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Lady Behind the Curtain

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Copycat Panera Orange Scones

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Copycat Panera Orange Scones: What if I told you that you can recreate one of their most beloved Panera menu items right in your own kitchen? Yes, I’m talking about those delectable copycat Panera orange scones.

With a few key ingredients and some simple steps, you can have a batch of these mouthwatering scones ready to enjoy in no time. Get ready to impress your taste buds and your friends with our guide to making copycat Panera orange scones.

Copycat Panera Orange Scones
When it comes to scones, these orange scones are at the top of my list. With pockets of cream cheese and butter, these scones are tender and full of citrus flavor. 100% BETTER THAN PANERA! If or when I splurge on a breakfast treat, it’s always an Orange Scone from Panera.  I decide, why pay and drive for my favorite scone when I could recreate my own?  I must say this scone is just as tender and delicious as the one I would get from Panera.  With fresh orange juice and orange zest, these scones offer just the right amount of citrusy flavor.  Serve your guests a basket of freshly baked scones!  They will think they checked into a bed-and-breakfast!

What Makes These Copycat Panera Orange Scones So Special

There is something truly magical about biting into a bakery style orange scone that is perfectly tender on the inside with just the right amount of golden crispness on the outside. These Copycat Panera Orange Scones deliver everything you love about the bakery version right from your own kitchen. The bright citrus flavor is the real star here. Fresh orange zest and juice bring a natural sweetness and vibrant flavor that gives these scones their signature taste without being overpowering.

What really sets these scones apart is their soft, almost cake like texture. Unlike traditional dry or crumbly scones, these are incredibly moist and fluffy with a delicate crumb that melts in your mouth. The addition of rich ingredients transforms what could be an ordinary scone into something that tastes like it came straight from a professional bakery case. Every bite has that buttery richness balanced with fresh citrus that makes them perfect for breakfast, brunch, or an afternoon treat with a cup of tea or coffee.

And of course, we cannot forget the glaze. That smooth orange glaze adds the perfect finishing touch. It seeps slightly into the warm scones creating a sweet citrus coating that enhances the flavor without overwhelming it. The combination of tender crumb and sweet glaze is exactly what makes the Panera version so irresistible and why this homemade version is just as crave worthy.

How to Make a Copycat Panera Orange Scone Recipe

The perfect breakfast with a cup of tea. With just the right amount of sweetness and sweet orange glaze. This is a great copycat recipe! So, if this is your first time making this easy orange scone recipe, you’ll enjoy the crisp outer edges, the bright orange flavor, and the sweet glaze. This amazing recipe puts Panera’s scones to shame.

Copycat Panera Orange Scones
Panera’s orange scones have got nothing on these family-favorite glazed orange scones. With the perfect amount of sweet citrus taste, this great recipe will always be my family’s #1 breakfast choice.

ORANGE SCONE INGREDIENT LIST-full recipe below in recipe card

  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • zest from one large orange
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 4 ounces cold cream cheese
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted cold butter
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/3 cup cold milk
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon orange extract

ORANGE GLAZE INGREDIENT LIST

  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 4 tablespoons orange juice
  • 1 teaspoon orange extract
  • orange zest of one large orange

ORANGE SCONE INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Preheat oven to 425°.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. In a medium mixing bowl, add sugar and orange zest. Rub together with your fingers until the mixture is fragrant. 
  3. Add to the flour, salt, and baking powder.  Whisk together the sugar mixture. 
  4. Place the cold cream cheese, butter, and eggs into the bowl of a food processor (I used a 14-cup processor), and add the dry ingredients. 
  5. Pulse a couple of times or until combined. 
  6. Pour in the milk, vanilla, and orange extracts.  Pulse to mix. 
  7. Remove dough from the processor onto a lightly floured surface. 
  8. Divide the scone dough into 2 equal pieces. 
  9. Form each ball of dough into a 6-inch disk. 
  10. Use a sharp knife to cut each disk into EIGHT triangles.
  11. Place on prepared baking sheet. (Optional: For more uniform scones, chill dough 30 minutes before baking) Bake 15 minutes or until golden brown.
  12. Lay a piece of wax paper under a wire cooling rack. 
  13. Move baked scones to the wire cooling rack.  Spoon or dip the cooled scones into the orange glaze.

