Backpacking Scones Recipe

I took inspiration for this recipe right out of one of my favorite cookbooks of all time. Two summers ago we did a little backpacking trip through Wyoming and I picked up this glorious cookbook inspired by the best food Wyoming has to offer. They have some great food up there. Trust me. I had to adapt something from this cookbook someday and I decided to start with the Cranberry-Orange Scones. Surprisingly enough, until today, I have not made them! Weird I know. Well Zach and I (and his mom who will be visiting this weekend/week), are taking a little road trip through Utah to check out some of the National Parks. I know. Don’t start. We should have been there by now. I mean it is only a hop, skip and a jump away. Better late than never though right! I thought that we totally needed a baked good to go with our coffee in the mornings. Scones were the perfect solution to such a serious problem. They travel well, they keep at room temperature, and they are fabulously, insanely, absolutely fantastic bundles of sweetness.

So the last time we were BRIEFLY in Utah, was a little over a year ago when we were moving Zach’s belongings from Pasadena to Boulder (he lived in Cali…I in NJ if you were so curiously wondering). We blew a tire in the middle of nowhere Arizona, and I mean THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. We had to be towed (thank God for AAA) from Arizona to Utah (to the closest auto body shop that was still open). If you are wondering why we didn’t just fix the flat on the side of the road…well the car was packed full. There would have been no way the car could have held on an itty bitty tire. So my last recollection of Utah was “wow, what a beautiful state!” and also “wow, I’m so happy I get to experience Utah from a tow truck!” … so yeah I think it’s time to go back for the full Utahian (is that a word?) effect.

Naturally, we need food for our trip. Zach and I are notorious for packing all kinds of deliciousness for our road trips. To save a bit of cash, we decided to make our breakfast ahead of time in the form of orange and cranberry scones (minus the cranberries for Zach because SURPRISE! he doesn’t like those either). Yes, I had to make two separate batches. I’m convinced he’s never had a cranberry. I’m convinced he just chose to not like them as a child and it’s stuck with him ever since. Picky picky picky I tell ya. I did have to eat just one of course. Just to make sure it tasted good enough to be invited on our road trip. Oh my it was like taking a bite out of sunshine. So citrusy and sweet, I could have eaten the whole batch…even the non-cranberry ones.

Scones For Novices

Why yes I did pair this with a beer! I am so happy that you asked! I think subconsciously I got the inspiration for using this recipe because of Moylan’s Orange and Black Congrats Ale. This beer is absolutely fantastic even though it was a once and done brew. Moylan’s brewed this bad boy to celebrate the Giants winning the World Series a few years back and they completely won for creating such a FABULOUS beer. The owner actually told Zach on our visit to the brewery that the staff had peeled a ton of locally-grown oranges to get that true orangey effect. Pretty cool huh? So I know this beer was a once and done, so unless you have a bottle shop who has a couple bottles stowed away for safe keeping you will NOT be finding this beer. As an alternative, Rogue’s Somer Orange Honey Ale is a great substitution if you want that delicious orange flavor.

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Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.My friends and I started saying that whoever I dated next would have to pass the “backpacking test”.  Or more accurately, I would have to pass the backpacking test.  I wasn’t sure at that point who was the one who had to survive and come out on the other end.

Easy Scone Recipe With Just 3 Ingredients

I know now that it was all for the best but when I started to date the lovely man I am so blessed to be with now, I began to warn him about the backpacking test.  It was only fair.  Soon, it became

Running joke.  “Well, we’ll have to see how the backpacking test goes, ” or “We haven’t had the backpacking test yet, so who knows?”  Even though we would joke, I think that deep down both of us were a little nervous.

Turns out we survived the backpacking trip, even if it didn’t go according to plan.  And maybe that is the best part.

Art Of Dessert: Coconut Milk Scones (vegan)

We didn’t get the trip we had wanted because all the campsites were full where we wanted to go.  So we ended up on Sourdough Mountain, a hike we had both done before.  For some reason, no one had chosen it for the weekend.  Maybe it was the almost 5100ft of elevation gain in 5.5 miles?

We spent the first part of our hike slogging up a steep trail, but there were plenty of berries to pick along the way as our reward.

We had fun trying to cram two tents onto one tiny hillside campsite.  Someone was worried we wouldn’t fit in just one tent.

Melt In Your Mouth Date Scone Recipe

It felt weird to be carrying just a water bottle while my boyfriend carried my pack filled with our dinner and essentials.

We had fun hanging our food and the bear can the ranger made us take. Thank goodness.  The clouds came in overnight and we woke up to wet gear and no views in the direction of our next campsite.

I also slept wrong and woke to a pinched nerve in my neck.  Neither one of us wanted to give up because this weekend had been a long time coming so we waited until 9am hoping for sun but decided it was not worth it to continue for the second night with no views and headed back down to the car that was only 5 miles down and finished our weekend at home warm and dry.  It was a great test of negotiation and flexibility.

Apple Parmesan Brown Betty

We even stopped by my favorite little gluten free bakery, 5 B’s in Concrete, WA, on the way home and had lunch.  I usually just pick up treats but this time I tried a salad and the bf had a sandwich.  My meal was only $9 and came with fruit and half a cookie.  Yum!

So, I decided to put them to good use by making a treat we both could enjoy.  His first idea was scones because that is what he makes for his kids on a regular basis, so I dug out my collected recipes to find one that would work with the little morsels we had collected.

I adapted this scone recipe from one I found in the book Paleo Indulgences by Tammy Credicott.  This is the most amazing book if you are trying to do the whole Paleo thing but not ready to give up some of your favorite treats.  She has THE best pizza dough recipe I have found so far.

Sweet Cinnamon And Apricot Scones

So as you are out enjoying the trails this summer, pick yourself some berries and before you eat them all right then and there, save a cupful to make yourself a treat to remind yourself later of your hiking adventure!

You will find the rest of my pictures from this trip to Sourdough Mountain.  Also, I want to say that as we were packing up the car to leave after the hike, my wonderful boyfriend snuck and climbed down an embankment to pick what he knows is my favorite berry (the thimbleberry) even though he doesn’t care for them.  Yeah, he’s a keeper.  For an update on this guy, read I Love You To The Mountains And Back.

Make yourself some yummy hot cocoa to go with these and your morning will be complete!  And if you enjoyed this recipe, head over to my Hiking and Backpacking Paleo Index for over 60 tasty treats to take on your next outdoor adventure.

Pumpkin Ginger Scones Recipe