Name: Easy Pumpkin Scones with Cinnamon Glaze
Prep time: 16 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 31 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 cups all-purpose flour; 1/2 cup sugar; 1 tablespoon baking powder; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin spice; 6 tablespoons butter, frozen; 1/2 cup pumpkin puree; 3 tablespoons half & half; 1 large egg; 1/2 cup powdered sugar; 3 teaspoons milk; 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 1/8 teaspoon pumpkin spice

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These pumpkin scones have just the right amount of pumpkin spice and a drizzle of cinnamon glaze for a heavenly treat on a crisp autumn day.

If that description doesn’t make your mouth water a little, a batch of these scones baking in the oven definitely will.

closeup view of pumpkin scone on a plate

How to make Perfect Scones

No matter the flavor or recipe, the perfect scone should be:

Soft and buttery on the inside with fine crumbs
Crisped golden brown exterior (that’s not tough)
Domed tops

And if this is your first time, the tips below will produce scones that check all the boxes:

Use frozen butter
Frozen butter will melt as the dough bakes, creating a pocket that gives each scone that soft, tender texture.

Grate the butter
Fine shreds of frozen butter are much easier to work into the flour. The mixture should resemble small pebbles, which means small bits of butter throughout the dough, making a better-tasting scone.

Don’t overmix
Mix the wet and dry ingredients until just combined, so the gluten isn’t overworked and scones don’t turn out tough and chewy.

The gluten in the all-purpose flour is a protein that forms a strong bond with the other ingredients the more it’s worked. This is often the biggest culprit to tough baked goods and scones.

Half & half
The fat and consistency in the cream contribute to the buttery flavor and fine crumbs in baked scones. I don’t recommend a substitute unless it’s buttermilk.

Keep the dough as cold as possible
Scones at room temperature will spread out and flatten. To avoid this, start with cold butter, egg, and cream. You can also refrigerate the dough for 15 minutes prior to baking.

Related: More Pumpkin Breakfast Ideas

Make next: Pumpkin Brownies

Pumpkin Scone Ingredients

The ingredients for pumpkin scones are very simple, even down to the Cinnamon Glaze. I don’t recommend making ingredient substitutions if they aren’t noted below. This is due to how finicky scone dough can be, and trust me, I’ve tried it all.

Here’s everything you’ll need to make pumpkin scones:

all-purpose flour
sugar
baking powder
salt
pumpkin spice- or blend of cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and ginger
butter
pumpkin puree
half & half- heavy cream or buttermilk also work
egg

For the cinnamon glaze you will need:

powdered sugar
milk
cinnamon

I also have a gluten-free pumpkin scone recipe that’s tried and true. It uses a combination of brown rice flour, tapioca starch, and xantham gum.

As I stated above, it’s not as simple as swapping ingredients, but this recipe has the ratios down pact and makes a delicious scone that doesn’t taste gluten-free.

I also have a Grain-Free Paleo Pumpkin Scone Recipe here.

Making Easy Pumpkin Scones

With no further ado, let’s get into the science of making the perfect pumpkin scone, or scones for that matter, because yes, baking is science.

Prepare
Preheat the oven to 425F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease a scone pan.

Combine the dry ingredients
In a large bowl combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and spice.

Cut in the butter
Grate the butter into the dry mixture using a cheese grater. Using your hands combine the butter and flour mixture until it comes together in pea-sized crumbs.

Make the dough
In a separate bowl, whisk the pumpkin, cream, and egg until smooth. Pour the mixture into the dry ingredients and mix until just combined. The dough should be sticky but holds together. A few folds or whirls of the mixer should do the trick, you don’t want to overmix.

Cut into scones
Transfer the dough to a floured surface and make a large circle, about 1-inch thick. Using a knife, slice the circle into 6 to 8 triangles and place onto the baking sheet or a scone pan.

If the dough is at room temperature, place it in the refrigerator for 15 minutes or until chilled.

Bake
Bake until they are lightly browned. Remove them from the oven and allow to cool.

Make the glaze
In a medium bowl, combine the sugar, milk, and spices. Whisk until smooth.

Drizzle
Using a spoon, drizzle the glaze over the cooled scones. Serve with a cup of hot coffee and enjoy!

Pumpkin Scone Dough Consistency

Pumpkin scone dough should hold together like biscuit dough but slightly stickier. There should be just enough liquid, so the dry ingredients are combined, but wet enough that the dough can rise. You can get a visual example in the video below:

How to Store Pumpkin Scones

If you have leftover pumpkin scones and want to make sure every crumb is savored, there are 2 ways to store scones so you can reheat and enjoy them later in the week.

Store at room temperature

Place the cooled scones in an airtight container at room temperature for 2 days or refrigerate for up to 4 days.
Anything past 4 days and they will need to be frozen.
If you want a warm scone, place them in the microwave for 30 seconds or a 300F oven until heated through.

Freeze baked scones

Once the scones are cooled and frosted, place them in a freezer-safe zip bag or airtight container.
Seal and freeze for up to 2 months.
To reheat, remove the desired amount of scones from the freezer and defrost at room temperature. Warm in the microwave for 30 seconds or a 300F oven until heated through.

What to Serve with Pumpkin Scones

Now that you’ve put in all the hard work, it’s time to enjoy a warm scone with your choice of beverage. This is the part where you can make it a coffee shop experience from the comfort of your home, and I have included a few recipes to help you do just that: