Description
Delight in these warm, spiced pear scones topped with a luscious vanilla glaze, perfectly combining tender pear chunks with a medley of aromatic spices for a comforting breakfast or snack.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 2 Tbsp brown sugar
- 1 Tbsp baking powder
- 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground ginger
- 1/4 tsp ground cloves
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
Wet Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
- 1 egg, large
- 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream, plus more for brushing
- 1/2 tsp almond extract
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Fresh Ingredient
- 1 cup pears, chopped into small cubes (peeled or unpeeled)
Vanilla Glaze
- 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 3 Tbsp heavy cream or milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 3/4 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground ginger
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and for easy cleanup.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a large bowl or the bowl of a standing mixer, whisk together the all purpose flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and nutmeg until evenly combined.
- Cut in the butter: Using a fork, pastry cutter, or mixer, cut the cold, cubed unsalted butter into the dry mixture until it forms coarse crumbs about the size of peas—this helps create a flaky texture.
- Add wet ingredients: Add the beaten egg, heavy whipping cream, almond extract, and vanilla extract to the dough. Mix gently until just combined, being careful not to overwork the dough.
- Incorporate pears: Gently fold the chopped pear cubes into the dough, distributing them evenly throughout the mixture without mashing them.
- Shape the dough: Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and pat it into a 1-inch thick circle, taking care not to over-handle.
- Cut and arrange: Slice the dough circle into 8 equal triangular scones. Carefully transfer them to the prepared baking sheet, spacing them evenly apart.
- Brush with cream: Lightly brush the tops of each scone with additional heavy cream to promote browning and moisture.
- Bake: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for 18 to 20 minutes, or until the scones are golden brown on top and cooked through.
- Prepare the glaze: While the scones cool slightly, whisk together powdered sugar, ground cinnamon, ground ginger, vanilla extract, and heavy cream or milk until smooth and pourable.
- Glaze the scones: Drizzle the vanilla glaze over the warm scones to add a sweet, spiced finishing touch.
- Set and serve: Allow the glaze to set for a few minutes before serving. Store any leftovers in an airtight container to maintain freshness.
Notes
- Ensure the butter is cold before cutting it into the flour for flaky scones.
- You can leave the pear skins on or peel them based on preference.
- Do not overmix the dough to keep scones tender and light.
- For a dairy-free option, substitute the cream with a plant-based milk and vegan butter.
- Scones are best served warm the same day they are baked but can be reheated gently.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: spiced pear scones, vanilla glaze scones, pear recipes, fall baking, cinnamon scones, breakfast pastries
