Perfectly Spiced Pumpkin Scones

How to make our spiced pumpkin scones inspired by Starbucks. These always get rave reviews!

Watch the Video

Pumpkin Scones Recipe Video

Related: We love these easy pumpkin cupcakes!

How to Make Our Perfectly Spiced Pumpkin Scones

These pumpkin scones are the best. We just love them. We add lots of pumpkin and fall spices to the dough and they have not one, but two glazes. One is a simple white glaze and the other, a pumpkin spice glaze that gets drizzled on top.

How to make our spiced pumpkin scones recipe inspired by Starbucks.

These scones are easy to make and worth the effort (they are so delicious). The scones are fantastic warm and at room temperature. You can make them with or without the glazes — we like both options.

Before we get to the glaze, let’s talk about how to make the best scones.

The trick to making the best scones is cold butter — if it isn’t cold, you’re done before you even get started. It’s the cold bits of butter in scones that makes them tender. We use cold butter for every scone recipe on this blog including our cranberry cream scones and these blackberry lemon scones.

It’s also really important to not overwork the dough — the same goes for homemade flaky biscuits and butter pie crust.

To make the scones, we combine dry ingredients with lots of fall spices. Then we “cut” in cold butter. Do this by hand or by pulsing everything in a food processor.

The trick to making the best scones is cold butter -- if it isn't cold, you're done before you even get started.

When it resembles coarse crumbs, add the wet ingredients. This is where the pumpkin puree comes in. When mixed, you’ve got your dough. Pat it into a rectangle and then cut into whatever shape you like — we go for triangles.

By the way, do you see all those specks of butter? That’s what makes these scones rise, tender, and delicious!

Pat it into a rectangle and then cut into whatever shape you like -- we go for triangles.

After baking and cooling, you can glaze them. I mentioned above that you can absolutely leave these plain without any glaze at all. You can also just use one glaze, but if you’re really going for it, add both glazes. The flaky scone with both glazes look and taste like perfection. Highly recommended ?

After baking, you can glaze the pumpkin scones.

The first glaze is simple — just half and half or cream and powdered sugar. The second starts the same, but we also add pumpkin puree and extra spices. Once glazed, you’re done! Grab a cup of coffee or a homemade pumpkin spice latte and enjoy.

Glazed Pumpkin Scones

More Easy Pumpkin Recipes

Spiced Pumpkin Scones

Perfectly Spiced Pumpkin Scones

  • PREP
  • COOK
  • TOTAL

The inspiration for this pumpkin scones recipe was a popular treat from Starbucks! I know it looks like a lot of ingredients, but trust us, the recipe is easy to make. There are two glazes shared below. The scones are delicious with both, but you could use one or leave the scones plain. We’ve had them all three ways and loved them all.

Makes 16 Scones

Watch Us Make the Recipe

You Will Need

Pumpkin Scones

2 cups (280 grams) all-purpose flour

1/3 cup (65 grams) brown sugar

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

3/4 teaspoon ground ginger

3/4 teaspoon ground cloves

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

8 tablespoons (115 grams or 1 stick) cold unsalted butter

1/2 cup (115 grams) pumpkin puree, see our homemade pumpkin puree recipe

1 tablespoon molasses (we use Blackstrap Unsulphured Molasses)

3 tablespoons half and half or cream

1 large egg

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Simple Sugar Glaze

1 cup (125 grams) powdered sugar, sifted

1 to 2 tablespoons half and half or cream

Pumpkin Spice Glaze

1 cup (125 grams) powdered sugar, sifted

1 tablespoon pumpkin puree, see our homemade pumpkin puree recipe

1/8 teaspoon cloves

1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/8 teaspoon ground ginger

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 to 2 tablespoons half and half or cream

Directions

  • Make Dough
  • 1Center a rack in the middle of the oven and heat oven to 400ºF. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Or use non-stick cooking spray.

    2Whisk the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, cloves and nutmeg together until blended.

    3Cut the butter into small cubes then scatter over the flour mixture. Use two knives or a pastry cutter to “cut” the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse cornmeal with a few pea-sized bits of butter, about 5 minutes. (You could also use a food processor for this – if using, add flour mixture to the bowl of a food processor, add the cold butter cubes. Then pulse three to four times until the mixture looks like coarse cornmeal or crumbs).

    4In a separate bowl, whisk the pumpkin puree, molasses, half and half, egg and vanilla extract until blended.

    5Stir the pumpkin mixture into the flour and butter mixture until a soft dough forms. Transfer the dough to a floured surface. Knead three to four times until it comes together.

  • Bake Scones
  • 1Pat the dough into a 10-inch by 7-inch rectangle (a rolling pin can be used here). Cut the rectangle in half lengthwise then cut into 4 even pieces crosswise, making eight rectangles. Cut each rectangle into two triangles, making 16 scones.Spiced Pumpkin Scones Recipe

    2Transfer scones to the baking sheet then bake 10 to 15 minutes or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean. Transfer to a wire rack and cool completely.

  • Make Glazes
  • 1For the simple sugar glaze, add the sugar to a medium bowl then add one tablespoon of half and half. Stir then judge the consistency. If when you pick a spoon up and out of the glaze it slowly drizzles back into the glaze, it is fine. If it is too thick, add a little more half and half (a little goes a long way, here). If it is too thin, add a little more powdered sugar.

    2In another bowl, make the pumpkin spice glaze. Combine the sugar, pumpkin puree, spices then add one tablespoon of half and half. Stir and check consistency. Adjust the same way as you would the simple glaze.

