Cranberry Pumpkin Scones With Sugared Pepitas Food

CLASSIC PUMPKIN SCONES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F (204°C). Adjust baking rack to the middle-low position. Line 1 or 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mat(s). If making mini scones, I use 2 baking sheets. Set aside.
• Whisk the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, and salt together in a large bowl. Grate the frozen butter (I use a box grater). Add the grated butter to the flour mixture and combine it with a pastry cutter, a fork, or your fingers until the mixture comes together in pea-sized crumbs. Set aside.
• Whisk 1/3 cup (75ml) heavy cream, the egg, blotted pumpkin (see note), brown sugar, and vanilla extract together in a small bowl. Drizzle it over the flour mixture and then mix it all together until everything appears moistened.
• With floured hands, work the dough into a ball as best you can and transfer onto a floured work surface. Press into a neat 8-inch disc and, with a very sharp knife, cut into 8 equal wedges. To make smaller scones, press dough into two 5-inch discs and cut each into 8 equal wedges. (Larger scones are pictured in this blog post.)
• Place scones at least 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheet(s). Using a pastry brush, brush scones with remaining heavy cream and sprinkle with coarse sugar, if desired. (Gives a nice crunch!)
• Bake the larger scones for 20-25 minutes or until lightly browned. If you made 16 smaller scones, bake for 18-20 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for a few minutes as you prepare the icing.
• In a small saucepan over low heat, melt the butter and maple syrup together, whisking occasionally. Once the butter has melted, remove from heat and whisk in the sifted confectioners' sugar. Taste and add a pinch of salt if desired. Drizzle over warm scones.
• Scones are best enjoyed right away, though leftover scones keep well at room temperature or in the refrigerator for 2 extra days.

PUMPKIN SCONES WITH CRANBERRIES AND PECANS

Steps:

• Place a rack in the top third of the oven and one in the lower third of the oven and preheat to 400 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and ginger in a large bowl. Set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, eggs, 1/2 cup buttermilk, pumpkin puree and vanilla.
• Sprinkle the chilled butter cubes over the flour mixture. Mix with your fingers, pinching the butter into the dough until small crumbles form. Pour the wet mixture into the center of the dry mixture and stir to combine. Add the cranberries and pecans and stir until just incorporated.
• On a lightly floured surface, divide the dough in half and shape into two rounds each about 6 inches in diameter. Cut each round into 6 triangular scones. Pull the scones apart from each other and place on the prepared baking sheets, leaving about an inch between each. Brush the scones with the remaining 2 tablespoons of buttermilk and sprinkle with the turbinado sugar. If you have the time, refrigerate the scones for 30 minutes.
• Bake the scones until golden brown, puffed and cooked through, 28 to 32 minutes, switching the pans once about halfway through baking. Remove from the oven and allow to cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool until warm or room temperature. Store leftover scones in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

PUMPKIN-CRANBERRY SCONES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Lightly grease a baking sheet.
• Combine flour, brown sugar, white sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, baking soda, and salt together in a bowl. Cut in butter using a pastry cutter until the mixture looks like oatmeal.
• Add pumpkin, cranberries, sour cream, 3 tablespoons milk, and vanilla extract to the flour mixture and gently combine using a fork. Roll dough out onto a floured surface and form a rectangle. Cut into 10 triangles or squares and place on the prepared baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, combine powdered sugar and milk in a small bowl until smooth. Set glaze aside.
• Remove scones from the oven and let cool 10 minutes before drizzling glaze on top. Serve warm.

PUMPKIN SCONES WITH CRANBERRY BUTTER

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, spices and salt.
• In a small bowl or measuring cup, whisk together the milk, pumpkin puree and egg. Set aside.
• Add the cubed butter to the flour mixture and using a pastry cutter or your fingertips, cut or rub the butter into the flour until it is reduced to pea-sized pieces. Set aside briefly.
• Add the pumpkin mixture to the flour mixture and using a wooden spoon, stir until all the flour is moistened and there isn't any loose flour at the bottom. *The mixture should not be crumbly, but should not be super sticky, either. Add a bit more flour or milk to adjust, as needed.
• Remove the dough to the parchment-lined baking sheet. Pat the dough into a 7 1/2 to 8-inch circle. If the dough seems sticky after patting it into a round on the baking sheet, pop it into the fridge or freezer for a few minutes before cutting into wedges. Using a sharp knife, cut the circle into 8 even wedges. Using a spatula, carefully pull apart the wedges so there is space between each one. They will rise considerably, so leave an inch at least between the wedges.
• Bake the scones in preheated oven until well set and starting to turn golden, about 12-15 minutes. Remove from oven, then remove to a cooling rack to cool. Dust with icing sugar to serve, if you like.
• For the cranberry butter: Add the dried cranberries to a bowl with the boiling water and let stand 5 minutes. Drain and pat dry. Add to a clean bowl, together with the softened butter and icing/confectioners' sugar. Stir to combine well. Serve softened alongside the scones. Left-over cranberry butter can be covered and refrigerated for several days.

