Citrus Scones with Orange Glaze are great for breakfast, brunch, or dessert. Bright and delicious, this scones recipe is like a slice of sunshine and is ready in 30 minutes!
Looking for more delicious breakfast and brunch recipes? You’ll love French Toast, Bacon Egg Cups, and Blueberry Muffins.
Scones are such a treat for in the morning with a cup of coffee or any time for a tasty dessert. These Citrus Scones are full of flavor and so easy to make! This scone recipe is so bright and fresh, tender and delicious, and comes together in 30 minutes and freezes well too! My family loves these scones, and I can’t wait for you to try them too!
How to Make Citrus Scones
Ingredients
- all-purpose flour
- sugar – Use granulated or raw cane sugar
- baking powder – This helps the recipe to rise
- salt – a little salt helps to balance the flavors in these scones
- butter – Use cold butter
- heavy cream – This helps to make the scones tender and moist
- lemon juice – Adding a bit of lemon juice adds to the citrus flavor
- orange zest – Important for the citrus flavor of the scone
- lemon zest – Combines with the lemon juice and orange zest for the perfect blend of citrus
Citrus Glaze Ingredients
- confectioner’s sugar
- orange juice – Freshly squeezed is ideal, but you can use your favorite orange juice as well
- orange zest
- coarse sugar – optional – sprinkle freshly glazed scones with a bit of this if desired
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Prep. Preheat oven to 400º F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or a nonstick baking sheet.
- Mix the dough. Whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. Add butter to the bowl and cut into the flour with a pastry blender or fork until the largest pieces of butter are about the size of a pea and the flour mixture resembles a coarse meal. Stir in heavy cream, lemon juice, and orange and lemon zest. Press dough together between the palms of your hands. If the dough doesn’t hold together, add more heavy cream until it just holds together.
- Prepare the scones. Pour dough onto a lightly floured countertop or a pastry board. Pat dough into a large round disc about an inch thick. Cut dough into equal-sized wedges and place onto the baking sheet. Brush the tops of the dough wedges with melted butter.
- Bake. Bake scones for 20-25 minutes or until they are just beginning to turn lightly brown. Remove from the oven.
- Make the glaze. While the scones are baking, whisk all the glaze ingredients together in a medium-sized bowl until smooth. Drizzle on top of each scone after it has cooled for about five minutes. You can also sprinkle the tops of citrus-glazed scones with coarse sugar if you wish.
Tips for Most Amazing Citrus Flavor
- Use fresh lemons and oranges when possible for the most intense, fresh taste.
- Using both lemon and orange in these scones results in an extra “citrusy” flavor.
- Add the orange glaze to still-warm scones so that it is absorbed a bit into the scone for an even more delicious citrus flavor!
- Adjust the amount of citrus zest for your personal taste preference. You can amp up the citrus if you want a stronger citrus flavor or back off a tad if you prefer a more subtle citrus taste.
- If not using the orange glaze, I suggest using extra zest in the scones to make sure to get that flavor.
Storage and Freezer Instructions
To store: Cover well or place in an airtight container and store the scones on the countertop for up to 3 days. You can also store completely cooled scones in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
To freeze: Simply allow unglazed scones to cool completely and then store in an airtight, freezer-safe container in the freezer for up to 3 months. To serve, thaw overnight and then serve at room temperature or warmed in the oven at 350º F for 5 minutes or in the microwave. Glaze the warm scones, if you desire after they’ve been reheated and are ready to serve.
More Favorite Scones Recipes
Here’s my Citrus Scones Recipe with Orange Glaze. I think you will absolutely love them.
Citrus Scones Recipe with Orange Glaze
Equipment
Ingredients
Citrus Scone Recipe:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup sugar , + more for topping
- 3 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 cup cold butter , + more for topping
- 3/4 – 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons orange zest
- 2 teaspoons lemon zest
Orange Glaze:
- 1 cup confectioner’s sugar
- 3-4 tablespoons orange juice
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- coarse sugar for topping, optional
Instructions
- Prep. Preheat oven to 400º F. Line a rimmed baking sheet pan with parchment paper or a nonstick baking sheet.
For the scones:
- Make the Dough. Whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. Add butter to the bowl and cut into the flour with a pastry blender until the largest pieces of butter are about the size of a pea and the flour mixture resembles coarse meal. Stir in 3/4 cup of heavy cream, lemon juice, and orange and lemon zests.. Press dough together between the palms of your hands. If it doesn't just hold together, add more heavy cream until is just holds together.
- Prepare the Dough. Pour dough onto a lightly floured countertop or a pastry board. Pat dough into a large round disc, about an inch thick. Cut dough into equal sized wedges and place onto prepared baking sheet pan. Melt about 2 tablespoons butter and brush on top of dough.
- Bake. Bake scones for 20-25 minutes or until they are just beginning to turn lightly brown. Remove from the oven.
Orange Glaze:
- Make the Glaze. Whisk all of the glaze ingredients together in a medium sized bowl until smooth and then drizzle on top of each scone after it has cooled for a few five minutes. Sprinkle with coarse sugar, if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Enjoy!
Robyn xo
If I wanted to make these the night before will they store okay? or is best to bake them the night before and then glaze them in the morning? It sounds so yummy! I can’t wait to try it out 🙂
They do store well. I make them the night before often and then just glaze them in the morning. So delicious!
These look amazing! My husband would love them, making them for Easter!
Love these scones! The lemon and orange combo is fantastic!
You could easily call me Scone Woman. Yes, I have a cape. These are winners. I am an expert, so I know what I am talking about. Seriously they look delish!!!!
Thanks so much, Carol – er Scone Woman! We think they are winners, too!
Robyn, I’ve heard of White Lily all-purpose flour!!! I hear all good Southerns who know how to bake use it!!! I will try it and I LOVE these scones!!!
I think you’ll love it, Alice. It is so light and makes the most delicious baked goods. And these scones – oh my word. Yum!
These look absolutely scrumptious! I love the combo of lemon and orange! I would love to do a cost breakdown of these on my blog, with your permission of course! I am going to try these tomorrow, and hope that they come out as good as they look here! (I have been known not to have that special touch with baking!) 🙂 Thanks for posting this recipe!
White Lily is a gem in the South so I know the texture of these scones is as perfect as you describe. The citrus flavor is absolute perfection.
It is an absolute gem. It is the only flour my grandmother and my mother ever used. We are a die hard White Lily family, you could say!
Mmmm. I love scones…..and citrus flavored…..delicious!
Me too! Thanks so much, Karen.
So yummy for Easter brunch, and love both lemon and orange together. So fresh of spring! Mmmm…
Thanks Allie. I think the combination of the lemon and orange are just perfect in these scones.
These scones look amazing!!
Thanks so much, Marla.