Pumpkin Scones

Are you one of those people who thinks pumpkin baked goods should be reserved for Fall?  I am definitely not.  I'll eat pumpkin any time of the year.  Especially if it comes in the form of something sweet, like these scones.  I gotta say, these scones are different than any other scone I have ever made.  They are actually kind of fluffy and fall apart easily (as you can see from the picture).  Add in the white chocolate chips and the ginger glaze and then, oh my, you have got yourself one tasty breakfast!

Pumpkin Scones with Ginger Glaze

from Mel's Kitchen Cafe

*Makes 6-8 scones

INGREDIENTS:

Scones:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon allspice
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup cold butter, cut into pieces
1/3 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup canned pumpkin puree (no added spices or sugar)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup white chocolate chips

Glaze:

2 cups powdered sugar
1/4 teaspoon ginger or pumpkin pie spice
3 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

For the scones, in a large bowl, mix together the flour, sugar, spices, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Toss the cold butter pieces in with the flour mixture and cut in the butter with a pastry blender, two knives, or your fingers (careful not to melt the butter with the heat from your fingers) until the mixture looks like coarse crumbs. In a separate bowl, mix together the buttermilk, pumpkin and vanilla. Add the wet mixture to the dry flour mixture and mix until the dough just barely comes together. If the mixture is too crumbly to come together, add 1-2 tablespoons more buttermilk. Don’t overwork the dough or the scones will be tough and dry. Gently mix in the white chocolate chips. The mixture may be on the crumbly side but when you turn it out, it should come together.

Transfer the dough to a very lightly floured surface and knead gently 3-4 times. Pat the dough into a thick circle, about 1 1/2-inches thick. Cut into six or eight pie-shaped wedges. Transfer the scones to a parchment- or silpat-lined baking sheet, placing about 2 inches apart. Bake for 18-20 minutes, just until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Don’t overbake.

While the scones are baking, mix together the ingredients for the glaze. When the scones come out of the oven, transfer them to a cooling rack set over a baking sheet or waxed/parchment paper. Drizzle the hot scones with the glaze. Serve warm or at room temperature.