Glazed Orange Scones - Panera Bread Copycat Recipe

These bright, refreshing glazed orange scones explode with orange flavor just like orange Panera Bread Scones. So good, you'll want to eat them all, yourself!

What are Glazed orange scones?

Glazed Orange Scones are a delightful blend of buttery pastry, vibrant orange zest, and a sweet citrus glaze. Inspired by Panera Bread's iconic creation, these scones are a perfect balance of flaky and fruity, making them an irresistible choice for breakfast or teatime.

Why Make Glazed Orange Scones?

• Super Delicious: With the orange zest and that perfect cake-like crumb, these delectable orange scones hit the spot every time.
• Surprisingly easy: This easy orange scone recipe Just mix the dry and wet ingredients separately then mix.
• Impressive: They look and taste like gourmet scones and are totally suitable for a fancy afternoon tea.
• Special treat: They're easy enough to make just for yourself and are even more flavorful the next day.

How do you get the orange flavor?

The secret to getting the explosion of orange flavor is by rubbing the orange zest into the sugar to release the natural orange oils. The flavor in this orange scones recipe is further boosted by adding a tiny amount of orange extract to the dough. The orange flavor is repeated in the icing which contains orange zest and orange juice.

Ingredients

• All-purpose flour forms the base of the dough. You can also use cake flour.
• Baking powder helps the dough to rise providing a fluffy crumb.
• Orange zest, fresh orange juice and orange extract provides a bright orange flavor. In this recipe, I used tangelo oranges but type of fresh oranges, navel, Seville, tangerine, clementine, or mandarin orange, will do.
• White granulated sugar is used to sweeten the scones.
• Frozen unsalted butter melts in the oven, creating flaky layers. If you use salted butter, omit the salt in the recipe.
• Heavy cream adds richness and moisture. You can also use other types of milk like 2%, skim, almond and soy. The scones will be a little less rich but still very tasty.
• Egg helps provide structure and binding.
• Salt and Vanilla extract boosts the overall flavor.

Note: Panera's orange scones also include Grand Marnier extract. I do not use it in the recipe as it does not really add any additional flavor.

How to Make Glazed Orange Scones

Make the orange scones

Step One: Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.

Step Two: Mix the wet ingredients. Put the heavy cream, egg, vanilla extract, and orange extract into a bowl. Whisk. Set aside in the refrigerator.

Step Three: Mix the dry ingredients. Add the sugar and zest to a large mixing bowl. Rub the zest to release the orange oils. Add the flour, baking powder and salt. Mix thoroughly, preferably with a whisk.

Step Four: Cut the cold butter into the dry ingredients. Slice the frozen butter into small pieces. Add the butter to the dry ingredients in the large bowl. Using a pastry cutter, cut through the butter and combine with the flour to form a breadcrumb-like texture. Alternatively, you can also use your fingers to rub the butter into the flour until the flour has a coarse crumb texture. You can also use a food processor.

Step Five: Mix the wet and dry ingredients. Add the liquid ingredients to the dry ingredients. Mix with a rubber spatula to combine just enough for the dough to come together. Pour the dough on a lightly floured surface. Knead 2-3 times so that the dough forms a firm ball - about 30 seconds and press into a circle about 7 inches wide. If you have time chill the dough for about 15 minutes for an even more tender crumb (optional). This is also the point where you can freeze the dough and make the scones later.

Step Six: Cut the scones. Cut the circle into 8 pieces like pizza. Using a bench scraper, scrape up and place each triangle onto the parchment lined baking tray. Brush each triangle with a little heavy cream just on top. If you use milk with less fat like whole milk or 2%, the scones will not brown as much on the top - it's a matter of preference.

Step 7: Bake. Bake for 15-22 minutes or until the scones are golden brown on the top and bottom.

Make the glaze

While the scones are baking, make the sweet orange glaze. Pour the powdered sugar and about ⅔ of the remaining fresh orange zest into a small bowl. Add about half the orange juice. Mix with the basting brush or a spoon. Add a little more orange juice until the glaze leaves a thick, opaque coat on the basting brush or back of the spoon.

Glaze the scones

• Once the scones are cool, apply the sweet glaze to the top of the scones. Wait about 2-3 minutes for the icing to set. Place a few strands of the orange zest evenly on top of the glaze of each stone. This is optional - placing them like a garnish just makes the scones look a little fancier.

Tips for Perfect Scones:

• Maintain cold ingredients for optimal texture.
• Avoid overmixing the dough - a crumbly texture is desired. Lumps are ok.
• Use a cold pastry cutter for even butter distribution and to prevent the butter from melting.
• Don't overbake the scones to avoid drying them out.
• Chill the dough before baking if you have the time.
• Generously glaze the scones for that signature sweet finish.
• Garnish the scones with additional zest for a gorgeous pop of vibrant color.

Nutrition:

A single serving of these Glazed Orange Scones contains approximately 303 calories, 13.2g of fat, and 41.7g of carbohydrates.

This recipe yields approximately eight servings. The nutrition guidance is intended for informational purposes only. Please use it as a general guideline. If the nutrition information is important to you, you should independently verify it using your preferred tool.

