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Lemon Cranberry Scones

Lemon Cranberry Scones. With an easy to make, lemon glaze. Fragrant lemon and tart cranberry in every bite of these soft and tender scones. Perfect for afternoon tea or weekend brunch.

Lemon Cranberry Scones, with a simple delicious lemon glaze.

Lemon Cranberry Scones, with a simple delicious lemon glaze.

These gorgeous little Lemon Cranberry Scones were a hit even before they got their own recipe post. In fact, I hadn’t even intended this to be a separate recipe but just a variation that I would add to our post for Proper English Scones.

I had intended to add the photo and a note in the recipe for the variation. Because it was so popular I decided to make it more searchable on the website by giving it it’s own recipe page.

I’d already made them a couple of times when I posted  the photo below on our Facebook Page just yesterday. Even without being baked, fans of the page starting string the photo by the dozens in just the first few minutes.

It ended up being one of ur most shared recipes of the week as well.

How to zest a lemon 700 x 800ideo collage of 3 steps of how to zest a lemon

How to zest a lemon, to maximize flavor.

I’m guessing that many were part the brigade of lemon lovers who always turn out in heaps for anything I post under the “lemon desserts” umbrella. You can find links to some of our best of those this post for Lemon Mousse Cake.

Lemon Cranberry Scones, ready for the oven.

Lemon Cranberry Scones, ready for the oven.

Notes for using dried cranberries.

I like to use dried cranberries in these scones but you could use fresh cranberries chopped in raisin sized pieces. One thing about dried cranberries is they seem to vary greatly in moisture content by brand.

stock photo of dried cranberries.

Dried Cranberries

I also find them to be far more dehydrated when I buy them at the bulk store. If your dried cranberries are not soft and pliable like raisins, I suggest re-hydrating them in water for 30-60 minutes. That always does the trick for me.

The lemon glaze here is optional. These are also still quite delicious plain, or taken to a whole other level when served with Homemade Clotted Cream, which is done using a very easy method using only whipping cream.

Lemon Cranberry Scones

Lemon Cranberry Scones

It’s easy to keep up with the latest home style cooking & baking ideas from Rock Recipes. Be sure to follow Rock Recipes Facebook Page and follow us on InstagramPlus you’ll see daily recipe suggestions from decadent desserts to quick delicious weekday meals too. 

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Originally published May 2017.

Love Scones and tea buns?

For even more delicious ideas for scones, we have put them together into one amazing collection of our 25 Best Scone Recipes.

25 Best Scone Recipes image with title text for Pinterest

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Lemon Cranberry Scones with an easy lemon glaze

Lemon Cranberry Scones

It’s easy to keep up with the latest home style cooking & baking ideas from Rock Recipes. Be sure to follow Rock Recipes Facebook Page and follow us on Instagram

Plus you’ll see daily recipe suggestions from decadent desserts to quick delicious weekday meals too. 

You can also sign up for our FREE newsletter to know immediately when we add new recipes. You’ll also get weekly suggestions for great family friendly  meals and desserts too!


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Lemon Cranberry Scones, with a simple delicious lemon glaze.
Yield: 18 small scones or 8 large

Lemon Cranberry Scones

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes

Lemon Cranberry Scones. With an easy to make, lemon glaze. Fragrant lemon and tart cranberry in every bite of these soft and tender scones. Perfect for afternoon tea or weekend brunch.

Ingredients

For the scones

  • 1⅔ cups all purpose flour
  • 2½ tsp baking powder
  • Zest of one large lemon, , finely grated.
  • 3 tbsp white sugar
  • pinch table salt table salt
  • 3 tbsp butter
  • ½ cup milk
  • ½ tsp vanilla extract, (optional)
  • 1 egg
  • 3/4 cup dried cranberries, (see notes)

For the Easy Lemon Glaze

  • zest of half a lemon, finely grated
  • 2/3 cup icing sugar, (powdered sugar)
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice, approximately

