Best Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Scone Recipe

The Best Pumpkin Scone recipe has warm autumn spices, chocolate chips, toasted pecans & (don’t EVEN get me started on the) Salted Brown Sugar Glaze! So scrumptious, they make an awesome breakfast, brunch, or snack! 

I do love a good scone, don’t you? Sweet, savory, fruity, plain. I love them all. But, I have to say, though, when I was a kid, I don’t think I ever even heard the word “scone.” Not a word used at all in my MidWestern upbringing. It wasn’t until I came to Seattle for a job interview I saw stands selling things called “latte” and “scone” – I wasn’t even completely sure how to pronounce “latte.” But, I knew I had to order one. Because it was everywhere. So I walked up to the barista (another word I didn’t even know), asked for a latte and a scone, only to be asked “Hot or iced?”, and “Whole milk? 2%? Nonfat?” Goodness, that’s a lot of questions. Um, no idea. “What do you recommend?”

Anyway, the latte, Iced Almond 2%, was a game-changer for me. Wow! Where had this been all my life? And the scone? Let’s say, a bit, um… heavy, dry, bland. So, scones weren’t really a favorite until I tried a proper one. Denser than a biscuit, but soft, buttery, slightly sweet, studded with currants and a hint of lemon. It was amazing! Now, THAT was a scone.

And, there’s a lot of debate over the difference between scones and biscuits. Classic Cornish Hampers explains that Scottish scones traditionally are denser than the flakier American biscuits, contain more fat and sugar, and are richer in taste with a crumblier texture. Martha Stewart mentions that British scones are sweeter, and use cream while American Biscuits generally use buttermilk as the liquid ingredient of choice. 

I can’t even pretend these Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Scones with their Salted Brown Sugar Glaze are anything like a “proper” British Scone, but I hope they honor some traditions of scone-making. Their golden baked exterior yields to a light and fluffy interior that’s not too sweet, is studded with bittersweet chocolate chips and toasted pecans. Some whole wheat flour brings a bit of virtue to the party, so you could could call it practically a healthy breakfast or snack.

And the GLAZE! Don’t miss it! I know I’ve gone on and on about scones and biscuits, but this GLAZE! Brown Sugar, Cream Cheese, a touch salty. You might want to just drink it, it’s that yummy, but please, leave enough for the other scone-lovers. A nice (heavy) drizzle of the brown sugar glaze over the top. Or, maybe just pour some on. No judgment here. 

So, whether you are a Scone fan, or think that Scones are just fancy biscuits, I’m betting you’ll love the Best Pumpkin Scones with chocolate chips and Salted Brown Sugar Glaze! 

Enjoy!

If you love pumpkin recipes, take a look at thes:

Pumpkin White Chocolate Blondies

Quick and Easy Maple Pumpkin Pudding Cake

Perfect Pumpkin Spice Granola

Pumpkin Bundt Cake with Salted Caramel Frosting

Pumpkin Penne with Sausage and Spinach

Or if you’re interested in other scone recipes:

Savory Scones with Parmesan and Fennel

Rhubarb-Chevre Scones

Simple Cheddar Onion Scones

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Pumpkin Scone Recipe Details ->

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These Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Scones are so easy and so scrumptious, they may end up on your table all-year round, not just during official “Pumpkin Season”!  They’re easy to make, no electrics needed, just a couple bowls, a whisk, and a pastry cutter. 

I always rely on King Arthur Flour (not an affiliate) for baking recipes, like this recipe for Harvest Pumpkin Scones, but I usually change it up a bit. For about half of the flour, I substituted White Whole Wheat Flour. I had expected I might need a bit more liquid because of that. And, indeed, in my hands, I felt like the dough was a little too stiff, so I added some buttermilk.

I love using Buttermilk in baking. It makes the baked goods light and airy, and tenderizes the gluten in flour, and adds a bit of tang, welcome in a sweet. It works especially well when baking soda is used as a leavener. If used with baking powder, it can result in excess tanginess. Since this recipe calls for Baking Powder, I was a bit wary, but I didn’t use that much buttermilk here, and I didn’t notice any excess tanginess, so I didn’t feel the need to switch to baking soda.

I also added some of my favorite ingredients, chocolate chips and chopped roasted and salted pecans. You could stick with KA’s original recipe and add in some candied ginger and/or cinnamon chips instead. 

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So the recipe is pretty straightforward. First, whisk together the dry ingredients. Cut in the butter. For this, I always use my trusty pastry cutter, but if you don’t have one, feel free to use 2 knives, or your fingertips to rub the butter pieces and break them up. Next, mix in the chocolate chips and pecans. In a separate bowl, whisk together the pumpkin puree, buttermilk and eggs. Add the wet ingredients to the dry, stir until the dough is formed.

If it seems to stiff or there are still big streaks of flour, add another tablespoon or 2 of buttermilk. Then form the dough into 2-6-inch disks right on the parchment-lined baking sheet, (like my favorite USA Pan Baking Sheets), just under 1-inch height. Brush the disks with milk or cream, and cut into 6 scones. Separate the scones a bit from each other and pop into a preheated oven. 

My oven has a “Convection” setting, so I use the lower temperature, and goods tend to bake on the lower end of the time interval. My scones were nice and golden and my toothpick inserted came out clean at 19 minutes. Yours may take up to 25 minutes, so it’s best to keep an eye on them anytime after 18 minutes in the oven. A good rule to remember is once you smell the delicious aromas of whatever is baking, it’s almost done. This is the time to keep your eye on the prize here, and check every minute or two for doneness!

You’ll be rewarded with fluffy, tender, moist and flavorful Pumpkin Scones, studded with melty chocolate chips and salty pecan pieces. And don’t forget the Brown Sugar Glaze! Just a few simple ingredients whisked together with a bit of salt creates a glaze you might just want to put on everything!

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