  • To Finish
  • 1Dip each cooled scone directly into the simple sugar glaze then place glazed side up back onto the cooling rack.

    2Use a spoon to drizzle a zigzag pattern of the pumpkin spice glaze across each scone. Wait 15 minutes or until the glaze has set then enjoy!

    3Store baked and glazed scones covered with plastic wrap. We recommend storing in the refrigerator if storing them for more than a day. They will lose a little moisture, but will still taste great.

Adam and Joanne's Tips

  • Molasses: This adds a backbone to the flavor of these scones. If you do not have any and do not wish to buy a whole bottle for 1 tablespoon, you can leave it out. The scones are still delicious without it.
  • Make Ahead Tip: You can freeze unbaked scone dough. Chill cut scones in the freezer until firm, and then transfer to resealable plastic bags. Keep up to a month. Bake in a 400ºF oven straight from the freezer. (They may take a few extra minutes).
  • Nutrition Facts: The nutrition facts provided below are estimates. We have used the USDA Supertracker recipe calculator to calculate approximate values.

If you make this recipe, snap a photo and hashtag it #inspiredtaste — We love to see your creations on Instagram and Facebook! Find us: @inspiredtaste

Nutrition Per Serving Serving Size 1 scone / Calories 197 / Protein 2 g / Carbohydrate 32 g / Dietary Fiber 1 g / Total Sugars 19 g / Total Fat 7 g / Saturated Fat 4 g / Cholesterol 29 mg
AUTHOR:  Adam and Joanne Gallagher

Recipe updated, originally posted October 2012. Since posting this in 2012, we have tweaked the recipe to be more clear. – Adam and Joanne

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194 comments… Leave a Review
  • Angela Schmidt February 7, 2024, 4:05 pm

    A very delicious recipe – hard to stop eating it. Just right sweetness and blend of spices. Made the recipe to use up some of my Pumpkin purée.

    Reply
  • Tracy March 21, 2023, 8:21 pm

    Picture perfect and delicious! Thank you for sharing this recipe. My son’s picky friend asked for some scones to take home with him. I don’t think my texture was very scone like but it was probably due to me not using cold butter.

    Reply
  • Aimee October 2, 2022, 6:21 pm

    Had to add some extra flour (maybe 1/3 cup?) to make the dough handle-able; subbed cardamom for the cloves; skipped the glaze but dipped each piece in coarse sugar before baking. These were a big hit with my family and they’re easy to prep ahead and then bake from frozen.

    Reply
  • Lydia December 26, 2021, 6:31 am

    This recipe is easy to follow and the scones are so delicious! I love making them when I have a bit of pumpkin left that I don’t know what to do with. Definitely a favorite pumpkin recipe!

    Reply
  • Jill C September 30, 2021, 6:21 pm

    Made this today and had one to try~. Super delicious! I only bothered to glaze with the pumpkin and seasoning though 😉 I’m also leaving four unglazed for members of my family who don’t like frosting but whatever that’s just me being nice. I’ll have my family try them after dinner. Easy recipe and quick to make. Thanks!

    Reply
  • Peggy November 21, 2020, 3:38 pm

    I just made the Pumpkin scones. They are the best I have ever had. Love the glaze. I separated the dough and put chocolate chips in the second batch.

    Reply
  • Eileen Wong November 4, 2020, 12:22 pm

    This recipe was nice in texture and sweetness, however, way too spiced. I will reduce cloves to 1/4 teaspoon next time.

    Reply
  • GmaJ November 2, 2020, 12:16 am

    I don’t have a picture nor did I make these scones, but I did eat one. I baby sat my toddler grandson today – had not had breakfast when I spotted these beautiful pumpkin scones on the counter. Of course I helped myself. I was sure a professional or experienced baker made them because they were so delicious and beautiful. Found out my firefighter son made them. I’ll definitely be making these. Yum!

    Reply
  • Roberta October 31, 2020, 3:11 pm

    They’re in the oven as we speak, I can’t wait to get them glazed and enjoy them with a cup of coffee. I also split the dough in half and added minced dates, dried cranberries and coconut flakes to one half. I think that’s going to be amazing

    Reply
  • Mariah JS September 6, 2020, 12:17 pm

    I’m so excited to try this! I’m pregnant and my doctor has instructed me to not go out unless it is absolutely necessary since covid is so dangerous, especially when you are pregnant. I’ve been dreaming of pumpkin scones but have never made them! Making these tonight after my daughter goes to bed I hope she will love them too! Thank you for including a video it is super helpful!

    Reply
  • Olimpia March 31, 2020, 2:12 pm

    Sooo good! Tasts like spice cake. I only had salted butter and mixed the dry ingredients a bit too much in the food processor but they’re still delicious!

    Reply
  • Maryann Herrera November 18, 2019, 5:09 pm

    These were easy to pull together and tasted wonderfully light and flaky with great depth of pumpkin spice flavor. Not overly sweet even with the pumpkin glaze. No cloyingly artificial pumpkin spice taste either. I just used the pumpkin spice glaze to save some time. Did not sift my powdered sugar and the glaze easily came together smoothly without lumps. I did find I had to add about 3 tablespoons of cream to get to nice consistency. Perhaps it was due to using heavy cream which is so thick anyway.

    Reply
  • Catherine October 27, 2019, 4:59 pm

    Simply, excellent and as close to Starbucks as you could get!

    Reply

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