PUMPKIN SCONES

DOUBLE–GLAZED PUMPKIN SCONES by NancyCreative, adapted from Food.com

http://nancycreative.com/2011/10/04/pumpkin-scones-as-good-as-starbucks-or-maybe-even-better/

• 2 cups all-purpose unbleached flour
• 7 Tablespoons packed brown sugar (or about 1/2 cup)
• 1 Tablespoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
• 6 Tablespoons cold butter
• 1/2 cup canned pumpkin
• 3 Tablespoons half and half
• 1 large egg

POWDERED SUGAR GLAZE

• 1 cup plus 1 Tablespoon powdered sugar
• 2 Tablespoons half and half

SPICED GLAZE

• 1 cup plus 3 Tablespoons powdered sugar
• 2 Tablespoons half and half
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 pinch ginger
• 1 pinch ground cloves

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Lightly grease a baking sheet or line with parchment paper (I used parchment paper and it worked out great). Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and spices in a large bowl. Using a pastry blender, fork, or food processor, cut butter into the dry ingredients until mixture is crumbly and no chunks of butter are obvious; set aside.

In a medium bowl, whisk together pumpkin, half and half, and egg. Fold wet ingredients into dry ingredients. Form the dough into a ball.

Pat out dough onto a lightly-floured surface and form it into a 1-inch thick rectangle, about 9 inches long and 3 inches wide. Use a large knife or pizza cutter to slice the dough twice through the width, making three equal portions. Cut those three slices diagonally so you have 6 triangular slices of dough (I dipped my knife in flour as I was cutting the pieces, and it definitely made the cutting easier). Place the 6 slices of dough on your prepared baking sheet. Bake at 425 degrees for 14 to 16 minutes, until scones just begin to turn light brown (I baked mine for 15 minutes). Place on wire rack to cool.

While scones are cooling, make the first glaze…

POWDERED SUGAR GLAZE: Mix the powdered sugar and half and half together, blending until smooth.

When scones are cool, either use a brush to paint the glaze over the top of each scone, or just put a dollop of glaze on the scone with a teaspoon and use the back of the spoon to spread the glaze over the top.

As the glaze firms up, make the second glaze…

SPICED GLAZE: Combine the powdered sugar and half and half, blending until smooth. Then add in the spices, and blend mixture until smooth.

Drizzle this thicker glaze over each scone (I just used a teaspoon to drizzle it, but you can also use a whisk or plastic squirt bottle–whatever you find easiest). Allow the icing to dry about an hour before serving.

Enjoy these scones with your favorite coffee or hot tea…perfect on a chilly autumn morning!