There’s nothing better than a freshly baked scone, and Panera has that science down to an art. Panera features several scones, including blueberry, triple berry, and cinnamon crunch. Which scone is at the top of the list? The Panera Orange Scone recipe is a clear favorite among readers who love lively pastries with a burst of citrus.
What makes the Panera orange scone recipe so great and welcome by others? After some digging, we learned that Panera uses a cream base, making their scones ultra-moist with a delicious orange flavor. They also include real orange zest, which makes their scones taste authentically homemade. We were able to duplicate their process with our Homemade Panera Orange Scones, giving you a scone with the ultimate bakery-style crumb.
This recipe features fresh orange juice and zest, giving the scones a cheery flavor. Now, you can experience the joy of making a treat yourself, and your house will smell amazing! Everyone knows that citrus has an undeniable positive effect on your mood, and these scones will surely put a smile on your face. Serve them for breakfast or snack, or create a full-blown English tea. Either way, you have a sophisticated yet simple treat.
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The Very Old History of Scones
Scones and tea go together like peanut butter and jelly. In fact, Panera recommends eating their Orange Scones with a steaming cup of ginger peach tea. Given this aesthetic, many believe scones originated in England. False! Scotland claims this tasty treat which appeared in the 15th century.
15th-century scones were round and sold as entire pie shapes, a stark contrast to coffee shop scones. To this day, scones are a staple in Europe and a must-have for any cream tea. In Europe, scones are often unglazed and served with clotted cream and jam. American scones get a little more creative, including icings of all flavors and inclusions like raisins, blueberries, and orange zest. U.S. scones can also be savory, including bacon and cheese.
Though scone preferences vary, we can all agree that this timeless delicacy is well worth adding to your menu.
Cost to Make the Panera Orange Scone Recipe
Eating out can inconvenience your wallet with the cost of food rising all the time. For example, if you went to Panera, their Orange Scone would cost you $3.89. In contrast, you can make eight of our Copycat Panera Orange Scones for just $7.10. That is almost $24 in savings when you consider what eight Panera scones would cost!
Keep in mind that this may vary based on your location and ingredient availability. Here’s how that breaks down:
- All Purpose Flour: $0.60
- Baking powder: $0.03
- Salt: $0.01
- Baking soda: $0.01
- Orange: $1.00
- Unsalted butter: $0.50
- Heavy whipping cream: $0.75
- Egg: $0.20
- Vanilla extract: $2.00
- Orange extract: $0.50
- Powdered sugar: $1.50
Grand Total: $7.10
In this economy, every penny counts and if you can save THAT much with such little effort, there’s no reason not to make Panera Orange Scones from scratch!
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How to Make Copycat Panera Orange Scones
Here’s how to make a batch of heavenly Copycat Panera Orange Scones
Step One: Mix the Dry Ingredients
Preheat the oven to 375°F and line a sheet pan with parchment paper. Whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, baking soda, and orange zest in a large bowl or stand mixer. Set aside.
Step Two: Cut in the Cold Butter
Cut in the butter until it resembles coarse crumbs. This is easiest done using a stand mixer, but you can also use a knife or fork.
Step Three: Add the Wet Ingredients
Whisk together the heavy whipping cream, orange juice, egg, vanilla, and orange extract in a separate medium-sized mixing bowl or large glass cup. Add to the dry ingredients and mix until just combined.
Step Four: Refrigerate the Scone Dough
Remove the scone mixture from the bowl and gently knead it 2-3 times, forming it into a large circle. Refrigerate for 20 minutes.
Step Five: Bake the Homemade Panera Orange Scones
Remove the chilled dough from the fridge and cut the circle into eight slices, like a pizza (pizza cutter or pastry cutter optional). Place each scone on the prepared baking pan and bake for 15-20 minutes until the scones are golden brown.
Step Six: Make the Orange Glaze
While the Homemade Panera Orange Scones bake, make the icing by whisking the powdered sugar, orange juice, orange zest, and vanilla in a large mixing bowl.
Step Seven: Glaze the Scones
When the scones have cooled, ice the tops with your orange glaze on a wire rack. The glaze will set within 5 minutes, giving your Homemade Panera Orange Scones a beautiful bakery-style appearance. Add a little orange zest to the top of the scone before the glaze sets for extra flair. Enjoy!
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What to Serve With Panera Orange Scones
Copycat Panera Orange Scones are great on their own, but you can always add a cup of tea if you’re feeling fancy! Panera recommends any ginger tea, but we think Earl Grey would also be delightful.
Storing Leftover Panera Orange Scones
Leftover Panera Orange Scones can be stored in the fridge for up to 7 days or frozen for up to 4 months.
Enjoy the Panera Orange Scone Recipe: Irresistibly Bright and Cheery
Experience high tea daily with these bright, cheery Homemade Panera Orange Scones. They feature a moist cream base with a flaky crumb and a fresh-tasting orange glaze. Now, you can enjoy your favorite citrus-based treat even when Panera is closed! This is the ideal recipe for brunch, tea time, or to switch up your breakfast routine.
- Whisk
- Stand Mixer
- Mixing Bowl
- Lemon Zester
- Parchment Paper
- Baking Sheet w/ Wire Rack
Scones
- 2 cups flour
- ½ cup sugar
- 1½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 count orange (zest)
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- 6 tablespoons butter (unsalted, cold and diced)
- ¾ cup heavy whipping cream
- 1 count juice from orange
- 1 count egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon orange extract
Glaze
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
- 1 count juice from orange
- 1 count orange (zest)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Preheat the oven to 375°F and line a sheet pan with parchment paper. Whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, baking soda, and orange zest in a large bowl or stand mixer. Set aside.
Cut in the butter until it resembles coarse crumbs. This is easiest done using a stand mixer, but you can also use a knife or fork.
Whisk together the heavy whipping cream, orange juice, egg, vanilla, and orange extract in a separate medium-sized mixing bowl or large glass cup. Add to the dry ingredients and mix until just combined.
Remove the scone mixture from the bowl and gently knead it 2-3 times, forming it into a large circle. Refrigerate for 20 minutes.
Remove the chilled dough from the fridge and cut the circle into eight slices, as you would a pizza. Place each scone on the prepared baking pan and bake for 15-20 minutes, until the scones are golden brown on the bottom.
While the Homemade Panera Orange Scones bake, make the glaze by whisking the heavy whipping cream, powdered sugar, orange juice, orange zest, and vanilla in a large bowl.
When the scones have cooled, ice the tops with your orange glaze. The glaze will set within 5 minutes, giving your Homemade Panera Orange Scones a beautiful bakery-style appearance.
Add a little orange zest to the top of the scone before the glaze sets for extra flair. Enjoy!