Orange Cranberry Scones

As promised I made the Orange Cranberry Scones. I am determined to master scone baking. Last week Kelly, Lucy, Wendy and I went to a tea house in Waterdown and we ate the most delicious scones that were fresh out of the oven and still warm. They melted in your mouth. Now mine are not quite as good but they won't disappoint either. The orange flavour stands out and the cranberries are full of tartness. I need to work on shaping them as well as you can tell by the photos.


Ingredients:

2 1/4 cups unbleached all purpose flour

1/3 cup granulated sugar

2 t baking powder

1 t baking soda

1/4 t salt

Grated zest of 1 orange

2/3 cup unsalted butter cut into pieces

1/2 cup buttermilk

1 cup dried cranberries

2 T buttermilk for brushing tops



Directions:


Place flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt & orange zest in mixer bowl. With flat beater set to Stir and mix until combined. Increase to speed 2 and mix in butter a piece at a time until mixture resembles course meal. Decrease to Stir and mix in 2/3 cup buttermilk and cranberries until just combined about 6 seconds.

Turn mixture out onto a lightly floured surface and divide into 2 mounds. Working with one mound at a time, sprinkle top with a little flour and pat into a disk shape. Cut into 8 wedges and arrange on a parchment lined baking sheet approx 1 inch apart. Brush tops with buttermilk.

Bake in middle of preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes or until firm and golden brown. Let cool on wire rack.