Pumpkin Spice Scones with a cup of coffee is the delicious way to celebrate the fall season. This pumpkin scone recipe is easy to make, has a soft and flakey texture, and is topped with not one, but two sweet glazes.
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Every fall I look forward to pumpkin muffins, pumpkin scones, and the pumpkin cream cold brew returning to Starbucks.
There is something so good about enjoying those pumpkin treats on a crisp fall day. The problem with indulging in these treats too often is that it can get expensive. I love finding ways to save money by making them in my own kitchen.
Plus, then you don't have to wait for pumpkin season to arrive. You can enjoy making these pumpkin scones all year long.
Why You Will Love This Starbucks Copycat
Pumpkin spice scones are perfect for breakfast, brunch, or an afternoon snack. Serve them with a pumpkin latte, apple cider tea, or a hot buttered rum for a cozy treat this fall.
They are easy to make, have a soft, flakey texture, and are the perfect blend of fall flavors.
Plus, the glaze on top of each spiced pumpkin scone makes them look and taste just like the Starbucks pumpkin scones.
The best part is that you can save yourself time and money by making this copycat recipe at home.
Main Ingredient Notes
You can make this recipe for pumpkin scones in no time at all with ingredients that you probably already have. And you don't need any fancy kitchen equipment, so anyone can make them.
- Flour - We use all purpose flour in most of our recipes. Learn how to measure flour, so recipes turn out right every time.
- Brown Sugar - Sweetens the dough slightly and keeps the scones moist.
- Pumpkin Pie Spice - This blend of spices gives the scones a delicious fall taste.
- Butter - To get the light and flakey texture make sure the butter is cold when you add it to the dry ingredients.
- Pumpkin Puree - Look for the can of pure pumpkin. The puree is not the same as pumpkin pie mix because the mix has added sugars and spices.
- Heavy Cream - Helps to form the dough and to add moisture to the texture.
- Glaze - A mixture of powdered sugar and heavy cream creates a light yet creamy glaze. Adding pumpkin pie spice to the same mixture is a fun way to give the scones a spice drizzle.
How to Make Pumpkin Scones
Homemade scones are actually quite easy to make. There is no need for a big mixer. In fact, all you need is a fork to pull the dough together in a mixing bowl.
Make the Dough
- Combine the dry ingredients. Mix it all together in a large bowl.
- Add the cold butter. Use a pastry blender (or fork) to cut the butter into the flour mixture. It should look like coarse crumbs with large chunks of butter throughout.
- Mix in the wet ingredients. Create a "well" in the center of the dry and pour in the cream, pumpkin, and vanilla. Gently pull it all together into a sticky dough using a fork.
- Chill the dough. Place the bowl of scone dough into the refrigerator for 20-30 minutes to chill the dough before touching it.
Bake the Scones
- Form the dough. Dump the dough onto a baking sheet lined with a Silpat or parchment paper. Press it into an 8 inch circle that is about 1 inch thick. Work quickly to avoid melting the butter.
- Chill the dough again. The heat from your hands will warm up the dough quickly and also melt the butter. It's best to chill it one more time before baking.
- Bake the scones. Place the tray in the oven and bake for about 25 minutes. Remove and let cool on the tray for 5 minutes; use a sharp knife to cut it into 8 wedges.
- Add the glaze. Stir together the powdered sugar and cream until smooth. Spread it on top of each scone with an offset spatula. Let set slightly.
- Make the spice glaze. Whisk together the sugar, spice, and cream until smooth. Spoon into a plastic baggie, cut one tip off, and drizzle over the tops of the scones.
BruCrew Tip: Do not skip the two different glazes! It's what makes these taste like the Starbucks pumpkin scone recipe.
Storage Recommendations
The glazed pumpkin scones will stay fresh for 2-3 days, if kept in a loosely sealed container at room temperature. Storing them in a tightly sealed container will make the glaze "disappear" into the scones.
They freeze well too. Wrap each one in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer safe bag or container and freeze for 1-2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
Tips and Tricks
- The most important thing when making scones is to use COLD ingredients. Keep the butter and cream in the refrigerator until you add them.
- Chill the dough in between steps to keep the butter from melting before you bake the breakfast treats. As the scones bake, these butter chunks melt and create flakey layers.
- Do not over mix the dough! It is a sticky dough and should look shaggy with chunks of butter in it.
- Change up the texture of the scones by adding nuts, chocolate chips, or dried fruit to the dough when you mix in the cream.
- Want these scones to look just like the Starbucks pumpkin scones? Pat the dough into an 8 inch square before baking. Once they are done, cut into 9 small squares and let cool.
