Heart Shaped Cranberry Scones Recipe

This delicious heart shaped cranberry scones recipe renders fluffy, soft scones that are quick and easy to make! Not only are they perfect for a Valentine’s Day breakfast but you could make these for an after school treat, a teachers gift, or to enjoy any time of the year.

Keep reading for my step by step tutorial for the perfect traditional scone recipe!

Heart Shaped Cranberry Scones Recipe

This traditional scone recipe is one of the first recipes we learned in pastry class when I started culinary school. I am excited to have some tips for how to get the perfect fluffy and soft scone. 

What is the Secret to Making Good Scones?

Here are a few step by step directions that help produce fluffy, soft traditional scones, if you just need the quick steps, keep scrolling to the bottom for the full recipe.

1. Mix wet ingredients together. In mixing bowl, mix your dry ingredients together and cut in cold butter. I’ve sliced the butter into small chunks. You’ll mix on low to medium speed to get the butter to crumble into the mixture. You can also use a pastry cutter to combine. The key here is to use cold butter, the colder the better, maybe even frozen.

2. Add wet ingredients and mix just until combined. Mix in your desired topping, here I’ve added dried cranberries. Do not over mix as this could impact the rise and result in toughness. 

3. Flour surface and knead dough together, turning over just a few times, adding a little flour to any remaining sticky spots. Roll dough to thickness of 1/2 inch or 3/4 inch. The thicker the dough, the thicker the scone! Below I’ve rolled over my dough just a few times to make a circle and I’m ready to cut the heart shapes.

4. Use an offset spatula to help pick up your shapes and transfer to a baking sheet with parchment paper. Once all the shapes are cut,  combine remaining dough and use for cutting additional shapes.

5. Lightly dunk just the top of your scone in heavy whipping cream, and then in sanding sugar to give your scones a lightly sugared top.

6. Places scones on baking sheets close together which will increase the rise. Bake for 10-13 minutes until lightly browned.

These steps should produce a fluffy, soft cranberry scone. I’m thrilled with how mine turned out!

Important Questions

What is the secret to moist scones? Don’t over work your batter and ensure your cold ingredients like butter, heavy cream, and eggs are cold.

How do I get my fruit scones to rise and be fluffy? Do not over work your batter and places scones on baking sheets close together which will increase the rise. 

What makes a scone a scone? Scones are a ”quick” bread. They are crumbly and not as flaky as biscuits. Scones use a mixture of flour and a leavening agent, and are baked to a golden exterior and moist and soft on the inside.

What type of flour is best for scones? This recipe calls for All Purpose flour, but you can also make scones with pastry flour, or a mixture of both.

Can Fresh Cranberries Be Used in Baking? While I used dried cranberries in my scone recipe, you may prefer to try fresh cranberries. The good news is that the tartness of fresh cranberries pairs perfectly with these buttery, sweet scones. Just be sure to toss your fresh cranberries with flour to prevent them all from sinking to the bottom and add at the end of mixing. 

What to avoid when making scones? Avoid overworking the batter. Use cold butter, cream and eggs. Chill dough before shaping. Use quality ingredients that are in date. 

How to Serve Cranberry Scones

• Enjoy these warm from the oven
• Serve with classic jam and cream
• Serve with butter
• Display on cake plate or platter

How to Store Scones

• Room Temperature – You can store scones in an air tight container at room temperature for 4-5 days.
• Refrigerator – You can store scones in the refrigerator in an air-tight container. I recommend warming scones before 
• Freezer: Wrap in double plastic wrap and store in freezer for up to 3 months.

Variations to this Cranberry Scone Recipe

• Substitute cranberries with dried blueberries, chopped dried apricots or even chocolate chips
• Add cinnamon for a fun additional flavor
• Add orange zest for a cranberry orange scones 
• Exchange the cranberries for lemon juice and zest 

Heart Shaped Cranberry Scone Recipe:

Let’s get to that recipe.

Thanks so much for stopping by today, I hope you will enjoy this traditional scones recipe! If you are looking for more Valentine recipes, check out my peanut butter heart cookies and my Valentine’s Day Charcuterie Board.

Be sure to pin this to your Valentine’s Recipes or Baked Goods Board.