Cranberry Christmas Scones + Recipe Linky Party!

Hi Friends!  Today is my day to host our Christmas Cheer Linky Party and I'm so excited to share my recipe with all of you!  If you're new here, welcome!  Please feel free to make yourself at home and stay a while!  :)

I had planned to bake a yummy, sugary treat but then thought about Christmas Day and how I much I enjoy the morning, when we wake up, slip on our robes and slippers, sip some coffee and snuggle up by the fire. The only thing that's missing is some yummy scones!  

I love scones...they're the perfect sweet biscuit and go great with a latte and a little jam.  I've never worked with fresh cranberries before, but I am so glad I used them in this recipe.  They were a little bitter which was the perfect contrast to the sweet scone.  And these were simple to make...perfect for a busy Christmas morning.

{ingredients}

2 cups all purpose flour
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into small chunks
1/2 cup buttermilk
2 large eggs
1/3 cup sweetened cranberries, roughly chopped
finely grated zest from one small lemon {about 2 teaspoons}

Cinnamon Sugar, top top

{method}

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

 In a medium bowl, sift together flour, sugar, baking powder, soda and salt. Add cold butter chunks and toss lightly with flour; place bowl in fridge.

In a small bowl, whisk together one egg, buttermilk, and lemon zest; place bowl in fridge.

Measure out and chop the cranberries; set aside. Line a baking sheet with parchment papert; set aside. Lightly dust a counter top with flour. Pour the second egg into a small bowl and whisk with water.  

Remove bowls of flour and buttermilk from fridge. Cut butter into flour with a pastry blender or rub together with your fingertips until it resembles coarse crumbs. Add cranberries and stir to combine.

Add buttermilk mixture all at once to flour mixture and stir until the mixture clumps together. You may need to add a splash of buttermilk if the dough is too dry.  Dump mixture out onto floured counter top and, with floured hands, gather into a ball and knead once or twice to combine everything. Pat into a circle about 1/2 inch thick. Using a cup, cut out 8 circles.  Put scones on lined baking sheet and brush lightly with egg wash and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar {we got ours from Trader Joe's}.

Bake in a preheated 425 degree oven for 13-15 minutes until lightly browned. Remove to cooling rack.

Serve with your favorite cup of Christmas joe and a little jam or honey if you like!  Enjoy!

Ok, now for the best part!  You all get to link up below!!  Feel free to grab a button as well!

<a href="http://www.schuelove.com/search/label/Blog%20Holiday%20Link%20Party" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1229.photobucket.com/albums/ee462/creativeindex/michaela-noelle/XmasCheer2012-220x275.jpg" border="0" alt="Holiday"></a>

Can't wait to see what you all have come up with!

xo natasha