Talk about perfect for the holidays… I found this delicious recipe for Cranberry Orange Scones on a blog that I follow, I’m an Organizing Junkie. It originally comes from Angie at her blog, Echoes of Laughter.  Please check out both blogs for tons of great ideas!!!  Thank you, Laura & Angie!  (Note to self:  Freeze some of the scones for nibbling come January 1st when I am poring over Laura’s site continuing my ongoing quest to GET ORGANIZED!!)

Hello Org Junkie Readers! I am so happy to be visiting with you today and sharing one of my favourites from the kitchen.

I am in love with scones. They are my favourite baked treat and I make them on a weekly basis. One of the reasons that I love scones, besides their tender goodness, is that I find that they are quick to mix up and quick to bake….there is just one sheet to bake, unlike cookies where you may have up to 4 sheets of cookies to go in the oven. If you are a regular visitor to my blog, then you know that I often share scone recipes and I am all about changing up the flavours and add-ins to reflect the current season! Cranberry Orange Scones are my most recent creation and are perfect for the upcoming Christmas season.

Scone recipes with buttermilk included are my favourite…the tenderness and flavour of the scones are so just so decadent and delicious that they are hard to resist….even if you are not a scone fan. When I am making scones to give as a gift, I often drizzle and sprinkle some goodies on top to give them a from-the-fancy-bakery look.

Cranberry Orange Scones

{makes 16 small scones}

Ingredients: 2 cups flour 1 tablespoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon salt 2-3 tablespoons sugar 1/2 cup cold butter 1 1/4 cups buttermilk 1 teaspoon orange extract orange zest from 1 orange 1 scant cup frozen cranberries {I like lots of berries. Use less if you don’t!} Sanding sugar {coarse sugar} {optional}

To decorate the tops: {optional} 3 tablespoons craisins, chopped 3 tablespoons candied orange peel 1 cup white chocolate melting wafers, melted

Directions:

1.In mixing bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and sugar. Stir.

2. Cut butter into cubes and add into flour mixture. Use pastry cutter or 2 forks to cut butter into flour mixture until it resembles course crumbs.

3. Add cranberries, buttermilk, orange extract and orange zest. Stir with large spoon until soft dough forms.{If dough seems dry, add a little more buttermilk}. Turn onto floured surface {and flour your hands too!}and knead gently 7-8 times. Dough will be very sticky at first.

4. Divide dough into 2 discs. Pat each disc into a 6 inch circle. Cut into wedges with a sharp knife. Sprinkle with sanding sugar or regular sugar if desired.

5. Place wedges on a cookie sheet and bake at 425 degrees for 10-12 minutes, or until scones are puffed up and golden around the edges.

6. Cool scones on wire rack. To finish, drizzle with white chocolate and sprinkle with chopped craisins and candied orange peel.

Now you have a wonderful treat to share….perfect with a cup of tea or coffee!