🍊 Orange Raisin Amasi Scones

The Bright Start Before the Day Gets Loud

Tender, lightly crisp around the edges, and wonderfully fragrant with fresh orange zest, these Orange Raisin Amasi Scones are made for slow mornings. The amasi adds a gentle tang and keeps the crumb beautifully soft, while juicy raisins bring little pockets of sweetness.

They’re especially lovely warm from the oven with butter and a cup of tea or coffee.

⏱ Recipe Information

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Chill Time: 10 minutes
Bake Time: 15–18 minutes
Total Time: About 40 minutes
Yield: 8 scones
Difficulty: Easy

🛒 Ingredients

For the Scones

2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
¼ cup (50 g) granulated sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon finely grated orange zest
½ cup (75 g) raisins
6 tablespoons (85 g) cold unsalted butter, cubed
¾ cup (180 ml) amasi, cold
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Finish

1 tablespoon amasi or milk, for brushing
1 tablespoon coarse sugar, optional

Optional Orange Glaze

½ cup (60 g) powdered sugar
1–2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
½ teaspoon orange zest

Instructions

🍊 1. Prepare the Oven

Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

🌾 2. Mix the Dry Ingredients

In a large bowl, whisk together:

Flour
Sugar
Baking powder
Baking soda
Salt
Orange zest

Rub the orange zest into the sugar and flour lightly with your fingertips.

This releases the fragrant orange oils and gives the scones a much brighter citrus flavor.

🍇 3. Add the Raisins

Stir the raisins into the dry ingredients until evenly distributed.

If your raisins are particularly dry, soak them in hot water for 5 minutes, then drain and pat them completely dry before adding.

🧈 4. Cut in the Butter

Add the cold cubed butter.

Using a pastry cutter or your fingertips, work the butter into the flour mixture until you have a coarse, crumbly mixture with some pea-sized pieces of butter remaining.

Don’t completely blend the butter into the flour. Those little pieces create flaky pockets as the scones bake.

🥛 5. Add the Amasi

Whisk the cold amasi and vanilla together.

Pour into the flour mixture.

Use a fork or spatula to gently mix until a shaggy dough forms.

Don’t overmix.

If there are a few dry crumbs at the bottom of the bowl, gently press the dough together with your hands.

🥐 6. Shape the Dough

Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface.

Gently bring it together without kneading.

Pat it into a round approximately 1 inch (2.5 cm) thick.

Cut into 8 wedges using a sharp knife or bench scraper.

Alternatively, use a round biscuit cutter for individual scones.

❄️ 7. Chill Briefly

Place the scones on the prepared baking sheet.

Leave a little space between them.

Refrigerate for 10 minutes.

This helps the cold butter stay firm and encourages a tender, flaky texture.

✨ 8. Brush & Bake

Brush the tops lightly with amasi or milk.

Sprinkle with coarse sugar if desired.

Bake for 15–18 minutes, or until:

The tops are lightly golden
The edges are set
The scones have risen nicely

Don’t overbake them—the centers should remain tender.

🍊 9. Make the Optional Orange Glaze

While the scones cool, whisk together the powdered sugar, orange juice, and orange zest.

Start with 1 tablespoon orange juice, adding more a few drops at a time until you have a thick but pourable glaze.

☕ 10. Finish & Serve

Allow the scones to cool for about 5 minutes.

Drizzle with the orange glaze if desired.

Serve warm with:

Butter
Orange marmalade
Honey
Clotted cream
A cup of tea or coffee

⭐ Chef’s Tips

Keep Everything Cold

Cold butter and cold amasi are the secret to tender, flaky scones.

Don’t Overwork the Dough

The less you knead, the softer the scones will be.

Use Fresh Orange Zest

Bottled orange flavoring doesn’t provide the same bright aroma.

Don’t Add Too Much Flour

A slightly soft, shaggy dough produces more tender scones than a stiff dough.

Soak Dry Raisins

Plumping raisins first prevents them from stealing moisture from the scone dough.

🍊 Delicious Variations

Orange Cranberry

Replace the raisins with ¾ cup dried cranberries.

Orange & Chocolate

Add ½ cup dark chocolate chips instead of raisins.

Orange Cardamom

Add ½ teaspoon ground cardamom for a warm, fragrant twist.

Orange Almond

Add ½ teaspoon almond extract and ¼ cup sliced almonds.

Glazed Orange Scones

Skip the coarse sugar and finish generously with the fresh orange glaze.

🧊 Storage

Store cooled scones in an airtight container.

Room temperature: Up to 2 days.

For the best texture, warm them briefly before serving.

❄️ Freezing

Freeze Unbaked Scones

Place shaped, unbaked scones on a tray and freeze until solid.

Transfer to a freezer-safe bag.

Freeze: Up to 2 months.

Bake directly from frozen, adding approximately 3–5 minutes to the baking time.

Freeze Baked Scones

Cool completely, wrap individually, and freeze.