Pumpkin Spice Scones

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After mastering my basic scone recipes, I developed an easy and delicious pumpkin scone recipe by adjusting the flour-to-pumpkin puree ratio to achieve the perfect texture. Even if you’re a beginner, you can follow my simple steps, plus tips on flour measurement and scone-making secrets, to create the best pumpkin scones!

a baking sheet lined with a silicone mat with two rows of glazed pumpkin scones on it, fall leaves, cinnamon sticks and star anise scattered around

You’ll Love this recipe for Pumpkin Scones!

I have spent quite a bit of time mastering my scone recipes, and I after a lot of work, I am really excited to share this easy pumpkin scones recipe with you! For this recipe, I tweaked my base recipe to incorporate pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie spice.

I learned while testing my base recipe to make raspberry white chocolate chip scones and blueberry scones, that I would need to add additional flour. In those recipes, the fruit adds so much extra moisture and that’s exactly what the pumpkin puree does in this recipe. The additional flour is needed to balance it out and create the right scone texture.

I tested a few different flour-to-puree ratios before landing on the perfect ratio and being satisfied that I had just made the best pumpkin scones! Make sure you keep reading so you don’t miss all my best tips, including how to properly measure flour and all my scone-making secrets.

over head view of the ingredients for pumpkin scones including all-purpose flour, egg, pumpkin pie spice, baking powder, salt, granulated sugar, buttermilk, pumpkin puree and cubed cold butter

Pumpkin Scone Ingredients

These classic pumpkin scones use simple ingredients to create a delicious treat, perfect for Fall and pumpkin season. See the full recipe with measurements and instructions in the recipe card below. Here’s what you’ll need:

All-purpose flour
Granulated sugar
Baking powder
Pumpkin pie spice
Salt
Cold unsalted butter: cubed
Buttermilk: Or make homemade buttermilk
Pumpkin puree: I used 100% canned pumpkin puree
Egg

Glaze

Powdered sugar
Milk
Pumpkin pie spice

a pumpkin scone broken in half with one half leaning on the other on a small white plate on top of a wood platter, with a cup of coffee and more scones in the background and fall leaves, cinnamon sticks and star anise scattered around

What type of flour is best for scones?

All-purpose flour is the best flour for making scones, because it creates a scone that rises nicely and has that scone texture we all know and love. Just be sure to follow my tips below to properly measure your flour!

How to Properly Measure Flour

The most accurate way to measure flour is to use a kitchen scale, weighing it in grams.

If you don’t have a kitchen scale, follow this method.

Aerate the flour with a whisk or spoon. Flour becomes heavy and compact as it sits. Aerating is the same as fluffing the flour, but not the same as sifting it. Do not sift the flour unless the recipe specifically calls for it.
Use a spoon to sprinkle the flour into the measuring cup. Do not tap the cup against the counter, as this will compact the flour.
Use the back of a butter knife to level off the excess.

two glazed pumpkin scones on a wood platter with star anise, fall leaves and cinnamon sticks scattered around and a cup of black coffee and more scones in the background

What type of pumpkin puree is best for scones?

I recommend using canned 100% pure pumpkin puree. It contains only pumpkin and no other ingredients, so you can control the pumpkin spice flavor and the level of sweetness. Other options like pumpkin pie filling contain sugar and spices, so if you use this you won’t have control over the sweetness and spices.

glazed pumpkin scones on a wire rack with fall leaves and cinnamon sticks scattered around below it

How to make Pumpkin Scones

You can feel confident that you can make a delicious pumpkin scone recipe at home, even with no baking experience, when you follow my easy recipe. Here are the step-by-step instructions:

Remove moisture from pumpkin puree. To remove excess moisture from the pumpkin puree, place the pumpkin puree in a few paper towels on a plate. Fold the paper towels over the puree, so it’s completely enclosed. The excess moisture will soak into the paper towels within a few minutes. This step is critical.

over head view of a clear glass bowl with a flour mixture and cubes of butter

over head view of a clear glass bowl with a flour mixture and cubed cold butter with a pastry cutter

Mix dry ingredients. In a large bowl combine the flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, pumpkin pie spice and salt. Add in the cold, cubed butter and use your hands or a pastry cutter to cut in the butter until pea sized amounts of butter remain.

over head view of milk and pumpkin puree in a large glass measuring cup

over head view of a pumpkin puree mix in a large glass measuring cup

Mix wet ingredients and add to dry ingredients. Create a well in the center of the flour mixture. In a small mixing bowl combine the buttermilk, pumpkin puree and egg. Pour this mixture into the flour and use a spatula to gently combine until the dough is thick and sticky.

