Scones are a delicious and popular pastry that can be enjoyed for breakfast or as a snack. With flavors like cranberry orange, scones make for a tasty treat. However, many people wonder just how many calories are in one of these pastries. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore how many calories are in a cranberry orange scone, looking at the calorie count for different sizes and brands.
What is a Cranberry Orange Scone?
A cranberry orange scone is a tender, lightly sweetened pastry. Scones are made with flour, butter, baking powder, sugar, milk or cream, and eggs. They have a crumbly, biscuit-like texture on the inside with a crisp exterior top and bottom crust.
Cranberry orange scones include the addition of dried cranberries and orange zest to the dough. The tart cranberries and bright citrus flavor offset the scone’s sweetness with just the right amount of tang.
This tasty baked good can be enjoyed either plain or dressed up. A pat of butter is a customary accompaniment to bring out the scone’s richness. Some people also like to add a bit of jam, lemon curd, or clotted cream as a topping.
Nutrition Facts for Cranberry Orange Scones
The calories in a scone will vary depending on the specific ingredients and portion size. But in general, a cranberry orange scone provides the following nutrition facts:
- Calories: 250-350
- Total Fat: 10-15g
- Saturated Fat: 5-8g
- Carbohydrates: 40-50g
- Protein: 5-7g
- Fiber: 1-2g
The ingredients that have the greatest impact on the calorie count are the flour and any fats like butter or cream. Sugar also bumps up the calorie density. The tangy dried fruit and citrus add flavor with minimal effect on calories.
Calories in a Small Cranberry Orange Scone
A small cranberry orange scone, weighing around 2 ounces or 60 grams, contains approximately:
- 210 calories
- 9 grams fat
- 36 grams carbs
- 3 grams protein
This estimated calorie total is based on averages for a small-sized scone made with commonly used ingredients and quantities.
At coffee shops and bakeries, the small or “mini” scone may be roughly halved in size compared to a large scone. So the calorie count decreases accordingly. The smaller amount of dough and filling means less calories per scone.
Calories in Small Scones from Popular Bakeries
Here are the nutrition facts for small scones from some popular food chains:
- Starbucks: 270 calories (Cranberry Bliss Bar Mini Scone)
- Panera: 300 calories (Cranberry Orange Mini Scone)
- Tim Hortons: 220 calories (Cranberry Orange Mini Scone)
- Dunkin Donuts: 270 calories (Cranberry Orange Mini Scone)
As you can see, calories in a small scone from bakeries generally range from 220 to 300 calories. Factors like a restaurant’s specific recipe and preparation method impact the calorie values.
Calories in a Large Cranberry Orange Scone
A large scone that weighs around 4 ounces or 120 grams contains roughly:
- 420 calories
- 18 grams fat
- 72 grams carbs
- 6 grams protein
In comparison to the small size, the doubled weight of a large scone also doubles the calorie content. With more dough and filling, the amounts of the calorie-containing ingredients all increase.
Calories in Large Scones from Popular Bakeries
The calorie count for a large bakery scone includes:
- Starbucks: 510 calories (Cranberry Bliss Bar)
- Panera: 590 calories (Cranberry Orange Scone)
- Tim Hortons: 520 calories (Cranberry Orange)
- Dunkin Donuts: 550 calories (Cranberry Orange)
These numbers illustrate how at most coffee shops, bakeries, and restaurants, a large cranberry orange scone contains over 500 calories.
Factors Affecting Calorie Count
Several factors determine the calorie content in a cranberry orange scone. These include:
1. Ingredients
The specific ingredients and amounts used in the scone dough and filling impact the calorie count.
For example, using heavy cream instead of milk will up the fat and calories. Similarly, more sugar equals higher calories. Using oil instead of butter reduces some of the saturated fat.
2. Portion Size
As shown earlier, scones come in varying sizes. A larger scone has more dough and filling, so it contains more calories.
3. Additions and Toppings
How you dress up your scone also contributes to calories. Adding pats of butter, jam, lemon curd, or whipped cream all increase the overall calorie count.
4. Preparation Method
How the scone is prepared and baked affects calorie density. For example, some recipes call for heavy cream brushed over the top before baking for a glossy sheen. Frying scones in oil rather than baking adds more fat and calories.
5. Bakery or Homemade
You can find wide variation in calories depending on if you enjoy a scone from your favorite bakery or make it at home. Store-bought scones may be larger or contain more mix-ins like chocolate that boost calories. When baking at home, you control the ingredients and portions.
Tips for Lightening Up Your Scone
There are several easy ways to reduce the calories in cranberry orange scones if you are looking to lighten them up.
Use Lower Fat Dairy
Substitute milk for half and half or heavy cream to cut some of the fat calories. Or use plain Greek yogurt in place of sour cream.
Cut the Butter
Reduce the amount of butter or replace it with unsweetened applesauce to reduce the saturated fat.
Watch the Sugar
Cut back on the amount of sugar slightly, or use alternatives like honey, maple syrup, or stevia to reduce the calorie density.
Add in Mix-ins
Boost fiber and nutrients by mixing in shredded carrots, oats, nuts, seeds, or dried fruit. This also reduces the calorie density per bite.
Adjust Portions
Make scones smaller or cut them into halves or quarters. This gives you a tasty treat with fewer calories per serving.
Bake Instead of Fry
Baking scones instead of frying reduces the amount of added fat and keeps calories lower.
Healthy Cranberry Orange Scone Recipe
Here is a delicious recipe for lighter cranberry orange scones that cuts calories without sacrificing flavor:
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/3 cup cold butter, diced
- 3/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Zest of 1 orange
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
Directions
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Make a well in the center.
- In a smaller bowl, whisk together yogurt, egg, vanilla and orange zest until combined. Pour into the well in the dry ingredients.
- Gently fold together just until a dough forms. Fold in cranberries.
- Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface. Knead gently to bring together. Pat into a round about 3/4 inch thick.
- Use a large biscuit cutter to cut scones. Arrange on prepared baking sheet. Bake for 12-14 minutes until lightly golden.
- Allow to cool at least 5 minutes before serving. Enjoy!
This lighter scone recipe uses Greek yogurt instead of heavy cream or butter to cut back on saturated fat and calories. The result is a tender, gently sweet scone studded with juicy cranberries and bright orange flavor.
Each scone comes out to around 225 calories, with 9 grams of fat and 36 grams of carbs. For an even lighter option, use smaller cutters to make mini scones.
Conclusion
When asking how many calories are in a cranberry orange scone, the answer ranges widely depending on the specific ingredients, size, and preparation method. But on average, a small scone contains around 210-300 calories while a large bakery scone has over 500 calories.
To lighten up your scone, substitute lower fat ingredients, adjust portion sizes, and add in healthy mix-ins. With some simple tweaks, you can enjoy the delicious flavor of cranberry orange scones without all the extra calories weighing you down.