- Make sure the scones are completely cool before adding the glaze. If they are even slightly warm, the glaze will melt off.
- Don't want to add the extra glaze? Sprinkle the top of the dough with turbinado sugar before baking. This will add a delicious and sweet crunch to the top of the pumpkin scones.
Recipe FAQ'S
Scones will usually bake flat if the dough is too soft or too warm when you add it to the oven. It is always best to avoid touching the dough too much and to chill the dough before baking it, so it is cold when you bake them.
Cold butter and dough is the secret to flakey scones. Refrigerating the dough for scones multiple times keeps the butter from melting into the dough. For the flakiest scones, you want the butter to melt during the baking, not before.
Homemade scones should have a slightly crunchy exterior with a soft, flakey texture inside.
Yes, pumpkin scones can be frozen. For best result, freeze the scones before adding any type of frosting or glaze. Wrap each one individually in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer bag for at least 1 month.
Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before frosting and serving.
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Recipe
Pumpkin Spice Scones
Pumpkin Spice Scones with a cup of coffee is the delicious way to celebrate the fall season. This pumpkin scone recipe is easy to make, has a soft and flakey texture, and is topped with not one, but two sweet glazes.
Ingredients
For the Scones
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- ¼ cup packed brown sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon table salt
- 1 ½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- 6 tablespoons cold unsalted butter
- ¾ cup heavy whipping cream
- ½ cup pumpkin puree
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 3 ½ tablespoons heavy whipping cream
For the Spice Drizzle
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1 1 /2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
- 1 ½ tablespoons heavy whipping cream
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, stir together flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and pumpkin pie spice. Add the cold butter, and cut in until the butter is in small pieces.
- Create a well in the dry ingredients. Pour in heavy cream, pumpkin, and vanilla. Use a fork to pull it into a shaggy dough. It will be sticky, and you should see butter chunks. Refrigerate the dough for 20-30 minutes.
- Place the dough on a sheet pan lined with a Silpat. Gently pat it into an 8" circle that is about 1" thick. Avoid touching it too much, as the heat for your hands will heat up the dough.
- Place pan of dough in the refrigerator for another 30 minutes to chill. Preheat oven to 400° F.
- Bake 25 minutes. Remove and let cool on pan for 5 minutes. Use a large knife to cut the disc into 8 scones. Gently pull them apart and continue cooling on the pan until they are room temperature.
- Whisk together the glaze ingredients until smooth and creamy. Spread evenly on the tops of the cooled scones. Let set for a few minutes.
- Whisk together the spice drizzle ingredients until smooth. Spoon into a plastic baggie and cut one corner off. Drizzle over the tops of the glazed scones. Let set. Store in a loosely sealed container.
Notes
- The most important thing when making scones is to use COLD ingredients. Keep the butter and cream in the refrigerator until you add them.
- Chill the dough in between steps to keep the butter from melting before you bake the breakfast treats. As the scones bake, these butter chunks melt and create flakey layers.
- Do not over mix the dough! It is a sticky dough and should look shaggy with chunks of butter in it.
- Change up the texture of the scones by adding nuts, chocolate chips, or dried fruit to the dough when you mix in the cream.
- Want these scones to look just like the Starbucks pumpkin scones? Pat the dough into an 8 inch square before baking. Once they are done, cut into 9 small squares and let cool.
- Make sure the scones are completely cool before adding the glaze. If they are even slightly warm, the glaze will melt off.
- Don't want to add the extra glaze? Sprinkle the top of the dough with turbinado sugar before baking. This will add a delicious and sweet crunch to the top of the pumpkin scones.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 409Total Fat: 20gSaturated Fat: 13gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 59mgSodium: 171mgCarbohydrates: 53gFiber: 1gSugar: 27gProtein: 4g
Nutrition facts are an estimate and are not guaranteed to be accurate. If you need special diet advice, please see a registered dietician.
*These Pumpkin Spice Scones was first published October 2012. The post and pictures were redone and the post was republished November 2022.
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Alexandra
Mmm! Perfect for breakfast with coffee!
Brittany
Can you substitue instant espresso for the coffee granules?
Jocelyn
I think that would work just fine too. It will just be a stronger coffee flavor.
Mackenzie
Oh my word! You and your recipes get me everytime! 🙂 I am totally making these! You are a featured favorite this week on Saturday Show & Tell on Cheerios and Lattes! Thanks for sharing this last week, we can't wait to see what you'll share this week! Have a great weekend!
Mackenzie 🙂