ORANGE GLAZE INSTRUCTIONS

  1. In a small bowl, add the sugar, orange juice, orange extract, and orange zest. 
  2. Whisk until smooth.
  3. Spoon glaze over the cooled perfect scones

Tips and Tricks for the Best Homemade Orange Scones

  • COLD INGREDIENTS: Making bakery quality scones at home is easier than you might think, especially when you follow a few simple tips that make all the difference in texture and flavor. The first key to success is starting with very cold ingredients. Keeping your butter and other refrigerated ingredients cold helps create steam as the scones bake, which results in those beautiful soft layers and tender texture that you expect from a bakery style scone.
  • DO NOT OVER MIX: Another important tip is to avoid overworking the dough. When the dough is mixed too much, the scones can become dense and tough instead of light and fluffy. Mix just until the ingredients are combined and the dough comes together. A slightly shaggy dough is exactly what you want.
  • FRESH FRUIT: Using fresh orange zest instead of bottled flavoring will also elevate the flavor dramatically. The natural oils from the zest provide a bright citrus aroma and taste that cannot be replicated with artificial extracts. When zesting your oranges, be sure to only zest the outer orange layer and avoid the white pith underneath which can add bitterness.
  • CHILL SCONES: For even baking, make sure to cut your scones into uniform sizes so they bake at the same rate. Chilling the shaped dough before baking is another step that helps the scones hold their shape in the oven and rise beautifully. This simple step can make the difference between flat scones and tall bakery style ones.
  • GLAZE: Finally, glaze your scones while they are still slightly warm. This allows the glaze to settle into the top creating that signature sweet finish while still leaving a glossy coating on the surface.

Freeze and Bake Scones

FREEZE: Make scones as directed and slice into triangles. Place triangles on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Place flat in freezer until frozen solid. Put frozen scones in freezer-safe zip-top bags and label.

FROM FREEZER TO BAKING: Transfer frozen scones to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Preheat oven (the scones will thaw a bit while the oven heats. Bake the scones for the time specified in the recipe, adding a couple of minutes to account for the scones being partially frozen. Add orange glaze as instructed.

How long can unbaked scones be frozen?

Keep unbaked scones in the freezer no longer than a month. After that, the scones’ integrity is compromised. The rise and moisture are not the same.

These scones are a bit smaller than the typical bakery scone.  I like that….I get all the delicious flavor with fewer calories.  If you want larger scones, form the dough into one large disk and cut it into EIGHT wedges.  Click here for 10 more recipes—->>>>SCONES.

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How to Slice Scones

Copycat Panera Orange Scones
Copycat Panera Orange Scones

Separate dough into TWO 6-inch circles.  Cut in half and then in thirds.  Place on prepared baking pan.  What you’ll get is a nice, thick, moist scone.  I wouldn’t call them mini, but they are on the smaller side, which is perfect for a brunch!  Dip in the orange glaze.

How to Make Mini Scones

Instead of making two 6-inch circles, make three 5-inch circles.  They’re still moist and thick, but a lot smaller.  Baking time remains the same: 15 minutes.

How to Store Glazed Scones

Copycat Panera Orange Scones
STORING SCONES: Best Choice—Single layer in an airtight container. OR….if you choose to store them in multiple layers, add parchment paper between, BUT FIRST….let the glaze harden.

MORE SCONE RECIPES

OVERNIGHT WHITE CHOCOLATE PEPPERMINT SCONES 2. COPYCAT STARBUCKS PETITE VANILLA SCONES 3. LIGHT HAM AND CHEESE SCONES 4. MINI LEMON POPPY SEED SCONES

I hope you love these Copycat Panera Orange Scones as much as I do. There is just something so comforting about bringing a bakery favorite into your own kitchen and filling your home with the fresh, sweet scent of orange as they bake. Whether you are serving them for a weekend brunch, sharing them with friends over coffee, or enjoying a quiet moment with a warm scone and your favorite cup of tea, this recipe is one of those little treats that makes any day feel extra special. Homemade really does make all the difference, and I am so excited for you to experience that soft, tender bite with that sweet citrus glaze right at home. Thanks for being here with me in my kitchen.

Sheryl
Lady Behind the Curtain

Copycat Panera Orange Scones
Yield: 16 Medium Scones

Copycat Panera Orange Scones

Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes

 Delicious light and fluffy scones packed with orange flavor.