Storage and Freezer:

Counter: Store your scones in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days.

Refrigerator: Store your scones in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.

Freezer: Freeze glazed scones individually and then store them in an air-tight container so the top does not touch. Thaw by letting them sit in the fridge overnight.

Freeze unglazed scones on a baking sheet then store them in an airtight container for up to three months. Reheat them at 350°F for about 8 minutes.

Make Ahead

Yes, you can prepare the dough in advance, freeze it, and bake fresh scones whenever you desire! Place the dough in an airtight container before placing it in the freezer. The frozen dough will last about 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and then proceed with the recipe.

How to Serve Glazed Orange Scones:

Orange scones are delicious on their own with a simple beverage like Masala Chai, coffee or Cappuccino. You can also try them with fancier beverages like Iced Chai Latte with Pumpkin Cold Foam or Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino. These delicious scones also pair very well with sweet toppings like clotted cream, jams and fruit preserves like our easy Strawberry Topping which is ready in minutes.

Variations:

• Lemon blueberry scones: Substitute the orange juice, zest and extract with lemon. Add 1 cup of fresh or frozen blueberries to the dough.
• Cranberry orange scones. Add half a cup of cranberries to the recipe.
• Orange blueberry scones: Add half a cup of frozen or fresh blueberries to the dough.
• Classic scones. Omit the orange juice, zest and extract.

FAQs:

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5 from 4 votes

Easy Glazed Orange Scones - Panera Copycat Recipe

These bright, refreshing glazed orange scones explode with orange flavor just like orange Panera Bread Scones. So good, you'll want to eat them all, yourself!

Prep Time15 minutes mins

Cook Time18 minutes mins

Cooling and Glazing7 minutes mins

Total Time40 minutes mins

Course: Breakfast, Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: cream scone, glazed orange scone, orange scone, panera orange scone

Servings: 8 people

Calories: 303kcal

Author: Lima

Ingredients

For the scone

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 Tablespoon orange zest
• ⅓ cup white granulated sugar plus more for sprinkling
• 5 Tablespoons unsalted butter frozen
• ½ cup heavy cream and more for basting the scones
• 1 large egg
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon orange extract optional

For the orange glaze

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1 - 2 Tablespoons orange juice
• 1 Tablespoon orange zest

Instructions

Make the orange scones

• Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Mix the wet ingredients. Put the heavy cream, egg, vanilla extract, and orange extract into a bowl. Whisk. Set aside in the refrigerator.
• Mix the dry ingredients. Add the sugar and zest to a large mixing bowl. Rub the zest to release the orange oils. Add the flour, baking powder and salt. Mix thoroughly, preferably with a whisk.
• Cut the cold butter into the dry ingredients. Slice the frozen butter into small pieces. Add the butter to the dry ingredients in the large bowl. Using a pastry cutter, cut through the butter and combine with the flour to form a breadcrumb-like texture. Alternatively, you can also use your fingers to rub the butter into the flour until the flour has a coarse crumb texture. You can also use a food processor.
• Mix the wet and dry ingredients. Add the liquid ingredients to the dry ingredients. Mix with a rubber spatula to combine just enough for the dough to come together. Pour the dough on a lightly floured surface. Knead 2-3 times so that the dough forms a firm ball - about 30 seconds and press into a circle about 7 inches wide. If you have time chill the dough for about 15 minutes for an even more tender crumb (optional). This is also the point where you can freeze the dough and make the scones later.
• Cut the scones. Cut the dough circle into 8 pieces like pizza. Using a bench scraper, scrape up and place each triangle onto the parchment lined baking tray. Brush each triangle with a little heavy cream just on top. If you use milk with less fat like whole milk or 2%, the scones will not brown as much on the top - it's a matter of preference.
• Bake. Bake for 15-22 minutes or until the scones are golden brown on the top and bottom.

Make the glaze

• While the scones are baking, make the sweet orange glaze. Pour the powdered sugar and about ⅔ of the remaining fresh orange zest into a small bowl. Add about half the orange juice. Mix with the basting brush or a spoon. Add a little more orange juice until the glaze leaves a thick, opaque coat on the basting brush or back of the spoon.

Glaze the scones

• Once the scones are cool, apply the sweet glaze to the top of the scones. Wait about 2-3 minutes for the icing to set. Place a few strands of the orange zest evenly on top of the glaze of each stone. This is optional - placing them like a garnish just makes the scones look a little fancier.

Video

Notes

• Maintain cold ingredients for optimal texture.
• Avoid overmixing the dough - a crumbly texture is desired. Lumps are ok.
• Use a cold pastry cutter for even butter distribution and to prevent the butter from melting.
• Don't overbake the scones to avoid drying them out.
• Chill the dough before baking if you have the time.
• Generously glaze the scones for that signature sweet finish.
• Garnish the scones with additional zest for a gorgeous pop of vibrant color.

Nutrition:

A single serving of these Glazed Orange Scones contains approximately 303 calories, 13.2g of fat, and 41.7g of carbohydrates.

This recipe yields approximately eight servings. The nutrition guidance is intended for informational purposes only. Please use it as a general guideline. If the nutrition information is important to you, you should independently verify it using your preferred tool.

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