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This easy-to-make pumpkin scones recipe is slightly sweet with a delicious spice blend, rich pumpkin flavor, and a tender crumb!
Here’s the thing: I know you’ve probably been bombarded with pumpkin spice everything since the end of August.
But if you’re in the mood to bake and pumpkin strikes your fancy, you NEED to try these pumpkin scones! Warm spices are the perfect pairing with pumpkin, and these have a tender, moist crumb.
They’re perfect for a weekend fall brunch or breakfast on-the-go during the week. If you have the ingredients on hand, definitely whip up the cinnamon pumpkin cream recipe that I include in the recipe card below, because it is the perfect schmear!
And if you feel like going all out, pair these pumpkin scones with a pumpkin spice latte for the ultimate fall treat.
The Best Easy Pumpkin Scones Recipe
These scones are a little less sweet than your average pumpkin spice scones, but you can increase the sugar up to 1/2 cup if you want.
Pumpkin Scones Ingredients
In this section I explain the ingredients and give substitution ideas. For the full recipe (including ingredient amounts), see the recipe card below.
- All-purpose flour – this the base of our scone recipe
- Granulated white sugar – or you can use brown sugar or coconut sugar for notes of caramel and molasses
- Baking powder – this is the leavening agent that makes our scones rise
- Salt – a natural flavor enhancer
- Cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, ginger, cardamom, and allspice – if you don’t have all these spices on hand, you can substitute with 1 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice instead
- Unsalted butter – we want it chilled and diced for the most flaky and tender scones
- Pumpkin puree – canned pumpkin is fine, just make sure it’s not pumpkin pie filling
- Milk – to moisten our dough; we also brush some milk on top to help the scones brown and the sugar stick to the tops
How to Make Pumpkin Scones
Can You Freeze Scones?
Yes, you can freeze scones. One of the nice things about scones is that you can freeze scone dough before baking, or bake them and freeze the baked scones.
To Freeze Scone Dough
- Roll out the scone dough into scones.
- Flash freeze the scone dough; to do so, arrange them on a large baking sheet, transfer to the freezer, and let them freeze solid.
- Store the frozen scone dough in a zip-top plastic bag in the freezer (label the bag with the date and contents).
Pro Tip: The scone dough will stay good in the freezer for up to 3 months.
To Bake Frozen Scone Dough
- Arrange the scones on a baking sheet and thaw in the fridge overnight.
- Bake as directed in the recipe below.
To Freeze Baked Scones
- Bake the scones as directed and let them cool completely.
- Flash freeze the baked scones; to do so, arrange them on a large baking sheet, transfer to the freezer, and let them freeze solid.
- Store the frozen baked scones in a zip-top plastic bag in the freezer (label the bag with the date and contents).
Pro Tip: The baked scones will stay good in the freezer for up to 3 months.
To Reheat Frozen Baked Scones
- Thaw the scones to room temperature.
- Arrange the scones on a baking sheet and heat until warm in a 300F oven (about 8 minutes).
Starbucks Pumpkin Scones
Starbucks pumpkin scones are a highly sought-after seasonal item. And for good reason, they’re absolutely delicious!
If you like Starbucks pumpkin scones, you’re sure to love these fresh-baked perfectly-spiced not-too-sweet pumpkin scones.
They have just the right sweetness level, a delicious spice blend, and rich pumpkin flavor. And don’t forget about their tender crumb, plus the fact that they are tall with a beautiful rise!
How Many Calories are in Starbucks Pumpkin Scones?
According to Starbucks, here is the nutrition information for one of their pumpkin scones:
- 500kcals
- 23g fat
- 70g carbohydrates
- 1g fiber
- 4g protein
Nutritional Information for Healthy Pumpkin Scones
If you’re looking for healthy pumpkin scones, this recipe is it! I reduced the calories and carbs by about half (as compared with Starbucks pumpkin scones).
