Here’s a detailed breakdown of what you’ll need to create these amazing pumpkin pecan scones:

• All-Purpose Flour: The foundation of our scones, providing structure. Sifting it can help create a lighter texture.
• Light Brown Sugar: Adds sweetness, moisture, and a lovely caramel note that pairs wonderfully with pumpkin.
• Baking Powder: Our primary leavening agent, responsible for the scones’ beautiful rise and fluffy interior. Ensure it’s fresh for best results.
• Kosher Salt (Morton’s): Crucial for balancing the sweetness and enhancing all the other flavors.
• Pumpkin Spice Blend: The heart of the autumn flavor profile, typically a mix of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves. You can use a store-bought blend or make your own for maximum freshness.
• Unsalted Butter (very cold): This is perhaps the most critical ingredient for flaky scones. The cold butter creates steam pockets during baking, resulting in those desirable layers. Cut into small cubes for easier incorporation.
• Pumpkin Puree (not pie mix): Ensure you use pure pumpkin puree, often found in a can. Pumpkin pie mix contains added sugars and spices that will throw off the recipe’s balance.
• Whole Milk: Adds richness and helps bring the dough together. Cold milk is preferred to keep the butter firm.
• Egg: Acts as a binder and contributes to the scone’s rich flavor and golden-brown crust.
• Vanilla Extract: A splash of vanilla enhances the overall sweetness and aromatic profile of the scones.
• Pecans (toasted and chopped): Provides a delightful crunch and nutty flavor that complements the pumpkin perfectly. Toasting them beforehand deepens their flavor.
• Powdered Sugar: The base for our smooth, sweet maple glaze.
• Maple Syrup: Adds natural sweetness and an incredible depth of flavor to the glaze, making it truly special.
• Additional Whole Milk: Used to thin the glaze to the perfect consistency.
• Extra Pumpkin Pie Spice: A final touch in the glaze to tie all the flavors together harmoniously.

For precise measurements and detailed instructions, please consult the complete recipe card found at the bottom of this post. It contains all the exact quantities you’ll need for a successful bake.

Expert Notes & Baking Tips for Ultimate Scone Success

Achieving the perfect scone involves a few tried-and-true techniques that can elevate your baking from good to absolutely outstanding. Here are some essential notes and tips to ensure your Pumpkin Scones are everything you dream of:

• The Power of Cold Butter: This cannot be stressed enough! Very cold butter is the secret to flaky scones. As the cold butter melts in the hot oven, it releases steam, creating pockets of air that result in those desirable, airy layers. If your butter starts to warm up during the mixing process, you can even pop the bowl of dry ingredients and butter into the freezer for 10-15 minutes before adding the wet ingredients.
• Chilling for Extra Lift: For an even higher rise and flakier texture, consider chilling your shaped scones before baking. Transfer the cut scones to a lined baking sheet and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or even freeze for 15 minutes. This firms up the butter even more. While I often skip this step due to impatience, it undeniably yields superior results for those willing to wait a little longer.
• Don’t Overmix the Dough: Scone dough should be handled gently and minimally. Overmixing develops the gluten in the flour, which can lead to tough, dense scones instead of light and tender ones. Mix just until the ingredients are combined and no dry flour streaks remain. A slightly shaggy dough is perfectly fine.
• Freezing Scone Dough for Later: This recipe is fantastic for meal prepping! You can freeze the scone dough after kneading and cutting. Arrange the raw scone wedges on a baking sheet and freeze them flat until solid (about 1-2 hours). Once frozen, transfer them to a zip-top freezer bag or airtight container. They will keep for up to 3 months. When ready to bake, you can bake them directly from frozen, adding an extra 5-10 minutes to the baking time, or let them thaw slightly on the counter before baking as usual. This allows you to enjoy fresh-baked scones any time!
• Storage of Baked Scones: While these scones are truly best enjoyed fresh on the day they are made, leftovers can be stored. Place cooled, glazed scones in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. To revive their fresh-baked texture, warm them gently. A quick 15-20 second burst in the microwave is usually enough to soften them, or you can warm them in a preheated oven at 300°F (150°C) for 5-7 minutes until just warm through.

