Pumpkin Scones

I found this recipe at www.joyofbaking.com. It was very yummy and enjoyed by us on Thanksgiving morning. I love scones, or heart scones, as Jessica would say.

PUMPKIN SCONES

Scone Dough:
2 cups all purpose flour
1/3 cup light or dark brown sugar
1/2 tsp ginger
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1/3 cup raisins
1/4 cup toasted and chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
1/3 - 1/2 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup fresh or canned pure pumpkin
1 tsp vanilla extract

Egg Wash:
1 large egg
1 T milk or cream

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F and place rack in middle of oven. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, spices, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Cut the butter into small pieces and blend into the flour mixture with a pastry blender or two knives. The mixture should look like coarse crumbs. Stir in the raisins and pecans/walnuts, if using.

In a separate bowl mix together the buttermilk, pumpkin and vanilla and then add the buttermilk mixture to the flour mixture. Mix just until the dough comes together. Do not over mix the dough.

Transfer to a lightly floured surface and knead the dough gently four or five times and then pat the dough into a circle that is about 7 inches round and about 1-1/2 inches thick. Cut this circle in half, then cut each half into 4 pie-shaped wedges (triangles). Place the scones on the baking sheet. Brush the tops of the scones with the egg wash.

Place the baking sheet inside another baking sheet to prevent the bottoms of the scones from over browning. Bake for about 20 minutes or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.

NOTE: I used pecans and did not toast them and they turned out fine. Also, I used the full 1/2 cup of buttermilk and the scones were a little more moist than they probably should have been. They were still very good though. I also sprinkled sugar on the top after applying the egg wash.