One bite of this cream-based orange Panera scone recipe and you'll fall in love!

If you're a fan of Panera Bread's orange scones, you'll recognize these. They are moist and flaky, and topped with a zesty orange glaze, just like the originals!

I love making copycat recipes from popular restaurants and products. Here are some of my favorite copycat recipe posts:

Copycat Lemon Nothing Bundt Cake Recipe

Better than Starbucks Chocolate Cake Pops

The Best Copycat Dave's Killer Seed Bread Recipe

Copycat Costco Pumpkin Pie recipe

Scones aren't hard to make, but with a few tips, you'll be able to create a perfect batch of these flaky and flavorful scones.

How to make flaky scones

Here's a tip for making flaky scones:

Keep all the ingredients very cold, especially the butter. Chop the cold butter into 1-inch cubes and place it in the freezer for a few minutes before beginning the recipe.

Use a food processor to make scones quick and easy

Did you know you can use a food processor to make scones? Simply pulse the dry ingredients with grated frozen butter until you get a coarse crumb texture. Then, add the wet ingredients and pulse until just combined. Be cautious not to over-process; keeping a few larger butter pieces contributes to flakiness. Finish the dough on a floured surface, shape, and bake as usual.

Grated butter makes lighter scones

If you don't have a food processor, you can still make scones easily.

Use a box grater to grate frozen butter into the dry ingredients. This helps distribute the butter evenly.
Instead of a food processor, use a pastry cutter or two forks to cut the grated butter into the dry ingredients until you achieve a coarse, crumbly texture.

By using this method and working quickly, you can achieve the same flaky and delicious scones without a food processor.

Don't overbake your scones

Baking scones in a hot oven, typically around 425°F causes the butter in the dough to melt quickly, creating steam. This steam helps the scones rise and contributes to their flakiness. But scones are relatively small and the hot oven allows them to bake fast, preserving the moisture inside.

Set a Timer and follow the recommended baking time closely.
Begin checking for doneness a few minutes before the minimum baking time.
Insert a toothpick into the center of a scone. If it comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs (not wet batter), they're done.

Fresh is best with this Panera scone recipe

Zesting fresh oranges adds a delicious burst of citrus flavor to your scones. Here's how to do it:

Rinse the orange thoroughly to remove any dirt or residue.
Use a zester or the fine side of a box grater. Make sure everything is clean and dry.
Gently run the zester or grater across the outer surface of the orange, applying light pressure. Rotate the orange as needed.
Zest only the outer colored part of the orange.

Collect the zest in a bowl or directly add it to your recipe!

Let's make A Copycat Panera Scone Recipe

Making scones typically takes about 30 to 45 minutes, excluding cooling time. Here's a general breakdown:

Preparation: 10-15 minutes
Mixing and Shaping Dough: 10-15 minutes
Baking: 15-18 minutes
Cooling: 10-15 minutes

That means in under an hour you can have a fresh batch of Glazed Orange Scones to enjoy!

Ingredients needed for this Copycat Panera Scone Recipe

For the Scone Dough:

2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
¼ cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
1 stick unsalted frozen butter
1 large egg
½ cup heavy cream
Zest of one orange

For the Glaze:

1 cup powdered sugar
1 tablespoon melted butter
2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
Zest of 1 orange

Equipment needed to make this Copycat Panera Scone Recipe

Food processor or pastry blender
Small bowl Grater
Whisk
Bench scraper
Baking sheet (lightly greased or lined with parchment paper)

Instructions to make this Copycat Panera Scone Recipe

Step 1: Preparing the Ingredients

1. Preheat your oven to 425 degrees F.

2. In the bowl of a food processor, pulse together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.

Step 2: Adding Cold Butter

1. Take the frozen butter and grate it using a box grater into the flour mixture.

2. Use a pastry cutter or food processor to combine until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

Step 3: Wet Ingredients

1. In a small bowl, mix the cream, egg, and orange zest.

2. Add the wet ingredients to the flour mixture and gently combine until just moistened.

Step 4: Forming the Dough

1. Transfer the dough onto a lightly floured surface.

2. Pat the dough into a large, flat circle and cut it into wedges using a bench scraper.

Step 5: Baking

1. Place the scones on a prepared baking sheet and bake for about 12 minutes or until golden brown.

2. Let the scones cool on a wire rack.

Step 6: Making the Glaze

1. In a small bowl, mix the powdered sugar, orange juice, orange zest, and melted butter.

2. Spoon the glaze over the cooled scones.

Enjoy Your Homemade Panera-Inspired Scones!

There you have it – a simple and tasty recipe for Panera-inspired orange scones. Whether it's your first time baking or you're a scone lover, these flaky delights with a bright orange flavor are sure to be a hit. Store any leftovers in an airtight container for the next time you crave these delicious treats!

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