Make your morning brighter with these orange cottage cheese scones. They are zesty and full of fresh orange and vanilla flavors with a slight protein boost.

On rainy days, I always want to make something that brightens my family’s day. That’s how this recipe came to life.

It was a gloomy, rainy morning, and I wanted something to lift me up.

I had some oranges, cottage cheese, and all the basic ingredients to make pastries.

The results were these delicious, moist, and satisfying scones.

I know cottage cheese is the trendy ingredient right now. You can find it in everything.

But there is a reason for it. When you add it to your scones, it creates a creamy and moist crumb. After all, who wants to eat dry scones?

Besides flavor, these scones pack almost 9 grams of protein per serving and less than 8 grams of added sugars. These make them a healthy option when you want something sweet for your breakfast or afternoon tea.

Ingredients and Substitutes

All-purpose flour (2 1/2 cups) – Replace with whole wheat flour or a gluten-free flour blend.

Salt (½ tsp)

Baking powder (1 tbsp)

Baking soda (1 tsp)

Cane sugar (1/3 cup) – You can also use coconut sugar, brown sugar, or granulated sugar. If you want to reduce the sugar content, try using a sugar-free option like erythritol.

Egg (1 large)

Cottage cheese, blended (1 cup) – Swap with Greek yogurt or ricotta cheese.

Fresh orange juice (4 tbsp) – You can use bottled orange juice or any citrus juice like lemon or lime. Just make sure it’s made from natural ingredients.

Orange zest, grated (2 tsp) – Use lemon zest or lime zest.

Unsalted butter, frozen for 10 minutes, grated (½ cup) – Substitute with ghee, coconut oil, or margarine.

Egg wash

Egg (1)

Water (1 tsp)

Glazing (optional)

Orange juice (1 tbsp)

Powdered sugar (3 tbsp) – You can use sugar-free powdered sugar.

How to Make Orange Cottage Cheese Scones

Step 1. Preheat your oven to 400°F and prepare a large baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper. Grab a large bowl and add the all-purpose flour, salt, baking powder, soda, and cane sugar.

Step 2. Give the ingredients a good stir.

Step 3. In another bowl, add the egg, cottage cheese, orange juice, and orange zest.

Step 4. Give the ingredients a good stir.

Step 5. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients.

Step 6. Give the ingredients a good stir using a rubber spatula until a dough forms. Grab the cold butter and grate it.

Step 7. Start kneading the grated butter into the dough.

Step 8. Once it’s all combined, form a ball and place it over a floured countertop. Start rolling it using a rolling pin until you form a 7-inch circle.

Step 9. Cut the dough into 8 triangles.

Step 10. Place each scone into the baking sheet, just make sure you leave plenty of space in between.

Step 11. In a small bowl, whisk the egg and water. Brush each scone with the egg mix.

Step 12. Place the scones in the oven for 18-20 minutes, until they become lightly golden.

Step 13. Remove the scones from the oven and let them cool down on the baking sheet. Mix the orange juice and powdered sugar to form a glaze.

Step 14. When the scones have cooled down, glaze them with the orange juice mix.

How I Would Modify This Recipe

• Make it Gluten-Free: Replace the all-purpose flour with a 1-to-1 gluten-free flour that has xanthan gum or any other binder.
• Add Some Fiber: Add a tablespoon of chia seeds or poppy seeds to the dry mix.
• Add Some Crunch: Toss in a handful of chopped walnuts or pecans to the dry ingredients.
• Make it More Indulgent: Mix in ½ cup of white chocolate chips or dried cranberries.

My Storage Tips

Store any leftovers in an airtight container and keep them at room temperature for up to 2 days. If you want to make them last longer, you can place them in the fridge for up to 5-6 days.

You can also place them in the freezer. Wrap them individually and place them in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.

When you are ready to have them, place them in the oven at 350°F for 5 minutes.

More Scone Recipes

• Chocolate Protein Cottage Cheese Scones
• Apple Pie Cottage Cheese Scones
• Lemon Cottage Cheese Scones