Cranberry Eggnog Scones
Cranberry eggnog scones are tender, scrumptious, and spiked with eggnog! My go-to scones recipe is made with rich, heavy cream.
For a festive change of pace, I swapped out the cream for eggnog and made this tender Scones Recipe for the holidays!
Why You Must Make
Knowing my family would look suspiciously at anything I made containing both eggnog and cranberries, I had to bake up these scones for friends living outside this house (though I think they’d indulge if I served this Cranberry-Eggnog Cheesecake!). I meet with a group of knitters every other Friday morning, so they’ve gotten used to being my guinea pigs.
- These are a fun treat for the Christmas season.
- This is a tasty way to use up leftover eggnog.
- If you’re having a Christmas brunch, these holiday scones would be a yummy addition to the menu.
What People Are Saying
I am obsessed with these! I made them for a Christmas tea my sister-in-law hosted. They were a hit!! I actually made the dough the night before and froze the pre-cut scones. In the morning I just placed them in the oven while frozen and they were fantastic! They don’t spread and are so creamy and delicious. I now have 2 batches made, cut, and ready in my freezer for grab and bake while the eggnog season is over! This recipe is incredible!
Recipe Notes
- Kitchen Staples – Flour, Sugar, Salt
- Butter – Make sure it’s cold, then dice into ¼-inch cubes
- Baking Powder – As mentioned above, make sure your baking powder is fresh or your scones will be too dense.
- Dried Cranberries AKA Craisins – If your craisins have dried out, you can refresh them by soaking them in some very hot water. Make sure to let them dry on paper toweling before using.
- Eggnog – You may need a touch more or less depending on the humidity. Use just enough so the dough comes together.
Christmas Scones
My friends swooned when I shared my raspberry cream scones, so why not substitute dried cranberries for the raspberries and eggnog for the cream? One word: delectable! Just as tender as those made with cream, plus you get just a nuance of the eggnog flavorings.
The subtle hint of rum and nutmeg plus cranberries provided a festive twist. These cranberry eggnog scones would be a fabulous addition to your holiday brunch. Perfectly delicious plain or go ahead and splurge by serving with them clotted cream and jam.
Recipe Tips for Scones
- PRO-Tip: Make sure your baking powder is fresh. It often expires before you can use it all. To test for freshness, place a spoonful of baking powder in a cup of very hot water. It should bubble vigorously if it’s still active. If not, replace your can before making this recipe. You don’t want your scones to be as dense as hockey pucks!
- PRO-Tip: Keep your eggnog and butter cold. This will help make for flaky, tender scones.
- Do not overwork the dough or your scones will be tough. You’ll want little bits of butter throughout, not a perfectly smooth dough.
- If you feel your butter warmed up during the mixing process, pop your cut scones into the freezer to chill. They will rise much better with cold butter.
- Bake and enjoy! Note that scones taste best on the day they’re baked.
- PRO-Tip: Eggnog freezes well. Either freeze it in the carton or measure out the amounts needed for this or another recipe. Label with what it will be used for.
What to Do with Leftover Eggnog
I’m more likely to use eggnog for a festive recipe than actually drink it, so there are always leftovers. For most recipes, just substitute eggnog for milk or cream in a tried and true recipe. Here are some creative ways to use up any extra eggnog:
- Scones, of course!
- French toast
- Quick bread and muffins
- Cheesecake
- Rice pudding
- Homemade ice cream
- Smoothies
- Plus, I saw recipes for truffles, frosting, cookie bars, and fudge! Just do a Google search to find the details. In most of these recipes, eggnog can be used instead of the milk or cream in the recipe.
Frequently Asked Questions
Though they are similar, biscuits typically have more butter and are fluffier and flakier. Scones are denser, crumblier, and not as sweet.
Scones are usually served for breakfast or tea. They are served with coffee or tea, clotted cream, and jam.
There are three top reasons scones turn out dry. First is kneading them too much. Mix just until they hold together. Also, make sure you cut the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture looks like cornmeal with a few pea-sized pieces of butter interspersed. Finally, not adding enough liquid will also make for dry scones.
You May Also Like:
- Cranberry Christmas Cake from Barefeet in the Kitchen
- Cranberry Feta Pinwheels from Spend with Pennies
- Cranberry Orange Shortbread Cookies from Mom on Timeout
- Cranberry Cream Cheese Bars
- Streusel Topped Cranberry Orange Walnut Bread
- Cranberry White Chocolate Crystallized Ginger Cookies
- Cranberry Fluff Salad
- Gingered Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies
- More of the Best Holiday Recipes
Cranberry Eggnog Scones Recipe
A festive holiday scone recipe that can be made with leftover holiday eggnog.
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 5 tablespoons cold butter, cut into ¼-inch cubes
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- 1 cup eggnog (may add more or less until the dough comes together)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425º.
- Combine flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt in a mixing bowl. Whisk to combine.
- Cut in the butter with a pastry blender until it looks like coarse cornmeal with a few slightly larger lumps.