PUMPKIN-CRANBERRY SCONES WITH WHIPPED MAPLE BUTTER

Steps:

• For the scones: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda, ginger and salt in a large bowl. Cut the butter into the mixture until it resembles coarse meal.
• Whisk together the buttermilk, pumpkin and vanilla in a medium bowl until smooth. Add the wet mixture to the dry along with the cranberries and candied ginger. Mix until it is all just combined (do not over-mix or the scones will be tough).
• Transfer to a lightly-floured surface and knead the dough gently 4 or 5 times. Pat the dough into a circle that is about 8 inches round and about 1 1/2 inches thick. Cut the circle in half, and then cut each half into 4 pie-shaped wedges (triangles). Place the scones on the baking sheet and brush the tops with the heavy cream.
• Bake until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out with a few moist crumbs attached, 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool on a baking rack for 15 minutes before serving.
• For the butter: Meanwhile, combine the cream, maple syrup and sea salt in the chilled bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Whip on low speed at first, then once the mixture begins to thicken, increase the speed and whip until light and fluffy and has turned into butter. Don't over-mix the butter or it will break.

PUMPKIN SCONES WITH COFFEE GLAZE

Steps:

• For the scones: Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with a baking mat or parchment paper.
• In a large bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, baking powder and pumpkin pie spice. Stir to combine. Add the butter pieces, then use a pastry cutter to work the butter and dry ingredients together until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
• In a second bowl, whisk together the pumpkin puree, cream and eggs. Pour into the flour mixture, stirring gently, until it all comes together into a dough.
• Turn the dough out onto a cutting board or floured surface and use your hands to press it into a 1/2-inch-thick rectangle about 15 inches by 3 inches. Cut into 12 equal triangular wedges.
• Transfer the wedges to the prepared baking sheet, brush the tops with the extra cream and bake until poufy, set and just barely golden, 20 to 23 minutes. Allow to cool completely.
• For the icing: Sift the powdered sugar, then combine with the coffee and butter in a large bowl. Make sure the icing is thick but still pourable; add a splash more coffee if needed to thin.
• Spoon a very generous amount of the icing onto each scone and sprinkle each with the pumpkin pie spice. Allow the icing to set, about 10 minutes. The scones can be served at once or stored in airtight container at room temperature for 1 to 2 days.

PUMPKIN SCONES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the pumpkin puree, heavy cream, vanilla and egg. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and salt. Using a pastry blender, cut the butter into the flour mixture. Add the pecans and toss to combine. Use a fork to stir in the pumpkin mixture just until you have craggy dough. Do not overmix.
• Tip the dough out onto the prepared baking sheet and pat it into a 6-inch circle. Cut the dough into 8 equal triangles and freeze them for at least 15 minutes. (Once they're frozen, you could transfer them to an airtight container and keep them frozen for up to a month.)
• Spread the scones out on the baking sheet and brush with a bit of cream. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the centers comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes. Transfer to a rack to cool completely, about 1 hour.
• Mix together the cream cheese, confectioners' sugar and milk with an electric mixer in a large bowl until smooth. Spread some of the cream cheese mixture on top of each scone and serve immediately.

PUMPKIN AND CRANBERRY SCONES WITH CRANBERRY BUTTER

Steps:

• For Cranberry Butter.
• Pour boiling water over berries and let sit for 10 minutes. Drain. Chop berries and whip with margarine and sugar. Chill for at least 1 hour.
• For Pumpkin Cranberry Scones.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• In large mixing bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, pumpkin pie spice . Cut in margarine with pastry cutter until mixture looks like coarse crumbs. Add cranberries.
• In small bowl, beat egg. Add pumpkin and milk. Pour all at once into well in the middle of the dry ingredients mixing with a fork until just moistened.
• Knead on lightly floured breadboard until nearly smooth (several seconds).Pat dough into a 12x9 inch rectangel. Cut dough into 4x3 inch rectangles; cut each rectangle in half to form triangles. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for about 12 minutes. Remove from pan and cool on rack for 5 minutes. Serve warm with cranberry, butter if desired.
• Pumpkin Pie Spice.
• Mix together 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon, 1 teaspoons ginger, 1/4 teaspoons nutmeg and 1/8 teaspoons cloves.