Gluten-Free Cranberry Orange Scones

These tender gluten-free scones burst with the bright, zesty flavor of fresh orange and the tart chewiness of cranberries. They boast a delightful crumb and a satisfyingly rustic texture, perfect for breakfast or a delightful afternoon treat.

Prep: 30 min Cook: 25 min Total: 55 min Serves: 8

At a glance: This easy baking recipe yields 8 servings in about 55 minutes (30 min prep, 25 min cook). It uses 10 ingredients — including gluten-free all-purpose flour blend, xanthan gum, gluten-free baking powder — and walks through 6 steps. Updated October 25, 2026. Browse more baking recipes or return to all gluten-free recipes.

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Cross-Contamination Warning for Gluten-Free Cranberry Orange Scones: When preparing this baking recipe, if the butter is cut in with a food processor, check its blade and lid gasket for wheat flour left from other doughs. Bring the scones together on a surface dusted with the GF blend, and use baking powder labeled gluten-free.

Gluten-Free Notes for Gluten-Free Cranberry Orange Scones: This recipe is designed to be entirely free of gluten-containing grains, utilizing a carefully selected gluten-free flour blend and other gluten-free ingredients.

Scale Recipe:

servings

Ingredient amounts update automatically

Instructions

1 Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large bowl, whisk together the gluten-free flour blend, xanthan gum (if using), gluten-free baking powder, salt, and granulated sugar until thoroughly combined and no lumps remain. This ensures even distribution of leavening agents and sweetness.
2 Add the cold, cubed unsalted butter to the dry ingredients. Using a pastry blender, your fingertips, or a food processor, cut the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-sized pieces of butter remaining. These butter pieces will create flaky layers in your scones.
3 Gently fold in the fresh or frozen cranberries and the orange zest until they are evenly distributed throughout the flour and butter mixture. Be careful not to overmix, as this can toughen the scones.
4 Pour in the cold heavy cream or milk and mix with a fork or spatula until just combined and a shaggy dough forms. If dry flour remains in the bowl, add more cream 1 tablespoon at a time. The dough will be slightly sticky. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface (use your GF flour blend) and gently bring it together into a cohesive ball. Avoid kneading, as this develops gluten in traditional doughs and is unnecessary here.
5 Pat the dough into a round disc about 3/4-inch thick. Using a sharp knife or bench scraper, cut the disc into 8 wedges, like a pizza. Carefully transfer the wedges to the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 1 inch apart.
6 Brush the tops of the scones with the lightly beaten egg wash for a beautiful golden sheen. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the scones are puffed, golden brown, and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow the scones to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy them warm or at room temperature.

Tips & Notes

Grate the cold butter on the large holes of a box grater and chill the shreds for 10 minutes before cutting them in. Gluten-free dough warms quickly in your hands, and cold butter pieces are what give the scones layers.
Add frozen cranberries without thawing them. Thawed berries bleed into the dough and make it pink and wet.
Rub the orange zest into the sugar with your fingertips before you whisk the dry ingredients together. It releases the oils and spreads the orange flavor through every bite.

Common questions

How long does Gluten-Free Cranberry Orange Scones take?

Gluten-Free Cranberry Orange Scones takes about 55 minutes: 30 minutes to prep and 25 minutes to cook, for 8 servings.

What should I check before making Gluten-Free Cranberry Orange Scones with celiac disease?

Written with gluten-free ingredients. Use products labeled gluten-free, check labels, and ask your clinician about your own needs.

What cross-contamination risk is specific to Gluten-Free Cranberry Orange Scones?

Check gluten-free all-purpose flour blend, xanthan gum, gluten-free baking powder before they go into Gluten-Free Cranberry Orange Scones. If the butter is cut in with a food processor, check its blade and lid gasket for wheat flour left from other doughs. Bring the scones together on a surface dusted with the GF blend, and use baking powder labeled gluten-free.

Which gluten-free swaps does Gluten-Free Cranberry Orange Scones use?

Gluten-Free Cranberry Orange Scones relies on a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend, xanthan gum. Keep those gluten-free-labeled products in place of a gluten-containing flour or sauce. If the blend already lists xanthan gum, do not add a second binder unless this recipe says to.

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Gluten Free Recipes team

Gluten-free recipe development since 2026

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