*This blog post is sponsored by Local Hive Honey. Your support on my sponsored posts and recipes continues to allow me to provide you with delicious recipes!*
Breakfast pastries are one of my favorite things to make, so of course I needed to try my hand in making homemade, from-scratch scones. This recipe will show you how to make easy orange and honey scones, sweetened with Local Hive Honey's Colorado Varietal of honey from their Winter Bliss gift box, a fantastic treat in and of itself. I promise you these scones won't last long, so better make a double batch!
Scones are perfect all year round, so there's no real season where these scones can't be made!
I love using honey in recipes like my honey chocolate banana bread or savory recipes like a glazed baked salmon. Flavor, taste, and a little sweetness all thanks to the honey.
Jump to:
What are the ingredients for these orange and honey scones?
- Honey - the honey not only adds a moisture factor to these scones, but is the only source of sweetness in them too!
- All Purpose Flour - the best, universal type of flour to use for all baking purposes. I like King Arthur Flour or Bob's Red Mill All-Purpose Flour.
- Baking Soda - because we are using an acidic fruit like orange, we don't need baking powder. Baking soda works well here along with the orange juice and zest.
- Salt - a little salt to balance it all out.
- Half and Half - the half and half gives us the texture we want for these scones: not super crumbly, but also not entirely dense and heavy either.
- Butter - the most important ingredient in these orange honey scones is the butter. Cold, very cold butter.
- Orange Juice - fresh squeezed juice from the orange!
- Orange Zest - adding a little zest from the orange gives more flavor and also a bright color throughout the dough.
- Egg - this egg is only used to add an egg wash on top of the scones before baking.
See the recipe card below for specific information about quantities.
How do I make these scones?
Step 1: Cut the butter into smaller pieces then add to a food processor or small pastry blender with the flour, salt, and baking soda. Blend or pulse until the flour combines with the butter and forms a grainy, sandy texture.
Step 2: Add the flour butter mixture to a medium sized bowl, forming well in the middle. Pour in the honey, heavy cream, orange juice and orange zest.
Step 3: Using a spatula or your hands, fold in the dough to knead until the dough just comes together. Pour out onto a flour-dusted surface and continue to mix at least 5-6 more times until the dough forms.
Step 4: Flatten into a disc and cut into 6 equal triangles. Lay flat onto a baking sheet and chill for up to 45 minutes.
Step 5: Preheat the oven to 400º and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Once the dough has chilled, place the scones onto the baking sheet then brush with the egg wash.
Step 6: Bake the scones for 20 minutes or until the tops become golden brown. Take out and let cool for 10 minutes before serving.
Hint: When making scones, you want to work as quickly as possible when kneading the dough to prevent the butter from getting warm and sticky.
What are scones?
A traditional British baked good, scones are a less-sweet, crumblier version of a muffin, but tastes fantastic with "clotted cream" or jam. Scones can be shaped circular, square, or in this case, triangular. Some recipes call for using eggs, but others, including this one, omit the eggs where as it's not always necessary.
Why Bake with Honey?
Honey is a natural sweetener alternative to sugar. Using honey in baking or cooking brings the sweetness without technically adding any extra sugar or ingredients. It also helps to retain moisture in the baked good, which giving them subtle added flavor. When I say the addition of Local Hive Honey Colorado honey in this recipe makes the difference, it really does.
Local Hive Honey, located in Greeley, Colorado, sources 100% American honey, which helps local beekeepers nationwide. This ultimately helps the consumer of local produce. Without bees, may of our favorite fruits and crops would be available. With their Winter Bliss Gift Box, you're getting three unique to their region honeys, all representative of their climates and regions. Read more about this gift box here!
Swaps and Substitutions
To make this recipe your own, especially if you're following specific dietary and allergy-friendly guidelines, here's what I would suggest as some substitutions and swaps:
- Flour - swap out the all purpose flour for your favorite gluten free flour. Specifically, I would suggest using a 1:1 GF flour as this is the most similar to a traditional AP (all purpose) flour.
- Butter - use a dairy-free or plant-based butter that you trust!
- Milk - instead of using the half and half, almond milk will work well here too.
Why you'll love these orange honey scones
You'll love making and eating these orange and honey scones for a variety of reasons:
- They're delicious to make for any occasion, such as a gathering with friends, a brunch for family on a holiday, or on presented on a charcuterie board to send to a friend
- Scones are way easier to make than you think. They really only call for standard ingredients like butter, flour, salt, and with honey acting as the only sweetener, you'll love them even more.
- The orange juice and flavor gives these scones a citrusy, bright flavor, while not becoming overpowering.
How do I store them? Can I freeze them?
To Store: Keep these scones in an airtight container and on the countertop for up to 3 days. You could also add them to the refrigerator, but take them out a few minutes (approximately 15) before consuming as they may harden and dry out when chilled.
To Freeze: Wrap the scones in plastic wrap, then place in a ziplock bag and label the date when they were baked. They will stay in the freeze for up to two months. To defrost, simply let them defrost in the fridge, and then you can move them to the countertop.
Hungry for more?
Looking for other delicious recipes with honey? Try these!
Did you love this recipe? ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ If you're just as in love with this recipe as I am, please share a comment below and rate it! Better yet, share this recipe with family and friends!! Thank you!
Orange Honey Scones Recipe
Equipment
- 1 large mixing bowl
- 1 food processor or blender
- 1 baking sheet
- 1 cutting board
- 1 sharp knife
- measuring spoons and cups
- parchment paper
Ingredients
- 300 grams all purpose flour 2 ½ cups
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 3 tablespoon Local Hive Honey Colorado Honey
- 1 cup half and half
- 5 tablespoon butter cold
- ½ teaspoon baking salt
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- 2 tablespoon orange juice
- 1 whole egg whisked
Instructions
- Cut the butter into smaller pieces then add to a food processor or small pastry blender with the flour, salt, and baking soda.
- Blend or pulse until the flour combines with the butter and forms a grainy, sandy texture.
- Add the flour butter mixture to a medium sized bowl, forming well in the middle. Pour in the honey, heavy cream, orange juice and orange zest.
- Using a spatula or your hands, fold in the dough to knead until the dough just comes together.
- Pour out onto a flour-dusted surface and continue to mix at least 5-6 more times until the dough forms.
- Flatten into a disc and cut into 6 equal triangles. Lay flat onto a baking sheet and chill for up to 45 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 400º and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Once the dough has chilled, place the scones onto the baking sheet then brush with the egg wash.
- Bake the scones for 20 minutes or until the tops become golden brown. Take out and let cool for 10 minutes before serving.
Leave a Reply