- Stir in dried fruit and mix in. Add in the eggnog and stir with a spatula or fork till dough begins to form.
- Pour out onto the countertop and knead by hand till comes together into a slightly sticky mass...only about 5-10 seconds. Pat into a round about 1 inch tall. Cut into 8 wedges.
- Place onto an ungreased or Silpat-lined baking sheet. May brush with cream and sprinkle with sugar if desired.
- Bake 12-15 minutes till light brown. Cool on a rack for 10 minutes before serving.
- May serve warm or at room temperature. These freeze well.
- You may also make these in the food processor. Be careful not to over-process.
Notes
Adapted from America's Test Kitchen.
Make sure your baking powder is fresh. Check the expiration date. It expires much faster than baking soda.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
8Serving Size:
1 sconeAmount Per Serving: Calories: 255Total Fat: 9gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 38mgSodium: 390mgCarbohydrates: 40gFiber: 1gSugar: 15gProtein: 5g
86 Comments on “Cranberry Eggnog Scones”
I am obsessed with these! I made them for a Christmas tea my sister in law hosted. They were a hit!! I actually made the dough the night before and froze the pre-cut scones. In the morning I just placed them in the oven while frozen and they were fantastic! They don’t spread and are so creamy and delicious. I now have 2 batches made, cut, and ready in my freezer for grab and bake while the eggnog season is over! This recipe is incredible!
I’m so glad they were a hit, Shay! And thanks for the tip about making them ahead and freezing before baking!
How many grams/oz is your cup of flour? Thank you! Just prefer to weigh my ingredients
The flour in my kitchen is 5 1/8 ounces/cup. Hope that helps! P.S. My sister’s name is Maddy 🙂
We love these scones so much!
The flavor is out of this world!
Made these for my tea party with friends and they were the hottest items there!
I usually can only handle a cup of eggnog, but boy I can inhale a plate of these. So yummy!
Wonderful holiday scones!! Such a great flavor combination!
I just made these for a girl’s brunch and they were such a hit! Great tips for making the recipe!
This is great, made it this morning. Total hit, thanks!
These scones are perfection. The perfect mix of flavors and I love the little bites of cranberries throughout. These would be perfect for Christmas morning!
I made these scones because I wanted to use up some leftover eggnog and they are fabulous. I prepared them in my food processor and didn’t over process them, but the cranberries weren’t evenly distributed. Next time I make them, I’ll pulse the butter into the dry ingredients in the food processor, pour that mixture into a bowl, stir in the cranberries, and then work in the eggnog with a rubber spatula. Oh, I also added some freshly grated nutmeg to enhance the eggnog flavor. Highly recommended!!
Thanks so much for your tips, Janis. So glad you enjoyed!!!
Oh my goodness, these just sound so delicious!! I have to make some soon, Liz!! Happy Holidays to you!
The cranberry/eggnog combination sounds amazing and these look perfect!
What a simple way to add extra flavor to scones! Great idea.
I love cream scones and these look blissful!
These look delicious – great that you have a test group for things your family is more wary of so you still get to enjoy them!
What a great way to use eggnog in your baking! I’d love to serve these for brunch over the holidays.
What a great idea, I love eggnog and cranberries and scones are just the perfect snack food. Having them with clotted cream also sounds wonderfully decadent.
I haven’t had scones for the longest time, let alone make some. These look delicious. I am loving all of the eggnog recipes. I have yet to have a glass this year.
They look simply amazing!
I’m making extra to freeze for later!
These sound fantastic! I never thought to pair cranberry and eggnog together.
Beautiful scones, my hubby is the same wouldn’t touch a scone that wasn’t plain! His loss these really do sound lovely.
What do ya know I have eggnog in the fridge, just have to get my hands on some cranberries. Thanks Liz these look delicious.
I made these last week for a family gathering and they were fantastic! thanks for sharing 🙂
Suspicious of cranberries? I love them! You can just send any more challenges my way 😉
These scones sound killer.
Merry Christmas!
i made this yesterday and they were absolutely amazing!! loved them loved them loved them, they were so so good!
Ahh scones! So perfect with those ingredients! Great job! These look wonderful!
scones are such a great idea for this ingredient combo
Wonderful job Lizzy. I love the presentation on it too. So pretty.
Great challenge, Lizzy…you always come out a winner! Love the scones, the way it turned out. It’s the cranberry season, and you made the “best of it”…Big hugs!!!
Oh man I could totally get into these scones! Eggnog & cranberries included, yes please! They look beautiful too. 🙂
The scones look fantastic! I love that you combined eggnog with cranberries. This would be wonderful on Christmas morning!
What an awesome use for egg nog! This would be a great treat for Christmas morning! Love your photos too. 🙂
Oh what a gorgeous flavour of scone. I may have to borrow and low carbify this one!
Gosh, this blog makes me fat by just looking at those yummy pictures *drooling*Cheersdebbzie.blogspot
I have a friend who adores scones and will love this recipe!
I wasn’t even aware that you could bake with eggnog. o_o
Cranberries and eggnog sure soud like best friends to me!! Miriam@Meatless Meals For Meat Eaters
BEAUTIFUL scones!
