You’ll love these cranberry spice scones. Moist inside, with sugary crisp edges. Prepare ahead, then freshly bake on Christmas morning. Delicious with coffee or tea!

Cranberry Spice Scones on White Plate with Coffee in Vintage Floral Tea Cup

Can you believe Christmas is almost here?! Like most, we’re celebrating a little differently this year. I’ve been thinking of ways to make it special even though we can’t gather with family and friends. Perhaps slowing down and cherishing the simple moments will ensure it’s more joyful. Quite often, the day is a bit of a whirlwind.

Freshly Baked Christmas Scones

Don’t freshly baked cranberry spice scones on Christmas morning sound good? I’m going to savour every last bite as I casually sip my coffee. That’s a benefit when you don’t have to rush to be somewhere.

Coffee in White Vintage Floral Tea Cup with Cranberry Scones

So, I know what you’re probably thinking… How can I bake scones and not miss out on Christmas morning activities like opening gifts? What about the mess? Can’t I just relax?

Well, did you know scones can be prepared ahead of time, frozen, then pulled out to bake while your oven preheats? And, because they only take about 20 minutes in the oven, you can have freshly baked scones in no time with minimal cleanup.

Cranberry Scones on White Plate with Vintage Silver Fork

This post is part of a seasonal blog hop hosted by Happy Happy Nester, Modern Glam and My 100 Year Old Home. Be sure to check out the other fantastic ideas from my blogging friends linked at the bottom!

Gluten-Free Alternative

This scone recipe isn’t gluten-free like most of what I share. If you’re looking for that option, you may want to try my Cranberry Orange Oat Muffins. They’re delicious baked ahead of time, pulled from the freezer, then warmed as you need them.

Don’t forget to add the orange glaze (which would also be yummy on top of these cranberry scones)!

Cranberry Orange Oat Muffins with Orange Glaze

Are scones hard to make? If you’ve never made scones before, they’re fairly simple. The key is keeping your ingredients cold and not over-working the dough. Of course, use fresh, good quality ingredients for best results.

This chai spiced scone recipe (using a quick and easy method) is another good one to add to your list.

Ingredients to Make Cranberry Spice Scones

Ready to give these holiday scones a try? I made two batches this week and tweaked the recipe to get it just right. Follow closely to bake up scones that are moist on the inside with a crispy, sugary crust. Yum!

How to Make Cranberry Spice Scones

Kitchen Supplies

large and small mixing bowls
whisk, pastry cutter and pastry brush
fork and sharp knife
measuring spoons and cups
baking sheet and parchment paper
oven mitts and cooling rack

Ingredients

all-purpose flour and whole wheat flour
granulated sugar
baking powder and baking soda
fine sea salt
ground cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and cloves
unsalted butter
fresh cranberries
milk and egg
maple syrup (or honey)
heavy cream and coarse sugar

The full list of ingredient measurements and instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.

Cranberry Scone Directions

To make the dough, whisk together both flours, granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt and spices in a large mixing bowl. Add cubed butter, then use a pastry cutter (or fork or fingertips) to gently mix together until pea-sized crumbs form. Dump in cranberries and gently mix to coat.

In a separate bowl, combine milk, egg and maple syrup until smooth. Pour over dry ingredients, then use a fork to lightly mix until dough just comes together (crumbly is good).

Turn out onto a well-floured surface (cool countertop or marble slab is ideal), gently work into a dome shape with your hands (turning over once or twice), then lightly pat down to form disc (about 8″ in diameter).

Using a sharp floured knife, cut into 8 equal wedges. Carefully transfer to parchment-lined baking sheet and place in refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. *See notes for freezer instructions (if baking another day).

How to Make Cranberry Spice Scones Step-by-Step

To bake, preheat oven to 400°F. Pull baking sheet out of refrigerator (once oven is preheated). Lightly brush tops (not edges) with heavy cream, then sprinkle with coarse sugar. Bake for 15-20 minutes until golden brown.

