Could there be anything better than festive Christmas scones filled to the brim with tart cranberries, bright orange, and sweet peppermint flavors?
Answer: Yes, obviously. It’s Christmas scones on a plate in my lap while wearing my best pajamas and watching the snow fall.
1. Peppermint Mocha Scones
Chocolate and mint is just such a holiday classic, right? And putting them in scones is a really special move. These use instant coffee and cocoa powder, which makes them just wildly rich and full of deep chocolate flavor.
I love adding coffee to chocolate bakes. It’s a great trick to pump up the chocolate taste, and I promise, you don’t even notice the coffee flavor. Then you get the peppermint extract plus crushed candy canes.
That brings in a cool minty vibe and, obviously, a totally amazing crunch. SO GOOD. You could also toss in some Andes baking chips for that minty-ness, and they’ll get all melty just like chocolate chips.
2. Mini S’mores Scones with Marshmallow Glaze
Okay, I know it’s not campfire season, but really, is there ever a bad time for that chocolate, graham cracker, and marshmallow combo? To get that flavor right in the scone, you’ll mix crushed Graham Crackers into the dough.
If you crush them super fine, you’ll just get the flavor. But honestly? I’m a fan of leaving some bigger chunks for little bits of texture. That’s how I like to do it. The glaze is also super simple.
You can just melt it all in the microwave. Just be smart about it. Go in short bursts, like 20 or 30 seconds, and make sure to stir it in between. Easy.
3. Lemon Cranberry Scones
Cranberry and orange is the pair I always expect. It’s a classic citrusy, zesty thing. But if you want a little extra punch? Lemon is such a great partner.
This recipe puts lemon zest and juice right in the dough, plus a lemon glaze goes on top. When you add that to the dried cranberries, you get a really lovely tartness.
If you want to balance it with more sweetness, just stir in some white chocolate chips. Or, you could just swap to a simple vanilla glaze. Both work!
4. Christmas Morning Scones
I am a big, big fan of scones. They just feel like the right treat for breakfast or a snack. For Christmas morning, these are just a fantastic choice. You can prep the dough and freeze it.
Then, when you wake up, just bake them straight from the freezer. YES. This saves so much time and lets you just hang out with your family and enjoy the presents.
The flavor here is a little piney, which just gives off those perfect holiday vibes. Plus, you get lots of warm spices and a sweet glaze to make it all feel just right.
5. Chocolate Chip Scones
Looking for something that’s totally simple and you know everyone will love? These tender chocolate chip scones are the answer. If you serve them warm, that chocolate gets all melty and ooey-gooey. It’s just… you can’t say no to that.
I really like using mini chips here. I just feel like they spread out better in the dough. But if you’re all about those big pools of melty chocolate, just chop up a chocolate bar into chunks. That would be amazing, too.
6. Orange Scones
So the main flavor here is all orange. You’ll add zest to the sugar and just let it hang out for a bit, which helps all those oils release. Honestly? That step alone makes these scones so, so good.
I’m a big fan of how subtle the flavor is, but it’s still really fragrant. That being said, this dough is a perfect blank canvas for adding dried fruits or maybe some candied citrus peel.
Or, if you’re wanting something a little more decadent, go for dark chocolate chips. YUM.
7. Cherry Scones Recipe
These scones are just packed with color and flavor pops from all the cherries. They’re sweet, nutty, and citrusy all at once. If you’re going with fresh cherries, you’ll need to pit them and cut them into quarters.
I like to chop half of them even smaller, just so I get more little bits in every single bite. Frozen cherries totally work, too. Just make sure you thaw and drain them really well.
And hold onto that juice! It makes a really amazing, colorful glaze. Just like the orange scones, these would also be next-level delicious with some dark chocolate chips tossed in.
8. Zingerman’s Ginger Scones
Are you a fan of that sweet and spicy flavor from ginger? Then you are going to be all about these scones. The dough has ground ginger, which makes everything so wonderfully fragrant.
But then you also get crystalized ginger in there, which adds these amazing chewy pops of flavor. Love that. If you want to tone down the spice, you can try adding candied orange peel.
You could add it with the ginger (maybe half and half) or just use it as a replacement. And here’s a fun idea: if it’s an adults-only breakfast, think about a vanilla and rum glaze on top.
9. Cardamom Brown Sugar Scones
During the holidays in Sweden, cardamom is a HUGE deal. You seriously cannot go anywhere without finding those amazing cardamom buns.
The flavor is kind of piney and fruity, but also a little astringent, almost like menthol. It makes sense they love it, especially since they also love licorice. But just a heads up, be sure to stick to just the one teaspoon in the dough.
If you add more, it can get way too strong. These scones also use brown sugar, not white, so they aren’t intensely sweet and have this really nice, subtle caramel flavor going on.