In this post you’ll learn how to make delicious and easy citrus cream scones that taste like they’re fresh from a bakery! These glazed scones are soft and fluffy, and packed with the flavors of lemon and orange cream. You will love enjoying them with a warm drink, or for breakfast, brunch or any gathering as a dessert. You might also enjoy my almond cream scone recipe, it’s a favorite!

If you have had a bad experience with a dense, dry scone in the past, give these a try! The texture of these citrus cream scones is so fluffy and flaky, and the addition of citrus zest truly takes them over the top with flavor. One of my favorite things about this recipe is that it’s so easy to make, too. You don’t have to cut up butter or chill the dough. It doesn’t even contain eggs!

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Simple ingredient list for these easy citrus CREAM SCONES:

2 3/4 Cups All purpose flour
1/4 Cup Sugar
1 Tablespoon Baking Powder
1 Teaspoon Salt
1 2/3 Cups Heavy Cream
2 Teaspoons Lemon extract
Zest of one orange
Zest of one lemon
1 Cup Powdered sugar
1-2 Tablespoons Milk Start with 1-1.5 and add 2 if needed.

How to make easy citrus cream scones:

Making this recipe is really quick and simple. Here are a few tips for getting the texture “just right”. I hope you enjoy them like we do!

Tip 1: Add dry ingredients to a medium bowl first. Then combine extract and heavy cream and add it slowly to the dry ingredients while stirring with a wooden spoon. DO NOT OVER MIX! Just stir the ingredients until most all of the dry has been incorporated. Turn out onto a very lightly floured counter and pat into discs.
Watch your baking time. All ovens are different so you will want to watch your scones when they have been in the oven about 15 minutes. I usually pull mine between 18-19 minutes. You want your scones to just barely have a little color on top and on bottom.
Use parchment sheets if possible. Parchment sheets will help the scones not brown too quickly on bottom which results in a more evenly baked treat and ensures that they won’t be dried out.
If you want to make the scones ahead for an event, you can bake them and allow them to fully cool, then add them to a gallon ziplock bag and freeze. Thaw to room temp the day of, and add glaze when they are thawed.
When you are mixing your glaze, if it is too runny, add a little extra powdered sugar. You can make it thick if you want to leave drizzle lines on the scone, or spoon a little frosting on the tops to drip down the sides.

Easy Citrus Cream Scones

Print Recipe

Ingredients

2 3/4 Cups All purpose flour
1/4 Cup Sugar
1 Tablespoon Baking Powder
1 Teaspoon Salt
1 2/3 Cups Heavy Cream
2 Teaspoons Lemon extract
Zest of one orange
Zest of one lemon

Citrus glaze

1 Cup Powdered sugar
1-2 Tablespoons Milk Start with 1-1.5 and add 2 if needed.
1 Teaspoon Lemon extract
Extra orange and lemon zest if desired

Optional toppings

Sliced almonds Optional
Pastry sugar Optional

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400°
Add dry ingredients to a medium mixing bowl. Slowly add cream and extract while stirring together with a wood spoon or paddle attachment on a mixer. Do not over mix! You want to just barely mix the dough until all the ingredients are incorporated so the dough doesn't become dense.
Dump dough onto a lightly floured counter. Fold once or twice to get the dry pieces into the ball. Slice in half and pat down gently to form two 5-6" discs.
Slice 8 scones from each disc.
Place scones on a parchment lined baking sheet and bake for 18-20 minutes or just until you see a tiny bit of golden on the tops and the bottoms so you know they're baked through.
Allow to cool for 10-15 minutes before adding glaze.

Adding zest:

You might not think adding zest would make much of a difference but it truly adds amazing flavor! Even with the addition of extract, the zest adds a whole other depth of the citrus flavor that really levels up this recipe. I love adding zest to both the dough and the glaze. I like to use the zest from one whole orange and one whole lemon for each batch.

Baking tools used in this post:

Love scones? PIN IT! You might also love this recipe for easy almond cream scones

This recipe for almond cream scones is another favorite. We love to top it with toasted, sliced almonds. These recipes make great gifts for neighbors and friends, and they’re the perfect recipe to bring to a gathering. We love them as snacks, but especially love them with breakfast and brunch food!