A simple recipe for giant white chocolate cranberry scones! Not too dry and super flavorful, these are always a crowd-pleaser! Perfect for Christmas morning!
White Chocolate Cranberry Scone Recipe
If you’ve ever bitten into a dry, brittle, flavorless scone and thought… whhhhhhy? I feel ya, my friend! But I plead with you to give scones another chance! You deserve to experience they joys of a properly baked one.
I recently was working at coffee shop that sold scones/breads/pastries/etc. Although I bake all of those things, sometimes it’s nice to get a treat made from another’s hands, and so, I ordered a simple but lovely cranberry scone. Or so I thought!
After one bite I knew the dry, flavorless scone was destined for the garbage. Dry anything is such a crime!
The upside? I left 100% inspired to book it home and bake! A batch of proper scones just needed to happen.
I knew as a base I wanted to lace these scones with vibrant fresh cranberries and dreamy white chocolate chips. It was a good start! However I also knew texture needed to be my main, main, maaaaaain focus! I think that’s where so many scones break bad.
So, what did I do to ensure these lovelies stayed fine and fluffy on the inside, but still had their trademark golden brown exterior we all love…? I added cream cheese! It’s my go-to ingredient in the kitchen these days, and for these scones it’s a must!
Oh, and these bake up suuuper pretty! Meaning they’ll look great on your holiday table… or on your kitchen counter as a grab-and-go snack for all the crazy/busy/no-sleep-till-xmas activities that are popping up these days!
More Cranberry Recipes:
- Bakery-Style Cranberry Orange Scones
- Cranberry Orange Pancakes
- Bakery-Style Cranberry Orange Muffins
- Cranberry Ricotta Scones
White Chocolate Cranberry Scones – Baker by Nature
Ingredients:
2 1/3 cups all purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons cream cheese, cut into small pieces
10 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
1 large egg
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup white chocolate chips
1 cup fresh cranberries, pulverized in a blender or food processor for 15 seconds
Instructions:
Preheat oven 400 degrees (F). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside.
In a large bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
Add the cream cheese and butter into the flour and – using your hands – mix together until the mixture resembles a coarse meal.
In a small bowl whisk together the egg, cream, and vanilla extract. Pour this mixture into the flour/butter mixture, and gently mix together with a rubber spatula.
Gently fold in the white chocolate chips and cranberries, stirring until even distributed.
Carefully pour the mixture out onto a clean, floured surface, or on a large piece of cling wrap (that’s my little trick), and gently pat the dough into a rough 8 x 8 inch square. Wrap this square in cling wrap and place in the freezer for 20 minutes.
Unwrap the dough, and using a rough knife cut the dough into 8 triangles. Place triangles on the prepared sheet, and bake for 22-24 minutes, or until golden and firm.
Transfer scones to a cooling wrack to cool completely.
Consuelo @ Honey & Figs says
Dry scones scare me so much that Ive never tried baking my own. Adding cream cheese sounds like a perfect idea, and your scones look lovely, so I think I’ll be giving them a try soon 😀
Nicole @ Young, Broke and Hungry says
These look like the ideal scone! Fluffy and buttery studded with Christmas cheer.
Lauren @ Jesus and a Side of Peanut Butter says
Yum! What a great treat to douse a Monday with 🙂 I hate when scones don’t have texture—but they are scrumptious when they do. Also, good thinking on the cream cheese, will have to try that out!
Kathryn says
Love a freshly baked scone and this is one of my favourite flavour combinations – these are definitely getting made!
Ashley @ Wishes and Dishes says
What great looking scones!! I want this for my breakfast tomorrow!
Eileen says
These guys sound like the best possible idea for Christmas morning breakfast! Scones, coffee, and presents–perfect. 🙂
Jessica @ A Kitchen Addiction says
What perfect flavors for a scone! These look way better than any you would buy at a coffee shop!
Eva @ Eva Bakes says
Yum! I haven’t baked with fresh cranberries before – is it hard?
Tieghan says
White chocolate and cranberries is the perfect winter combo. Pretty and delicious!!
Tina Muir says
Those look absolutely perfect. I LOVE white chocolate and cranberry! And being from England, it is a requirement that I love scones 🙂 Great idea about putting the cranberries in the blender, when I have used whole cranberries I have found they are too intense. This would work well though! Thanks for sharing 🙂