Ingredients

For the Scones

  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • zest from one large orange
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • ¾ teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 4 ounces cream cheese, cold
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cold
  • 2 large eggs, cold
  • ⅓ cup milk, cold
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon orange extract

For the Orange Glaze

  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 4 tablespoons orange juice
  • 1 teaspoon orange extract
  • orange zest of one large orange

Instructions

For the Orange Scones:

  1. Preheat oven to 425°.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. In a medium mixing bowl, add sugar and orange zest. Rub together with your fingers until the mixture is fragrant. 
  3. Add to the flour, salt, and baking powder.  Whisk together with the sugar mixture. 
  4. Place the cold cream cheese, butter, and eggs into the bowl of a food processor (I used a 14-cup processor), and add the dry ingredients. 
  5. Pulse a couple of times or until combined.  DO NOT OVER MIX
  6. Pour in the milk, vanilla, and orange extracts.  Pulse to mix. 
  7. Remove dough from the processor onto a lightly floured surface. 
  8. Divide the dough into 2 equal pieces. 
  9. Form each piece into a 6-inch disk. 
  10. Use a sharp knife to cut each disk into EIGHT triangles.
  11. Place on prepared baking sheet. (optional: For more uniform scones, chill dough 30 minutes before baking) Bake 15 minutes or until golden.
  12. Lay a piece of wax paper under a wire cooling rack. 
  13. Move baked scones to the wire cooling rack.  Spoon or dip the orange glaze over the scones.

For the Orange Glaze:

    1. In a medium bowl, add the sugar, orange juice, orange extract, and orange zest. 
    2. Whisk until smooth.

Notes

Freeze to Bake Scones:

FREEZE: Make scones as directed and slice into triangles. Place triangles on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Place flat in freezer until frozen solid. Put frozen scones in freezer-safe zip-top bags and label.

FROM FREEZER TO OVEN: Transfer frozen scones to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Preheat oven (the scones will thaw a bit while the oven heats. Bake the scones for the time specified in the recipe, adding a couple of minutes to account for the scones being partially frozen. Add orange glaze as instructed.

STORING SCONES: Best Choice—Single layer in an airtight container. OR....if you choose to store them in multiple layers, add parchment paper between, BUT FIRST....let the glaze harden.

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment and rate the recipe card so others can enjoy the recipe too!♥

© Sheryl
Copycat Panera Orange Scones

Comments

Copycat Panera Orange Scones — 99 Comments

    • Hi, Yes you can make these scones in advance. I like to freeze them before they’re baked. Place the triangle shapes on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper and freeze. Put into freezer safe bags. When ready to bake place the frozen scones on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper and bake.

      Reply ↓

      • Ya sorry I’m a dummy, just noticed it says “You can make these scones weeks in advance by freezing them!” At the top of the page, duh! Thank you for responding anyway 🙂

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  2. This recipe looks great! My family loves the orange scones from Panera too but it can get expensive. Can’t wait to try it. Only I don’t have a food processor. Is there any way to make them without one? Thanks!

    Reply ↓

    • Sure Adalie! You can use a pastry blender or just a knife and fork. Whatever tool you use to make pie dough you can use to make scone dough.

      Reply ↓

  3. These turned out beautifully and so delicious!!! Thank you! My oven runs a little hot, so my scones were ready at 12 minutes. Thanks again!

    Reply ↓

  4. Hello, I made the scones and they were great. The only difference was that my glaze didn’t harden like the one’s from PB. It was more like frosting. Is there a way to make that delicious, crispy, glaze. That was the only discrepancy.

    Reply ↓

    • Hi Emily, Maybe when making the glaze you added too much sugar. To correct, add more orange juice until the glaze becomes the correct consistency. ♥

      Reply ↓

    • Hi Frank, I put the glaze on when they were cooled. If you want the scones to adsorb more of the glaze flavor you can add some when they’re hot and a little more when they have cooled down.

      Reply ↓

  9. These scone’s are wonderful I couldn’t stop getting another and another. You did a great job on this receipe because they taste just like I have gotten at panera store . Thank you

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  11. These were amazing! I didn’t want to drag out my food processor so I chilled the butter and cream cheese in the freezer and then grated them on the largest hole of a box grater. Worked perfectly! I shared some with my sister, whose reply was “I died”. Great recipe!

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  13. Hi Sheryl. Just whipped these guys up this morning and can’t wait to taste them (Wednesday mornings are my traditional Panera scone run day). Panera just raised their price and are making the scones smaller. Your recipe makes what look like perfect scones. I guessed at the height before putting into the oven, but I tried 1/2 to 3/4 inch and they seemed to be just right. Thank you for this Christmas blessing.

    Reply ↓

  14. Hi, I was gifted a scone pan for Christmas and would love to use this recipe. How would I measure an amount for the scone slots? Do I push them down and make the top flat? Thanks

    Reply ↓

    • Hi Theresa, I would go ahead and form the scone dough into a round (the size of your pan) Measuring a scone cavity. Example: If one scone is 3 1/2 inch from base to tip then you would double that measurement to make your round 7 inches. Cut into triangles, place them in the scone pan cavities, press them a little to make them fit and bake.

