What makes the perfect scone? The perfect scone is soft and tender yet crumbly. They taste amazing with a spread of butter, cream, or jam. These White Chocolate Cranberry Scones need nothing but maybe a little butter. Perfectly delicious for a Christmas brunch or a trip to Grandma’s house.

How to Make Cranberry Bliss Scones

Cranberry Bliss Scones: These tender Christmas Scones have bits of crystalized ginger, orange zest, fresh and dried cranberries, and white chocolate chips. This copycat Starbucks Bliss Bar-inspired holiday breakfast treat is so tender and full of flavor, topped with a zesty citrus cream cheese drizzle. Perfect for gift-giving!

WHITE CHOCOLATE CRANBERRY SCONE INGREDIENTS LIST-full printable recipe below in recipe card

FOR THE SCONES:

• 2¼ cups all-purpose flour
• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• 3 tablespoons baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cubed or grated
• 1 large egg
• ½ cup buttermilk
• 1½ teaspoons orange zest or 1 small orange
• ½ cup sliced fresh or frozen cranberries
• ½ cup dried cranberries
• ½ cup white chocolate chips
• 3 tablespoons crystallized ginger, chopped

FOR THE TOPPINGS:

• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter melted
• 1 tablespoon turbinado (raw) sugar
• Chopped white chocolate chips

FOR THE CREAM CHEESE DRIZZLE:

• 4 ounces cream cheese softened
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon orange zest
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 4 tablespoons orange juice

CRANBERRY SCONES INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 400°.
2. Add the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt to the bowl of a food processor and pulse to combine.
3. Add cold butter and pulse until little bits of butter appear.
4. Add the egg, buttermilk, and orange zest. Pulse just until combined.
5. Pour into a bowl and stir in the cranberries, chocolate chips, and ginger.
6. Pat the dough into an 8-inch disk, cut it into 8 wedges, and place them on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.
7. Brush the melted butter on the top of each scone and sprinkle with raw sugar.
8. Bake for 14 minutes or until the edges start to turn golden.
9. Remove from cookie sheet to a wire cooling rack.
10. Cool completely before adding drizzle.

CREAM CHEESE DRIZZLE AND TOPPINGS INSTRUCTIONS

1. In a small mixing bowl, add the cream cheese and butter. Whip until smooth.
2. Add the powdered sugar, zest, and orange juice.
3. Beat until smooth.
4. Pour into a squeeze bottle or use a spoon. In a back-and-forth motion, add the drizzle to each scone.
5. Top with chopped white chocolate chips.
6. MAKES 8 LARGE SCONES

What Makes this Scone so Perfect for Christmas?

The classic combo of cranberries and white chocolate screams Christmas. Orange and cranberries complement each other perfectly. And let’s not forget about the crystallized ginger. So many delicious flavors come together to make an extraordinary scone. Scroll down to see how these Cranberry Bliss Scones can be made ahead of time.

GRATE THE BUTTER: This allows you to incorporate the butter into the dough quicker without it melting in your hands. The large side of a box grater is perfect for this, but a food processor works great, too.

COLD BUTTER: The colder your butter, the more flaky and light the scones will turn out. Once grated, place it in the freezer for 15-20 minutes.

DON’T OVERWORK THE DOUGH: Light and tender scones come from not overworking the dough and not melting the butter. The traditional method (and the one I grew up watching my mom do) is to use a knife to cut the butter into the dough. The warmth from your hands will melt the butter before they make it to the oven. So, no kneading; just make sure the ingredients are combined.

DON’T OVERBAKE: Bake them until they start to turn golden.

How to Freeze Scones

BAKERS TIP #2: WAIT UNTIL READY TO SERVE TO ADD THE CREAM CHEESE DRIZZLE

BAKED SCONES: Let the scones cool before freezing. Place baked scones on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Freeze scones until solid ( at least 2 hours). Once scones are frozen, transfer them to a zip-top freezer-safe bag or airtight container to protect them from freezer burn. Place a sheet of wax or parchment paper between layers to keep them from sticking. Use within 3 months. *DO NOT ADD GLAZE*

HOW TO REHEAT BAKED SCONES

Preheat your oven to 350°. Place scones on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Warm for 5-8 minutes until heated through. This method works well for both fresh and frozen scones. Add a cream cheese-orange drizzle.

RAW SCONES: Place raw scones on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Freeze scones until solid ( at least 2 hours). Once scones are frozen, transfer them to a zip-top freezer-safe bag or airtight container to protect them from freezer burn. The scones do not need to be defrosted. Uncooked scones can go from the freezer to the oven.

HOW TO BAKE FROZEN SCONES

• Preheat oven to 360°
• Place frozen scones on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper on the center rack.
• After 5 minutes, reduce the temperature to 350°.
• The total baking time for the regular-size sconces will be between 25-20 minutes.
• Add orange cream cheese glaze.

BAKER’S TIP #3: HOW TO GET THE PERFECT LIGHT AND FLAKY SCONE

FOR A HANDS ON APPROACH-FROZEN-GRATED BUTTER: The cold butter coats the flour, which creates tons of flour-coated butter crumbs. When the butter/flour crumbs melt as the scones bake, they release steam, which creates all the delicious flakiness we love. The exterior becomes crumbly, crunchy, and crisp. Refrigerated butter might melt in the dough as you work with it, but frozen butter will hold out until the oven.

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In mastering the art of baking cranberry bliss scones, you’ve armed yourself with the tools, techniques, and recipes needed to impress even the most discerning taste buds. As you embark on your baking journey, remember to mix your dough with care, add the perfect mix-ins with precision, and savor the sweet rewards of your labor as you watch your creations bake to golden perfection. With this guide as your baking companion, your kitchen will become a haven of warmth and delight, enticing all who enter with the promise of homemade goodness. So, don your apron, preheat your oven, and let the scent of cranberry bliss scones fill your home with joy and anticipation. Happy baking!💗Sheryl