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
  2. In a food processor add the flour, baking powder, sugar, lemon zest and salt. Pulse to mix together well. (You can just mix the ingredients in a bowl if you prefer the manual method)
  3. Pulse in the butter until the mixture resembles a coarse meal. (or just use your fingertips to rub the butter through the dry ingredients until the same texture is achieved.)
  4. Whisk together the milk, egg and vanilla. Reserve a few teaspoons of the liquid to brush on top of the scones. This helps them brown nicely)
  5. Add the liquid to the dry ingredients along with the dried cranberries and stir in quickly with a wooden spoon until a soft dough forms. It should be a little sticky. Don’t over work the dough or your scones will get tough and not rise well.
  6. Turn the dough out onto a well floured board or counter top.
  7. Lightly sprinkle the top of the dough with flour and just using your hands, form the dough into a round about ¾ of an inch thick.
  8. Using a 1½ inch biscuit cutter, cut out your scones and place them about 2 inches apart on a parchment lined baking sheet.
  9. Re-roll the scraps and cut out the rest of the scones. Brush the tops of all the scones with the reserved milk and egg liquid.
  10. Pop the scones into the hot oven for about 12-15 minutes or until the tops of the scones are evenly browned. Cool on a wire rack.
  11. Serve with thick or clotted cream and your favourite jam.

To prepare the Easy Lemon Glaze

  1. Simply mix together the ingredients until smooth with no icing sugar lumps.
  2. The glaze should be thick but still pourable. If it is too thick add a little more lemon juice, if it is too thin, add a little more icing sugar to bring it to the proper consistency.
  3. I like to make the glaze in a small shallow ramekin, which makes dipping the tops of the scones in the glaze quite easy.
  4. Let the glaze set for a half hour or so before serving.

Notes

I like to make the smaller scones if serving them for afternoon tea.

I like to make the larger scones if packing them into lunches or for picnics.

I like to use dried cranberries in these scones but you could use fresh cranberries chopped in raisin sized pieces. One thing about dried cranberries is they seem to vary greatly in moisture content by brand.

I also find them to be far more dehydrated when I buy them at the bulk store. If your dried cranberries are not soft and pliable like raisins, I suggest re-hydrating them in water for 30-60 minutes. That always does the trick for me.

Nutrition Information

Yield

18

Serving Size

1 g

Amount Per Serving Calories 114Total Fat 3gSaturated Fat 1gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 1gCholesterol 16mgSodium 131mgCarbohydrates 22gFiber 1gSugar 11gProtein 2g

The nutritional information provided is automatically calculated by third party software and is meant as a guideline only. Exact accuracy is not guaranteed. For recipes where all ingredients may not be used entirely, such as those with coatings on meats, or with sauces or dressings for example, calorie & nutritional values per serving will likely be somewhat lower than indicated.

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Josephine B

Tuesday 29th of November 2022

Hi Barry, I'm in Australia and just found your wonderful site, so clicked on "JOIN" IMMEDIATELY. I've already filed some of your beautiful recipes such as your "Lemon Cranberry Scones". I might be "jumping the gun" here, but since I've recently acquired an Air Fryer I'm wondering if these scones would be alright to make in the Air Fryer. I've already planned my day tomorrow to make your "Apricot Coconut Scones" and if time permits, I'll be trying to make your "Apricot Crumble Bars" as well. I can't wait to try so many of your recipes it's hard to choose which to do not first, but 4th and so on. I'm so happy to have come across your site, so looking forward to many more to come. While I'm here I'd like to wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and a Wonderful New Year from a Happy Aussie from "Down Under".

Michelle

Tuesday 21st of September 2021

Hi Barry, Do you think I could use GF flour to make these or have you had anyone who has done so?

Lynn Parsons

Thursday 9th of December 2021

We haven’t tried gf flour

Megan

Saturday 15th of February 2020

Have you or anyone tried almond milk instead of real milk? Just asking to see how they turned out as I do not drink dairy milk.

Barry C. Parsons

Tuesday 18th of February 2020

Should be fine.

Robin G

Thursday 18th of April 2019

Could orange be substituted for the lemon?

Barry C. Parsons

Thursday 18th of April 2019

Sure, why not? Sounds delicious.

Darlys

Wednesday 22nd of November 2017

Just a quick note to thank you for this recipe. My best friend made them last week and raved about them. I changed mine up a bit, and made orange scones AND the homemade clotted cream for breakfast tomorrow. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving for us yanks, and my grandkids are gonna love them! All best wishes to you and yours this holiday season!

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