There is no better holiday breakfast menu than cranberry eggnog scones! I’m really impressed. Love your presentation too – just so pretty!
I’ve actually never had eggnog before
Two of my absolute favorites in one scrumptious scone! I bet everyone loved them. They’re beauties.
What a great idea, Lizzy! I’ve had many cranberry scones, but never with eggnog! I am really intrigued to try these!
What a great idea, Lizzy! I’ve had many cranberry scones, but never with eggnog! I am really intrigued to try these!
What a great way to combine these two flavors. Your knitters are one lucky group!
love love how you made that bed of cranberries for the scones, Lizzy! 🙂
festive looks fabulous
Yum – now I want scones! Love the cranberries too and the eggnog – very Christmasy.
these are beautiful and they sound soo tasty!!
I don’t like eggnog for drinks,but on the scones sound really yummy,i bet taste eveb better with cranberries !!
Ridwan
Wow Lizzy! Unusual combination of flavours but I can see them working so well together. What lucky guinea pigs those knitters are. I absolutely love dried cranberries and would even take up knitting if I thought it would result in treats like these!
I love the presentation on the photos, with the scones sitting on top of the cranberries. I’m sure these were amazing!
This really is a unique recipe-the first I have seen of using cranberry and eggnog in scones! Both of those ingredients must have given these such a wonderful flavor. Always glad to come across a great recipe for scones, thanks Liz!
I absolutely LOVE eggnog (whoda thunk it. ME liking something bad for me lol) and anything cranberry so I am pretty sure that these will end up on my Christmas buffet. Buzzed!
How delicious! I’d love one of these right now to go with my coffee. Yum!
Sounds delicious! I LOVE cranberries and I can only imagine how moist these scones must have been. Funny we all posted similar things on the same day! I love the holiday recipes everywhere!
These would definitely be a welcome addition to our Christmas brunch. I am a big fan of scones and I bet the eggnog in them is divine! Another winner Lizzy!
Great for Christmas morning! 2 of my favorites, and I can make them ahead of time!Great recipe!
Lizzy,I have never tried eggnog. I have brought years ago. It looked thick and too rich to me to drink. Your scones simply look delicious giving that rich flavour of egg and cream.
I love this idea! Perfect for Christmas brunch 🙂
That is such a simple and beautiful way to serve them! That would work with all kinds of stuff!
Too bad! I love eggnog to death, but don’t tend to enjoy scones or cranberries :/
Great way to sue these ingredients, though!
Your scones look delicious. I know my family would love this reciope. Be sure to register to win the wonderful book we are giving away. Today is the last day. Look for the Southern Fried Women post.
Food look so so good and yummy! …
You have a very impressive presentation here, serving them over the cranberries like that. I’ll bet this flavor combination is stunning. Wish I had one of these for breakfast this morning!
light and fluffy scones is hard to make, cranberry eggnog combo is new to me, yours scones look lovely!
i saw the challenge on Kristen blog and was thinking of making something. Seems I’m somehow running out of time.
Your scones look fantastic Liz!
Looks like scones were a popular pick for this challenge. I made them too, but yours look much better! I need to try your recipe. 🙂
Funny I just joined the challenge beginning next month. Love your scones. They look quite delicious.
..anche questa volta mi tenti!!!
Un dolce sorprendente!! Ti prendo la ricetta!!!
Un bacio grande!!!!
Glory be, what a perfect combination; and in my favorite sweet breakfast treat! I love having a group that I can use as a guinea pig like that. With their seal of approval, I can’t wait to give these a go.
As always marvelous recipe and beautifully represented !
Oh I love these. This was my first time participating in the challenge but it is fascinating to see what everyone came up with.
I’d love this as a new breakfast idea, so yummy 🙂
I’m enjoying all of this cranberry-eggnog post love today!
These are perfect scones for a holiday brunch or Christmas breakfast! I love the cranberry eggnog combo, too.
Mmm, I love scones, and yours look awesome! Definitely saving this recipe…
Oh, Liz! These are stunning – and your photos! *sigh* absolutely beautiful! I would swoon over them, too!
Believe it or not – I actually joined this challenge! My first challenge EVER! I was SO excited! Thanks so much and have a GREAT day!
Your scones sound delicious, and so beautifully photographed too! I would love for you to stop back by and share them at Mrs Foxs Sweet Party 🙂 I cant wait to see what everyone makes for next months challenge!
All I know about eggnog is I drink to glory during Christmas but into scones is new. Sure this is creative and looks good for a morning start up.
Egg nog is something I have never tried and it is in my list of the things I should do. These scones look like the best thing to start. They look delicious plus I can say that I have tried egg nog or they don’t count? lol. You have one beautiful blog here, thank you for following my blog, I am following back. See you soon!
I have never tried eggnog before!! I really need to change that, there are so many great looking recipes out there with it. I am going to have to add it to my list and bake with it next week!
I’ve been all over the cranberry eggnog combo – brilliant!! I love these scones… and want some in my belly!