Here’s the nutrition information for one of these pumpkin scones:
- 204kcals
- 7g fat
- 32g carbohydrates
- 2g fiber
- 3.79g protein
More Special Scones to Make
- Small Batch Maple Walnut Scones for Two
- English Style Scones
- Sunday Morning Scones (aka Maple Bacon Scones with Coffee Glaze)
- Vanilla Bean Caramelized Pear Scones with Dark Chocolate Chunks
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Pumpkin Scones Recipe with Cinnamon Pumpkin Cream
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Ingredients
Pumpkin Scones:
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour plus more for rolling out the dough
- 1/4 cup sugar plus 1 teaspoon to sprinkle on top of the scones
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cardamom
- 1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter chilled and diced
- 1 cup pumpkin puree not pumpkin pie filling
- 1 tablespoon whole milk plus more as needed, and more for brushing on top
Cinnamon Pumpkin Cream (Optional):
- 6 tablespoons canned pumpkin puree not pumpkin pie filling
- 2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 pinch salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450F; line a baking sheet with a silpat liner.
- Whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, ginger, cardamom, and allspice in a large bowl.
- Cut in the butter with a fork or using two butter knives until it looks like coarse meal. Stir in the pumpkin puree, and then add milk a little at a time until the dough comes together (you should need 1 to 2 tablespoons of milk).
- Shape the dough into a ball, then flatten it into a disk; wrap it in plastic wrap and chill 10 minutes in the freezer. (See note below.)
- Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Roll or press the dough out to a circle about 7 to 8 inches in diameter and 3/4 inch thick. Use a floured 2 1/2 inch round cookie cutter to stamp out the scones, then gather up the dough scraps and repeat as necessary (you should get about 10 scones).
- Transfer the scones to the baking sheet, lightly brush the tops with a little milk and a sprinkle of sugar, and bake until puffed and light golden brown on top and bottom, about 14 to 16 minutes.
- While the scones are baking, beat together all ingredients for the cinnamon pumpkin cream; refrigerate until serving.
- Serve the scones warm with the chilled cinnamon pumpkin cream.
Notes
- Nutrition Information: The nutritional information for this recipe was calculated for the scones only, without the optional cinnamon pumpkin cream.
- Sweetness Level: These scones are a little less sweet than your average pumpkin spice scones, but you can increase the sugar up to 1/2 cup if you want.
- Chill Time: Although these scones can be made after a brief chill, I recommend letting the dough sit overnight in the fridge so the flavors of all the spices can blend. Alternatively, you can freeze the scone dough after cutting out the scones.
- To Freeze Scone Dough: Roll out the scone dough into scones. Flash freeze the scone dough; to do so, arrange them on a large baking sheet, transfer to the freezer, and let them freeze solid. Store the frozen scone dough in a zip-top plastic bag in the freezer (label the bag with the date and contents). The scone dough will stay good in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- To Bake Frozen Scone Dough: Arrange the scones on a baking sheet and thaw in the fridge overnight. Once thawed, bake as directed in the recipe.
- To Freeze Baked Scones: Bake the scones as directed and let them cool completely. Flash freeze the baked scones; to do so, arrange them on a large baking sheet, transfer to the freezer, and let them freeze solid. Store the frozen baked scones in a zip-top plastic bag in the freezer (label the bag with the date and contents). The baked scones will stay good in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- To Reheat Frozen Baked Scones: Thaw the scones to room temperature. Arrange the scones on a baking sheet and heat until warm in a 300F oven (about 8 minutes).
Nutrition
Nutritional information is automatically calculated and should be used as an approximate.
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This post was first published on An Edible Mosaic on October 1, 2014. I updated it with more information on November 10, 2023.
I’m the writer, recipe developer, photographer, and food stylist behind this blog. I love finding the human connection through something we all do every day: eat! Food is a common ground that we can all relate to, and our tables tell a story. It’s my goal to inspire you to get in the kitchen, try something new, and find a favorite you didn’t know you had.
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Yummy! I adore scones, and pumpkin even more! This is my hybrid heaven hehe :) Need to pin! They would go amazing with some clotted cream.
Love these! The pumpkin cream sounds to die for!
I can’t stop won’t stop with the pumpkin! And I refuse to apologize for it. Weekend breakfast. THat’s what these are.
These scones sound absolutely delicious, and definitelly perfect for the beginning of October! I bet they would be amazing with a big mug of steaming tea. :)
Beautiful scones and I love that creamy topper!
Can’t go wrong with a good scone! Love this!
Splendid and extremely tempting!
Cheers,
Rosa