      Reply ↓

  16. So delicious!

    I used heart shaped cookie cutter and blood orange juice instead of regular. It made the glaze pink and perfect for Valentine’s brunch!

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  18. I don’t usually post reviews but these are really good. I turned mine into minis but still ate two. Thank you for saving me some panera trips!

    Reply ↓

  19. I made these for my husband. They turned out fabulous! They’re delicious and beautiful. The icing is superb. Will make again. 5 stars!

    Reply ↓

    • Hi Ginny, You can use orange juice, but since it’s only a teaspoon it’s really not going to make that much of a difference in flavor. Adding a teaspoon of orange flavoring really drives home the orange flavor. Maybe you could add an additional teaspoon of orange zest.

      Reply ↓

  21. Thank you! I like just about everything at Panera, and these scones are one of my favorites. Can’t wait to try this recipe when I have company… I don’t dare make for myself, as I would eat all of them!

    Reply ↓

  22. I am excited to try these! Was just at Panera’s the other day and their scones arevwayyy pricey! I am not a huge fan of creamed cheese is there a substitute? Cream maybe? Thanks!

    Reply ↓

  23. What kind of orange extract do you use? I have Nielsen Massey’s orange extract and it gives everything a super weird flavor. A whole tsp ruined my last attempt ?

    Reply ↓

  24. I just made these so I can freeze and bake them for brunch on Christmas morning. At the last minute, I decided to bake a couple for me and my husband to sample and OMG! The are so absolutely delicious, they melt in your mouth! I immediately made a second batch because I know they will be such a big hit with my family plus I don’t know if me and my husband will be able to hold off until Christmas. My husband is the big fan of the orange scones from Panera and he said they are so much better than Panera. The recipe is so easy to follow and the ingredients are usually what one would have in their pantry so it will be easy to whip up a batch the next time my husband gets an hankering for his orange scones. I must admit that I did use cake flour as someone suggested in the comments but I really don’t think using regular flour would change my opinion of this recipe. Well done on developing this recipe and thank you in advance for making me look so good at this year’s family Christmas brunch!! Merry Christmas to you and yours!

    Reply ↓

  27. Wow! These are so good! I used to eat PB’s orange scones all the time when I was in college and I started craving one the other day. I don’t have a food processor anymore, so I tried my blender. That was a fail! So, I just used my hands. The dough was a little sticky, so I kneaded it a little with some flour before shaping it into the two discs. They turned out so good! Thank you for this great recipe!

    Reply ↓

    • Hi Kate, You don’t have to use a food processor. Cut the butter into the dry ingredients using a dough cutter or a knife and fork. Or whatever method you use when making pie dough.

      Reply ↓

  30. Love this recipe! I’ve made them several times. Perfect scone consistency. I just tried them in my new convection oven. They were done in a shorter time. Thank you for sharing!

    Reply ↓

    • Hi Jennie, I love baking in a convection oven. We have two of them in our church kitchen. I’m so glad you love the recipe!♥

      Reply ↓

  35. We love the taste of these scones; however, mine turned out a little dry. Should I cook them less time or add more cream cheese or butter? I followed the recipe to the letter. Thanks!

    Reply ↓

  38. Hi Sheryl,

    I absolutely love copycat recipes! I have a few from Panera, but I haven’t come across these scones until now. They will make the perfect treats to whip up this weekend. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe!

    Reply ↓

  40. Feeling maudlin’ and missing Saturday Morning Panera with my best friend up in Jacksonville. So I made these scones. They were A-MAY-ZING! Even the kids, who are not huge scones fans, made quick work of them. This one is going in my Keepers Recipe Folder.

    Reply ↓

  41. Made these tonight after watching a bunch of Great British Baking Competition episodes. I used a natural orange extract and zested 2 oranges for the glaze. My husband gave my the Paul Hollywood handshake after tasting them.

    Reply ↓

  43. Just made these to take on our weekend get-a-way. They are in the freezer now, any suggestions on how long to bake them from a frozen state? Thanks!

    Reply ↓

    • Hi Helen, I’m not gluten free and have never worked with gluten free flour. I would recommend doing some google research before diving into the recipe.

      Reply ↓

  45. Any suggestions on adding raisins to this batter? Should I soak/soften them first? My English friend is craving orange raisin scones.

    Reply ↓

    • Hi Claudia, Store glazed scones in an airtight container. To protect the glaze either store them in a single layer or add a piece of parchment paper between layers.

      Reply ↓

  48. Wow! These are AMAZING!! Just as good or better than Panera!!
    I didn’t have orange extract so I substituted triple sec lol
    Even my picky husband loved them.

    Reply ↓

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