Gingerbread Scones Recipe

I’ve always loved the warm, comforting spices that define gingerbread. There’s something so cozy about that blend of ginger and molasses, especially with a warm drink.

After a disappointing experience with a dry, bland scone from a bakery, I felt inspired to create my own version. I wanted a scone that was moist, flavorful, and truly celebrated the gingerbread taste I love so much.

Ingredients Needed for the Recipe

• All-purpose flour: This forms the main structure of the scones, giving them a soft and tender crumb.
• Baking powder: This is our leavening agent, responsible for giving the scones their lovely rise and light texture.
• Ground ginger, cinnamon, and allspice: This trio creates that classic, warm gingerbread spice flavor we’re after.
• Salt: A little salt is essential for balancing all the sweet and spicy flavors in the dough.
• Brown sugar: It adds a gentle molasses-like sweetness and helps keep the scones moist.
• Cold butter: When small, cold pieces of butter melt in the oven, they create steam. This steam helps form beautiful, flaky layers inside the scone.
• Milk, egg, and molasses: These wet ingredients bind the dough together. The molasses, of course, gives that signature deep flavor and color.

For the optional maple frosting:

• Confectioners’ sugar: This creates a smooth, sweet base for our simple drizzle.
• Maple syrup and vanilla extract: They add a wonderful, nuanced flavor to the frosting.
• Milk or cream: This is used to thin the frosting to a perfect drizzling consistency.

What exactly is the gingerbread flavor?

When we talk about gingerbread, it’s really all about the combination of molasses and warm spices. The molasses provides a deep, almost earthy sweetness and that beautiful dark color.

The spices can vary a little from recipe to recipe, but ginger is always the star. I like to support it with cinnamon and allspice, which add warmth and a hint of peppery sweetness.

You can absolutely adjust the spices to your own taste. If you adore cloves, for instance, a tiny pinch would be a lovely addition here.

How to Make Gingerbread Scones?

Step 1 – Preheat and Prepare

Start by preheating your oven to 400°F (200°C). This ensures it’s perfectly hot and ready when your scones are shaped.

Then, line a baking sheet with a silicone mat or a piece of parchment paper. This little step prevents any sticking and makes cleanup a breeze.

Step 2 – Combine the Dry Ingredients

In a large mixing bowl, add your all-purpose flour, baking powder, ground ginger, cinnamon, allspice, salt, and brown sugar.

Use a whisk to mix them all together thoroughly. This ensures the baking powder and spices are evenly distributed throughout the flour, so every bite is perfectly spiced.

Step 3 – Whisk the Wet Ingredients

In a smaller bowl or a large measuring jug, combine the milk, egg, and molasses.

Whisk them together until the mixture is smooth and the molasses is fully incorporated. This can take a minute, as molasses can be stubborn to blend in.

Step 4 – Work in the Butter

Add the small, cold cubes of butter to your bowl of dry ingredients. Now, you can use your fingertips to rub the butter into the flour.

You can also use a pastry cutter if you prefer. You’re looking for a mixture that resembles coarse breadcrumbs, with a few pea-sized lumps of butter still visible.

Step 5 – Bring the Dough Together

Pour the wet milk and molasses mixture into the flour and butter mixture. Use a knife or a spatula to stir everything together.

Stop mixing as soon as the dough has just come together with no dry flour spots. A slightly shaggy dough is just fine, and overmixing is what leads to tough scones.

Step 6 – Shape and Cut the Scones

Lightly flour your countertop and turn the dough out onto it. Gently pat the dough into a round disk that’s about an inch thick.

Using a sharp knife, cut the disk into 8 equal wedges, like you’re cutting a pizza. Then, transfer the wedges to your prepared baking sheet.

Step 7 – Bake to Perfection

Place the baking sheet in your preheated oven and bake for 12 to 15 minutes. All ovens are a little different, so keep an eye on them.

They are done when they have puffed up nicely and the tops are just beginning to turn a light golden brown. A light tap on the top should sound hollow.

Step 8 – Cool and Frost

Let the scones cool on the baking sheet for just a minute before moving them to a wire rack. This allows them to set a little.

If you’re making the frosting, simply whisk all the ingredients together until smooth. Once the scones are completely cool, drizzle the frosting over the top in a lovely, casual pattern.

Tips

• For the flakiest texture, make sure your butter is truly cold straight from the fridge. Those little cold butter pockets are the secret to great layers.
• When you add the wet ingredients to the dry, resist the urge to stir for too long. A few swift strokes with a spatula is all it needs.
• If your dough feels a little too sticky when you go to shape it, just add a light dusting of flour to your hands and the counter.
• You can pat the dough into a circle and cut wedges, or use a round cutter for more traditional scone shapes. Just try not to twist the cutter.
• The maple frosting is optional, but it does add a lovely festive touch and a little extra sweetness that pairs beautifully with the spices.

Can I make these scones ahead of time?

Scones are always best enjoyed the same day they are baked, when they are at their peak of freshness. That said, you can easily get a head start on the process.

You can prepare the scones up to the point of baking, then freeze them on a baking sheet. Once they are solid, transfer them to a freezer bag.

When you’re ready, you can bake them directly from frozen. Just add a couple of extra minutes to the baking time, until they are golden and cooked through.

If you have leftover baked scones, they will keep for a day in an airtight container. I find they taste wonderful when gently warmed for a few seconds.

Serving your gingerbread scones

These scones are wonderfully versatile. I love them just as they are, still slightly warm from the oven with a cup of coffee or tea.

For a more decadent treat, you could split one and spread it with a little salted butter. The combination of the spicy scone and creamy, salty butter is truly wonderful.

They also make a lovely, special breakfast during the holiday season. They feel festive without being overly complicated to make on a cozy morning.

However you choose to enjoy them, I hope these gingerbread scones bring a little warmth and sweetness to your day. Happy baking!