveled
- 6 ozs unsalted butter cold
- 4 tbsp granulated sugar leveled
- 2 tbsp cranberries sweetened
- 3 tsp orange zest
- 2 eggs cold
- 1 cup whole milk
Instructions
How to make Orange Scones:
- Pre-heat the oven to 4500F.
- Sieve the flour with the baking powder and salt.
- Cut the butter into cubes and rub them in to the flour using your fingertips.
- Stir in the sugar, cranberries, and orange zest.
- Whisk the milk and eggs together and add to the flour mixture.
- Use a fork to mix quickly to make a soft dough.
- Turn the dough onto a floured board and knead lightly.
- Roll into a ½" thick oblong and cut into desired shapes.
- Place the scones on a greased baking tray allowing some space between the scones. (chill in the refrigerator for 5 minutes prior to baking- optional)
- Brush the top with milk or cream and bake for 10 minutes or until golden brown.
- Serve warm. Split the scones and spread some butter and jam and serve with some hot tea.
Notes
- Bread flour gives a light and soft texture, but all purpose flour will do well as a substitute.
- Never over mix the scone dough.
- You could use lavender seeds, lemon zest, nuts or even mixed fruit instead of the orange zest. Plain scones taste good on their own.
- These scones will have a crack along their sides. That is a mark of a soft and fluffy scone.
- I do not like brushing the scones with egg wash, but you could use it to give your scones a deeper golden color.
Nutrition
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