Melanie Dickerson Visits the Cafe Today!!!!!

In honor of my new release, The Merchant’s Daughter, set in rural England, I’m going to share my famous Cranberry Orange Scones recipe. Okay, it’s only famous at my church, but still. And you have to eat the scones with the Devonshire cream and some strawberry jam—or whatever jam you prefer. Mmmm, yummy. (I know cranberries and pecans aren’t really English, but close your eyes and imagine you’re eating them in a castle in England beside a gorgeous hero with a British accent. Or imagine that your husband has a British accent. That should help you forget.)

Cranberry-Orange Scones

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/4 cup sugar

1 Tbsp. baking powder

1/4 teas. salt

1/3 cup cold butter or magarine

1/2 cup dried cranberries

1/2 cup chopped pecans

1 teas. grated orange peel

1 cup plus 2 Tbsp. whipping cream, divided

Jam of your choice

Combine the dry ingredients in a bowl. Cut in butter until mixture resembles fine crumbs. Add apricots, pecans and orange peel. With a fork, rapidly stir in 1 cup whipping cream just until moistened. Turn onto a floured surface; knead 5-6 times. Divide in half; shape into a ball. Flatten each ball into a 6-in. circle; cut each circle into eight wedges. Place 1 in. apart on an ungreased baking sheet. Brush with remaining whipping cream. Bake at 375 degrees for 13-15 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Devonshire Cream

6 oz. cream cheese, softened

¼ cup confectioners’ sugar

1 tsp. vanilla extract

½ cup whipping cream

In a small mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, confectioners’ sugar and vanilla until fluffy. Gradually beat in enough cream to achieve a spreading consistency. Cover and chill for at least 2 hours.

Note:  Amounts are approximate. Add sugar to your own taste. [I always add extra sugar!]

Thanks, Ruthy and Missy, for letting me take over the Yankee Belle Café for a day. I really do love to bake, and these scones are really easy.

And if you Yankee Belle Café customers like romance and a good Beauty and the Beast story, please check out my new book, the blurb and the really great trailer (I can say it’s really great because I didn’t have anything to do with creating it!) on my website, www.MelanieDickerson.com.