How to Make Cranberry Scones Step-by-Step

Tips for Better Scones

Measure flour carefully by spooning into measuring cup, then levelling off with a knife. Over-measuring your flour will result in dry scones.
I used a free range egg, which gave my dough a deeper colour.
Use cold ingredients straight from the refrigerator and do not overwork the dough. It shouldn’t be too sticky after forming into dome. Add a tiny bit more flour if necessary or cool in refrigerator a few minutes if too warm.
To cut dough into shapes, dip knife into flour each pass. I sometimes use an offset spatula to transfer scones to baking sheet. Don’t worry about making the shapes perfect (less handling is best).
Lightly brush tops (not sides) with heavy cream and top with sugar before baking to give a golden crust to your scones. This step is optional but highly suggested.
Freshly baked warm scones taste best. To freeze, cool on rack, then transfer to airtight container or freezer bag. Warm before serving (with butter and/or jam).

How to Freeze and Bake Later

Place sheet pan with unbaked wedges in freezer until dough feels set up (about 1 hour). Remove, then transfer to freezer bag or airtight container. Place back into freezer until needed (I suggest baking within a couple weeks).

To bake, place frozen scones on parchment-lined baking sheet, allow to defrost a bit while preheating the oven, then follow topping and baking instructions. Frozen scones usually take a bit more time in the oven.

Other Christmas Breakfast Recipes To Try

Have leftover cranberries? Make this cranberry compote to serve with crostini and brie. So delicious!

Be sure to pin to the Christmas scones to your Recipe or Holiday boards on Pinterest!

Christmas Spiced Scones with Cranberries on White Plate

Cranberry Spice Scones for Christmas Morning

Cranberry Spice Scones on White Plate with Vintage Silver Fork

You'll love these flavourful cranberry spice scones. Moist inside, with sugary crisp edges. Prepare ahead, then freshly bake on Christmas morning. Delicious with coffee or tea!

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 15

Chilling 15

Total Time 40

Serving Size 8

Ingredients

1¾ cups all-purpose flour (plus more for hands and work surface)
¼ cup whole wheat flour
⅓ cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon fine sea salt
¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground ginger
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
pinch ground cloves
½ cup unsalted butter, ¼" cubed and chilled
⅔ cup fresh cranberries, halved
½ cup milk (whole is best)
1 large egg, slightly beaten (I used free range)
¾ tablespoon pure maple syrup (or honey)
½ tablespoon heavy cream
¾ tablespoon coarse sugar (I used raw cane sugar)

Instructions

Whisk together both flours, granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt and spices in a large mixing bowl.
Add cubed butter, then use a pastry cutter (or fork or fingertips) to gently mix together until pea-sized crumbs form. Dump in cranberries and gently mix to coat.
In a separate bowl, combine milk, egg and maple syrup until smooth. Pour over dry ingredients, then use a fork to lightly mix until dough just comes together (crumbly is good).
Turn out onto a well-floured surface (cool countertop or marble slab is ideal), gently work into a dome shape with your hands (turning over once or twice), then lightly pat down to form disc (about 8" in diameter).
Using a sharp floured knife, cut into 8 equal wedges. Carefully transfer to parchment-lined baking sheet and place in refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. *See notes for freezer instructions (if baking later).
To bake, preheat oven to 400°F. Pull baking sheet out of refrigerator (once oven is preheated). Lightly brush tops (not edges) with heavy cream, then sprinkle with coarse sugar. Bake for 15-20 minutes until golden brown.

Notes

Measure flour carefully by spooning into measuring cup, then levelling off with a knife. Over-measuring your flour will result in dry scones.
I used a free range egg, which gave my dough a deeper colour.
Use cold ingredients straight from the refrigerator and do not overwork the dough. It shouldn’t be too sticky after forming into dome. Add a tiny bit more flour if necessary or cool in refrigerator a few minutes if too warm.
To cut dough into shapes, dip knife into flour each pass. I sometimes use an offset spatula to transfer scones to baking sheet. Don’t worry about making the shapes perfect (less handling is best).
Lightly brush tops (not sides) with heavy cream and top with sugar before baking to give a golden crust to your scones. This step is optional but highly suggested.
Freshly baked warm scones taste best. To freeze, cool on rack, then transfer to airtight container or freezer bag. Warm before serving (with butter and/or jam).
*Want to freeze and bake later? Place sheet pan with unbaked wedges in freezer until dough feels set up (about 1 hour). Remove, then transfer to freezer bag or airtight container. Place back into freezer until needed (I suggest baking within a couple weeks). To bake, place frozen scones on parchment-lined baking sheet, allow to defrost a bit while preheating the oven, then follow topping and baking instructions. Frozen scones usually take a bit more time in the oven.