over head view of a clear glass bowl with a flour mixture and a pumpkin puree mixture in the middle, not yet mixed together

over head view of pumpkin scone dough in a clear glass bowl

Knead dough. On a silicone mat or kitchen counter, gently knead the dough, until all the flour is incorporated. Add 1-2 additional tablespoons of flour if the dough is too sticky.
Lamination (folding the dough to create flaky layers!): Fold the dough in half, press it down slightly, then turn the dough 90 degrees and fold in half again. Repeat this folding and turning process 4-5 times.

over head view of a circle of scone dough on a baking sheet lined with a silicone mat

over head view of pumpin scone dough in a circle, sliced in triangles on a baking sheet lined with a silicone mat

Shape and chill. Shape the pumpkin scone dough into an 8-10 inch disc that is about 1.5 to 2 inches tall. Refrigerate the scone in a disc for 5-10 minutes.
Cut scones. Use a sharp knife or pizza cutter to cut the scones into 8 equal wedges.

over head view of pumpkin scone dough in triangles on a baking sheet lined with a silicone baking mat

over head view of two rows of pumpkin scones on a baking sheet lined with a silicone baking mat

Prep baking sheet with scones. Place the scones 2-3 inches apart on a baking sheet that’s lined with a silicone mat or parchment paper.
Chill scones. Freeze the scones for 30 minutes. The last 5 minutes, preheat the oven to 400º F.
Add egg wash. If you won’t be adding the glaze, brush the tops of the scones with egg wash (1 large egg + 1 Tbsp water), buttermilk or heavy cream. Add coarse sanding sugar to the top of the scones if desired.

pumpkin scone dough cut in triangles in rows on a baking sheet lined with a silicone baking mat

a glaze being drizzled over a pumpkin scone on a baking sheet with rows of scones

Bake and cool. Bake on the prepared baking sheet for 20-26 minutes or until the scones are lightly golden. Allow the scones to cool.
Glaze. In a small mixing bowl combine the powdered sugar, milk, and pumpkin pie spice. If the glaze is too thin, add more powdered sugar 1-2 teaspoons at a time. Drizzle over the cooled scones.

a glazed pumpkin scone on a small white plate on top of a wood platter, with star anise beside it, a cup of coffee in the background and fall leaves and cinnamon sticks scattered around

Pumpkin Scone Recipe Tips

If you love pumpkin recipes, this is going to become one of your new favorites. For best results, follow these tips:

Use cold unsalted butter: Starting with cold butter is key to success in this recipe. You can even cube and then freeze your butter before making your scone dough.
Don’t skip the freezing step: Freezing scones before baking helps maintain their shape, prevents excessive spreading, and enhances the texture of the scone by keeping the butter cold. Scones are delicate and prone to spreading during baking. Freezing the dough helps to firm up the fat (the butter) in the dough which prevents excessive spreading and helps them retain their shape during baking. When these cold chunks of butter hit the heat of the oven, they create steam, which contributes to the flakiness and lightness of the scones.
To store the scones: To store scones, first make sure they cool completely. If you seal them up in a container while still warm, the condensation can make them soggy. Once completely cooled, store the scones in an airtight container or ziploc bag in a cool, dry place at room temperature for 1-2 days. Avoid refrigerating as they can dry out the scones.
Freezing scones: If you need to store them for longer, you can freeze them for up to one month. Just thaw them at room temperature before serving.
Gluten-free scones: If you need to make these gluten-free, just swap the flour for gluten-free flour. I recommend King Arthur’s Gluten Free Measure for Measure Flour.

pumpkin scones on a wood plate with star anise, fall leaves and cinnamon sticks scattered around

Pumpkin Spice Scones Recipe FAQs

What to avoid when making scones?

There are a few things to avoid to make delicious scones. First, avoid overmixing the dough, as it can develop too much gluten and result in tough, dense scones. You also want to avoid letting the butter get too warm. Cold butter is key for creating the flaky texture of scones. Finally, avoid baking at a low temperature, as scones need a hot oven (around 400°F) to rise properly and develop a crisp exterior.

Why won’t my pumpkin scones rise?

If your pumpkin scones aren’t rising, check your leavening agents to ensure they’re fresh and used in the right amount. Overmixing the dough or using butter that’s not cold enough can also cause dense scones. Additionally, too much moisture from the pumpkin puree may require more flour, and a hot oven (around 400°F) is crucial for a good rise. Lastly, make sure your scones are thick enough before baking to allow for proper lift.