The Best Gluten-Free Cranberry Orange Scone Recipe:

The best gluten-free cranberry orange scones is a must try for breakfast during the holiday season. The vibrant colors of the cranberries and orange zest, not to mention the scrumptious flavor mix with sweet, tart, and zest. These delicious scones will quickly become a household favorite, to brighten up your morning, during the colder months.

Whether you are eating gluten-free for your own personal health reasons or cooking for someone that refrains from eating gluten. This recipe is so simple, and doesn’t have any unique ingredients or steps that you often find in gluten-free recipes. Every ingredient, you can find in your pantry. This recipe is also sweetened with honey and not white sugar! Give this gluten-free cranberry orange scone recipe a try and you wont be disappointed.


If gluten-free isn’t for you, that is okay! You can swap the gluten free flour with a standard all purpose flour. Another wonderful part of this recipe is you can change the flavor, my family enjoys changing it up seasonally. We like a blueberry lemon scone in the spring, cherry almond in the summer, pumpkin spice in the fall, and cranberry orange in the winter.

Our Hearth and Heritage Experience With The Best Gluten-Free Cranberry Orange Scones:

I have found for me and my family that there is so many benefits of eating gluten free, better digestion, less headaches, bloating, skin breakouts and much more. Eating less gluten can even help with joint pain and brain fog. It can also improve gut health, which is so important for over all health.

Here is an excellent article about going gluten free, check it out!

We tend to bake scones more in the cooler months, biting into that soft, flaky, warm, texture is just how I want to start my morning. Not to forget a warm cup of coffee to balance the sweetness of the gluten- free cranberry orange scone.

The kids love helping with this recipe, the toddlers and the older kids. They can help with grating the butter, incorporating the butter and flour mixture, cracking eggs, and dusting the counter with flour. There is a job for everyone. What sweet cozy memories.

The scones would also make an excellent dish for a brunch, bridal or baby shower, or an afternoon tea. The women and girls in my family always get together the first Saturday of December for what we call “The Grandma Party”. We have a brunch, and then do Christmas crafting projects. From newspaper Christmas trees, to twig ornaments, we have made so many beautiful and memorable projects.

My grandma started it many years ago, she has since passed. But my mom has kept the tradition going. I made these cranberry orange scones for the Christmas brunch and they were a hit. Every scone was eaten. Brunch is one of my favorite meals, I am always fascinated by the other treats the ladies bring.

The Best Gluten-Free Cranberry Orange Scone Ingredient Tips:

You need cold ingredients, cold cream, cold eggs, and then frozen butter. That will guarantee that the scones will have that beautiful fluffy texture that we are looking for. Expert Tip: You want to have a cheese grater to grate the butter. This will make it effortless to be able to incorporate the flour and butter to a crumble texture.

You can use white sugar for this recipe, but I much prefer using honey or maple syrup for sweeteners. White sugar is highly processed, highly refined, and can cause inflammation and lower your immune system response, among other health issues. As a mom I feel so much better and confident when I can use honey as a sweetener in our favorite recipes.

Questions & Answers:

What Makes a Good Scone?
Don’t over mix the dough. With using a gluten free flour, if you over mix it it will result in a much tougher dough. The scone will have a more dense texture and not a fluffy one that scones are well known for. Using the right milk, you want to use a thick cream of sorts. Either half and half, heavy whipping cream, or butter milk work best.

Can I Change the Flavor?
Yes! I love that about scones, you can become so creative and make lots of different flavors. You can add fruit, nuts, chocolates, throw in some cheese and garlic and make a savory scone.

What Texture Am I Looking For?
A light, fluffy, flaky, and Rich texture.


Do I Need To Refrigerate The Dough?
No need to refrigerate before baking with this recipe.

How Long Do These Scones Keep?
We have found that they taste best warm and fresh out of the oven with a glass of milk or coffee. Like most baked goods, for optimal flavor, its best to consume them within the first few days. They will last up to a week if stored in a sealed container.

Fun Facts:

Though it is not certain, historians have believed that scones originated from Scotland during the sixteenth century. They have been very popular in Scotland, Ireland, and England. Typically they were just round pieces of dough, thrown onto a skillet on a open fire. Enjoyed with little to no sugar.
In the eighteenth century scones grew in popularity with the English. It become a traditional treat with afternoon tea in England. Scones came to America by Scottish settlers, still enjoyed by many.

Is There a Difference Between American and English Scones?
An American scone is shaped into a seven-eight inch circle, and cut into eight triangles. Usually accompanied with fruits, chocolates, a frosting or glaze, and very much on the sweeter side.

An English scone is round in shape, typically two inches wide. Less sweet, served with fruit toppings, jams, and whipped cream.

How To Make Gluten Free Cranberry Orange Scones:

Start by preheating your oven to 375F. Spread some parchment paper on a cookie sheet.

In a medium to large mixing bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, and salt.

Now you will want to grate frozen butter. Then add the grated, frozen butter, to the flour mixture. Work together with your hands until the mixture becomes a crumble.

Add in cream, cranberries, egg, honey, and orange zest. Gently mix with rubber spatula or work with hands.

Scrape the dough on a floured surface, sprinkle some flour over the dough and on hands. Gently pat and shape the dough until you have formed a 7″ circle. Cut into 8 wedges.

Place scones on cookie sheet about 2″ apart. Put in oven and bake for 20-22 minutes or until golden brown. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.

In a small bowl, add in the powder sugar, vanilla, and fresh orange juice. Whisk together! Slowly add the orange juice and check consistency of glaze. Drizzle over scones, then sprinkle your extra orange zest over glazed scones for presentation.

Now grab a pretty plate, and a cup of coffee or tea and enjoy your scrumptious gluten free cranberry orange scone!

What Flavor Combinations Have You Tried?

Have you tried making your family scones? Let me know in the comment section below what have been your favorite variations.

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