When I first pulled these scones out of the oven, my heart sank just a little. I thought to myself, these things are way too ugly to blog.
Then I tasted one and decided they are way, way too delicious not to share.
Yes, they’re lumpy, bumpy and misshapen. But dang! These things are good. As scones go, they’re very tender and flaky – not dry at all. The tangerine glaze highlights the bright citrus zest along with the wonderful dried cranberries tucked throughout.
They always say you can’t judge a book by its cover. And how.
Try these today!

Cranberry-Tangerine Scones
Ingredients
- Scones
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 4 teaspoons baking powder
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons vegetable shortening
- 3/4 cup heavy cream
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon tangerine zest (from approx. two small tangerines)
- 3/4 cup dried cranberries
- Glaze
- 2/3 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons fresh-squeezed tangerine juice (use the tangerines you zested)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- In a large bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar.
- Cut the butter into small pieces and add, along with the shortening, to the flour mixture.
- Using two butter knives, a pastry blender or (my favorite) your hands, work the butter and shortening into the flour mixture until the mixture resemble coarse crumbs.
- In a small bowl, beat the egg and then mix in the heavy cream and tangerine zest.
- Create a well in the dry mixture, then pour the cream mixture in.
- Mix just until the dough starts to stick together. I try to work it as little as possible after this point.
- Turn the scone dough out onto a floured board, and gently knead it together enough to form one cohesive chunk of dough.
- Work the dough into a round disc shape about 3/4 inch thick.
- Cut the disc into 8 wedges.
- Place the wedges on an ungreased cookie sheet.
- Bake for 15 - 17 minutes or until the scones just begin to brown.
- Pull from the oven and let rest on the cookie sheet for about 5 minutes, then carefully transfer to a wire rack. Allow to cool about 10 minutes.
- Make the glaze! In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar and tangerine juice.
- Using a spoon, drizzle the glaze over the scones. Let cool and serve.
Who cares what they look like? These sound amazing. I love scones and will eat them even if misshapen. So have to try these!
I mean, looks aren’t everything, right? 🙂
Once you chew them up, it doesn’t matter WHAT they look like, right?
Since posting these, I’ve realized that the ugly scones are actually the BEST scones! 🙂
I think your scones look good. I’ll eat your scones.
Bumpy or not, I love the cranberry-tangerine combo!!
This is an old recipe, I know, but I was looking for scone recipes and found this, and made it, and wanted to let you know they were the most delicious things I have ever baked. My roommates and the co-workers I shared them with agreed : )
(And mine didn’t turn out quite so lumpy. Wonder why.)
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