Versatile Substitutions for Your Pumpkin Scone Recipe

One of the best aspects of baking is the flexibility to adapt recipes to suit dietary needs or ingredient availability. This pumpkin scone recipe is quite forgiving and offers several substitution options without compromising on flavor or texture:

• Gluten-Free Version: Making these scones gluten-free is simple. You can use a high-quality cup-for-cup gluten-free flour blend that contains xanthan gum. Just swap it in at a 1:1 ratio for the all-purpose flour, and you’ll achieve perfectly delicious gluten-free scones.
• Sugar Alternatives: If light brown sugar isn’t on hand, you can easily use dark brown sugar for a richer, deeper molasses flavor. If you’re completely out of brown sugar, granulated sugar works in a pinch. To replicate some of the moisture and flavor of brown sugar, add a tablespoon of molasses to your wet ingredients when using granulated sugar.
• Salt Variations: The recipe calls for Morton’s Kosher Salt. If you typically use Diamond Crystal Kosher Salt, which is less dense, you’ll need to double the amount of salt in the recipe to achieve the same seasoning level. For table salt, reduce the amount by half.
• Butter Options: While unsalted butter allows for better control over the salt content, you can use salted butter if that’s all you have. If you do, remember to reduce the amount of added kosher salt in the recipe by half to avoid overly salty scones.
• Pumpkin Puree vs. Pumpkin Pie Mix: It’s critical to use pure pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie mix. Pumpkin pie mix contains added sugars, spices, and sometimes other ingredients that will significantly alter the flavor and texture of your scones. Always check the label!
• Beyond Pumpkin: Get creative with other purees! You can easily transform these into delicious sweet potato scones or butternut squash scones by simply swapping out the pumpkin puree for an equal amount of cooked and pureed sweet potato or butternut squash. Ensure the consistency is similar to pumpkin puree.
• Dairy-Free Adaptation: To make this recipe dairy-free, swap the unsalted butter for a high-quality plant-based butter substitute (look for sticks, not tubs, for better baking results). For the whole milk, use a rich, full-fat plant-based milk like cashew milk or full-fat oat milk, as these options mimic the fat content and creaminess of dairy milk, which is important for scone texture.
• Nut-Free or Other Nuts: If you have nut allergies or simply prefer a nut-free scone, feel free to omit the pecans entirely. This will bring your scones even closer to the texture and taste of the classic Starbucks pumpkin scone (minus the caramel drizzle). Alternatively, walnuts can be a wonderful substitute for pecans, offering a slightly different but equally delicious nutty crunch.
• Starbucks Pumpkin Scone Copycat Hack: If you’re chasing that exact Starbucks flavor profile from yesteryear, omit the pecans from the dough. After glazing, consider adding a drizzle of homemade caramel sauce over the maple glaze. This combination, without the nuts, is a very close replica to the fondly remembered coffee shop favorite.

Explore More Irresistible Pumpkin Recipes!

If you’re a true pumpkin enthusiast and love bringing those beloved coffee shop flavors home, I have a few more recipes you absolutely must try:

For another delightful Starbucks-inspired treat that’s incredibly economical to make at home, whip up my Pumpkin Spice Bread. It tastes just like the popular loaf from your favorite coffee giant, but with the added satisfaction of homemade goodness.

If you’re looking to incorporate pumpkin in a deliciously savory way, don’t miss my unique and incredibly satisfying Pumpkin Beer Cheese Lasagna. It’s got a hint of spice and a whole lot of deliciousness that will surprise and impress!

And for a perfect start to any crisp autumn weekend, my absolute favorite pumpkin recipe that makes a regular appearance every fall is my stack of fluffy Pumpkin Spice Pancakes. They’re a truly heartwarming breakfast.

Finally, if you need a show-stopping dessert to feed a crowd during the holidays, you absolutely have to try my friend’s stunning Pumpkin Trifle. It looks incredibly delicious and is sure to be a festive centerpiece!