Cranberry White Chocolate Scones with Macadamia Nuts and a Citrus Glaze

Makes 8 large or 16 smaller scone

2 c. all-purpose flour

3 tbsp. brown sugar

2 tsp. baking powder

½ tsp. salt

½ tsp. baking soda

¼ c. cold butter, cut into piece

½ c. white chocolate chips or chunks

½ c. macadamia nuts, roughly chopped

3/4 c. dried cranberries or cherries

1 beaten egg

1 c. sour cream

Treat your family to these incredible scones on St. Patrick’s Day or any day for that matter! I know you’ll just love them!  These scones, not only for the Irish, will become a tradition in your family as well. I often make these scones for guests at tea parties, little girl’s birthday parties or just when a friendly visit with someone special.

In a food processor combine flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Pulse a couple of times. Add pieces of cold butter and pulse until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Pour the mixture into a large bowl. Toss in the beautiful cranberries, aromatic orange zest, white chocolate chips and delicious macadamia nuts. Move the dried cranberries, chips and nuts around in the dry mixture a little.

Tip: Coating dried fruit, chocolate chips and nuts in a little flour will prevent them from sinking to the bottom when baking!

In a small bowl, combine the egg yolk and sour cream. Add this to the dry mixture and stir with a fork just until combined. Be sure to not over mix. The mixture will appear dry, but is not. Turn the mixture onto a floured board or counter.  This is where the fun begins! Gently press the mixture together until it can be easily kneaded.  Don’t you just love the feeling of dough? Knead the dough for 2 minutes by folding and gently pressing the dough together until it is nearly smooth. Roll out into an 8-inch circle. Cut into 8 large beautiful scones.

You’ll see the wonderful texture of the cranberries, white chocolate chips and macadamia nuts in the dough and you’ll immediately know that these scones are worth waiting for!

Place on a greased baking stone or cookie sheet and bake for 10 to 12 minutes in a 400-degree oven or until lightly browned on top. It is fun for children (and me too) to watch the scones “puff up” in the oven. That’s because the dry acid in the baking powder, when added to wet ingredients, begins to react and produces carbon dioxide bubbles just like yeast.

While scones are baking, make this amazing glaze.

Orange Glaze

Mix together:

1 c. powdered sugar

1 tsp. orange juice

¼ tsp. pure vanilla extract

Stir in enough additional orange juice, one teaspoon at a time to get a drizzling consistency.  Very liberally pour this incredible glaze over each lovely scone and open wide because you’re about to taste one of the best scones you’ve ever had. Enjoy!

Variation

Maple Pecan Scones with Maple Glaze

Same as the recipe above except you omit the cranberries, white chocolate chips and macadamia nuts. Add 1 c. toasted pecans and 1 tsp. pure maple extract. Instead of an orange glaze, combine pure maple syrup and confectioner’s sugar for the glaze.

Watch Sharon Delaney and I make this together on the My Carolina today show!

http://www.mycarolinatoday.com/2010/03/scones-for-st-patricks-day/