Description
These festive Christmas scones are perfect for holiday gatherings, bursting with sweet sultanas, dried cranberries, and fresh orange zest. Light and fluffy, they are ideal served warm with butter, clotted cream, or your favorite marmalade or jam, making for a delightful treat during the festive season.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 225g self-raising flour (plus extra for dusting)
- 40g caster sugar
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp mixed spice
Wet Ingredients & Add-ins
- 50g cold unsalted butter, cubed
- 50g sultanas
- 50g dried cranberries
- Zest of 1 orange
- 1 large egg
- 90ml milk (plus extra for brushing)
To Serve
- Butter
- Clotted cream
- Orange marmalade or cranberry jam
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Heat your oven to 220°C (200°C fan) or 425°F and line a baking tray with parchment paper to prepare for baking the scones.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a mixing bowl, stir together the self-raising flour, caster sugar, baking powder, and mixed spice until well combined.
- Rub in Butter: Add the cold, cubed unsalted butter to the dry ingredients and rub it in using your fingertips or a pastry cutter until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.
- Add Fruits and Zest: Stir in the sultanas, dried cranberries, and orange zest evenly throughout the mixture to distribute the flavors.
- Mix Egg and Milk: In a separate jug, whisk together the egg and 90ml of milk until combined, creating the liquid component for the dough.
- Form the Dough: Gradually add the egg and milk mixture to the dry ingredients, mixing gently until a soft dough forms. Be careful not to overmix to keep the scones tender.
- Shape and Cut: Lightly flour a surface, roll out the dough to about 2cm thickness, and cut out scones using a 5–6cm round biscuit cutter, cutting straight down to retain their shape.
- Prepare for Baking: Place the cut scones onto the lined baking tray, brush the tops lightly with milk to promote browning, and bake in the oven for 12 to 15 minutes until they have risen and turned a light golden color.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the scones from the oven and transfer them to a cooling rack. Serve warm with butter, clotted cream, and orange marmalade or cranberry jam for a classic festive treat.
Notes
- Ensure the butter is very cold to create light and flaky scones.
- Do not overwork the dough to avoid tough scones.
- Orange zest adds a fresh citrus flavor complementing the dried fruits.
- Use a sharp cutter and press straight down to help scones rise evenly.
- Serve the scones warm for the best taste and texture.
