Maggie Beers Pumpkin Scones Food

PUMPKIN SCONES

Steps:

• In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, brown sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice and salt until evenly combined.
• Add the diced butter and use a pastry cutter or two forks (or a food processor, see below) to cut the butter evenly into the dry ingredients until the mixture is crumbly and the butter forms no larger than pea-sized chunks.
• Add in the pumpkin purée, milk and vanilla extract. Then use a spatula to quickly and gently stir the mixture until no dry streaks remain. (Try to avoid over-mixing.)
• Turn the mixture out onto a flour-dusted surface and fold the dough over on itself a few times until it holds together and can form a ball. (The dough will be a bit sticky, so don't worry.) Pat the dough down flat into an 8-inch circle. Then use a large knife or bench scraper to slice the dough into 8 equal-sized pie wedges. (You may need to wipe off your knife between slices if the dough is sticky.)
• Transfer the wedges to a parchment-covered baking sheet, spacing them at least 2 inches apart. Then transfer the baking sheet to the freezer for 15 minutes or so while your oven heats. Heat the oven to 425°F.
• Briefly brush the top of each scone with a bit of buttermilk. Then transfer the baking sheet to the oven and bake for 13-15 minutes or until the scones are lightly golden on top and cooked through. Transfer to a wire baking rack to cool.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the glaze ingredients until combined. (If the mixture seems too thin, add more powdered sugar.) Then once the scones have cooled a bit, brush or drizzle the glaze on top of the scones. Serve and enjoy!

PUMPKIN-GINGER OAT SCONES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, whisk the flour, oats, sugar, baking powder, salt and spice.
• Add the butter and toss to coat with the dry ingredients. Using your fingers or a pastry cutter, press and cut in the butter until coarse crumbs form and some peanut-size pieces remain. Toss in the ginger until evenly coated.
• In a medium bowl, whisk the pumpkin and eggs until smooth. Add to the dry ingredients and mix with a fork until no dry bits remain and mixture forms a mass.
• Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and lightly flour. Divide the dough mass into two even pieces in the bowl and dump each piece onto the prepared sheet on opposite sides. Dampen your hands and press each piece into 3/4-inch-thick rounds (about 6 inches in diameter). Refrigerate or freeze until stiff.
• Heat oven to 425 degrees. When the oven is ready, take out the dough and cut each round into 6 even wedges using a sharp knife or bench scraper. Nudge the wedges about 1 inch apart. Sprinkle the tops with oats.
• Bake until golden brown and firm when gently pressed, 20 to 22 minutes. To see if they're cooked through, tear one open immediately to make sure there's no wetness in the center. If there is, return the pan to the oven for a few minutes.
• Cool on the pan on a rack for 5 minutes. Serve warm or room temperature, wrapped in a napkin to eat out of hand.

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 SPICE SCONES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Put the flour in a bowl and coarsely grate in the butter (dipping the butter into the flour can make it easier to grate; do this as often as you need). Use a butter knife to stir the butter into the flour, then mix in the sugar and spice.
• Add the pumpkin and 80ml milk to the flour mixture and quickly stir everything together. Add more milk if you need to.
• Tip the mixture onto a floured surface and lightly bring together with your hands a couple of times. Roll out until 4cm thick and stamp out rounds with a 7cm cutter. Re-shape the trimmings until all the dough has been used. Place the rounds on a lightly floured baking sheet and brush the tops with any remaining milk. Bake for 10-12 mins until risen and lightly browned.