Scrumptious fragrant orange scones filled with mouth puckering sweet and tart cherries are what you need right now! This easy gluten free and egg free recipe comes together in less than 30-minutes and your cup of coffee will thank you for it! These are perfect for a lazy weekend breakfast, Sunday brunch, or to keep on hand for easy snacking during the week (they pair beautifully with fresh orange slices!)

No cherries? No problem!  Just substitute the tart cherries out for some unsweetened dried cranberries and you have yourself the second best match made in heaven!  I love to make these when entertaining a friend over for an afternoon coffee, or to give my kid’s teachers as an easy, whole food, nutritious breakfast.  Give these lovely scones a try and you may never eat a store bought version again!

Why Cherries are So Good For You!

Cherries are an excellent source of vitamins, minerals, fiber, and carbohydrates.  In one cup of fresh cherries you’ll find [1]:

• Calories: 95
  
• Protein: 1.5 grams
  
• Fat: <1 gram
  
• Carbohydrate: 24 grams
  
• Sugars: 19 grams
  
• Fiber: 3 grams: Cherries are an excellent source of both insoluble and soluble fiber to keep the digestive system optimized and microbiome balanced.
  
• Vitamin C: powerful antioxidant that plays a role in neutralizing free radicals and reducing oxidative stress.
  
• Calcium: The most abundant mineral in the body that is essential in the health of teeth, bones, and the heart.
  
• Iron: Necessary in the production of hemoglobin, non-heme iron is more readily absorbed when consumed with foods that contain vitamin C.
  
• Magnesium: Plays a role in digestive health, detoxification, and supports healthy blood sugar regulation.
  
• Potassium: Essential in regulating heartbeat, metabolic pathways, and supports health blood pressure.
  
• Zinc: Cofactor necessary in the digestive process as well as supports the immune system.
  

Tart Cherries and Sleep [2]: Did you know that tart cherries, like the ones in this recipe,  prepare your body for sleep.  Tart cherries contain enzymes that helps to maintain levels of tryptophan, which increases the production of melatonin, a hormone produced by the body in preparation for sleep.

So grab some unsweetened tart cherries and let’s get cooking!

Paleo Tart Cherry and Orange Scones Ingredients

Serves 8-10

5 oz Can Coconut Cream

1 Tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV)

1/4 cup Fresh Orange Juice

1 tsp Pure Vanilla

1 Tbsp Orange Zest

2.5 cups Almond Flour

1/2 cup Coconut Flour

1/2 cup Tapioca or Arrowroot Starch

1 cup Coconut Sugar

2 Tbsp Gelatin

1 tsp Fine Sea salt

1 tsp Baking soda

1 cup Unsweetened Tart Cherries, roughly chopped OR Unsweetened Dried Cranberries

How to Make Paleo Tart Cherry and Orange Scones

1. Preheat your oven to 325 degrees.

2.  In a small bowl, melt the coconut cream for 30-seconds in the microwave if it is still solid. 

3.  Add the ACV and vanilla, stir to combine and set aside.

4.  In a large bowl combine the flours, starch  gelatin, soda, salt, coconut sugar, and zest. Stir with a fork or whisk to evenly combine.

5.  Roughly chop the tart cherries and stir them into the dry flour mixture.  (Coating ingredients in flour, like dried fruit and chocolate chips, helps to keep them from all sinking to the bottom)

6. To the flour cherry mixture, add the orange juice and coconut buttermilk mixture, stir with a wooden spoon or spatula to combine. 

7.  Allow the dough to sit for 2-3 minutes to allow time for the flours to absorb the buttermilk.

8.  Transfer to a piece of parchment paper and shape into a rounded circle.  Do not over work or compress the dough too much.

9. With a clean and sharp knife, cut the round into wedges (between 6-8 pieces).

10.  Using a spatula, transfer each piece of the wedge to a parchment lined baking sheet, keeping the scones from touching.

11.  Bake for about 25-30 minutes, remove and cool completely.

Enjoy!

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FAQs

Q: Why are my scones so hard?

A: Sounds like they were baked too long.  Every oven is different try reducing the bake time and testing with a toothpick as you go.

Q: Can I use a gluten free flour instead of the starch?

A: I have not tried to do that for this recipe and am not sure that it will bind together as well.  The starch in this recipe helps to lighten the density and make the scones more fluffy and biscuit like.

Q: Can I freeze these?

A: Absolutely!  Just eat them within a month!

If you like this recipe, check these out!

Paleo Pumpkin Scone: Warm fall spices all wrapped up in a gluten free, egg free, and dairy free scone!  This is sure to be a hit with everyone!

Paleo Banana Blueberry Muffins:  Sweet banana bread muffins filled with juicy and delicious blueberries! Is there anything better than that?

Indulgent Dark Chocolate Cherry Granola: This is one of my husband’s favorite granola recipes.  It is so decadent and delicious, you’ll think you are eating dessert instead of breakfast!

I hope you enjoy this as much as my family does. – Amy

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