Spiced Pumpkin Scones | Favourite Fall Flavours
It’s been a “hit the ground running” sort of Fall, but I am finally experimenting in the kitchen again! These gluten and grain-free Spiced Pumpkin Scones were originally going to be a standard pumpkin loaf (always lovely!), but I decided something a little different might be fun! This recipe is also dairy and egg-free, making it suitable for both vegans and paleo-people alike.
Autumn is a favourite flavour-season for many, and it’s no wonder! By eating seasonally, we are now inundated with gorgeous squash, pumpkins, apples, late berries and root veggies, lovely mushrooms, and hearty greens – all the makings of the warm, comforting Fall dishes that we love.
As the days shorten and the sun’s warmth fades away, it is helpful to take advantage of these heartier foods to nourish our bodies for the coming Winter. It is also the season to start adding warmer spices back into our recipes to keep us toasty and moving freely.
Recipe Notes
Most pumpkin scone recipes are sweet and very dessert-forward. These are a more traditional scone were the sweet is minimal, allowing for more diverse use.
- Eat plain or buttered with your morning coffee or afternoon tea.
- Omit the vanilla and use less maple syrup to serve alongside a tasty veggie soup or beef stew (like cornbread!).
- Or, easily turn these scones into a sweeter treat by topping with a simple sugar glaze. You could also sprinkle some coconut sugar and cinnamon on top before baking to achieve a crystalline sweet topping right in the oven.
I like to use multiple types of flour in my recipes – this increases nutrient density, fibre, and variety in my diet, plus, it allows me to utilize more expensive flours such as almond, cassava, or tigernut. You are always welcome to try your own mix if you are adept at switching out ingredients, or you might try a different recipe if these flours aren’t accessible to you! If you used a gluten-free all purpose flour (like Bob’s for example), the result should be similar, but I haven’t tried this myself with this particular recipe.
Spiced Pumpkin Scones
Course: Breakfast, Dairy-free, Dessert, Egg-Free, Gluten-free, Grain-free, Paleo, Recipes, Snacks, Vegan8
servings30
minutesIngredients
1.5 c. almond flour
1 c. chickpea flour
1/2 c. tapioca starch
1 tsp baking powder (corn-free)
1 tsp each: cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg/mace
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 c. coconut oil, solid/cold
1/4 c. full fat coconut milk
2-3 Tbsp maple syrup
1 Tbsp molasses
1/4 c. canned pumpkin
1 tsp vanilla, optional
Method
- Preheat oven to 375F.
- Mix dry ingredients in a large bowl.
- Cut the coconut oil into dry ingredients with a fork or two knives until a nice crumb forms (a few small lumps are okay – this causes the scones to have more “flake”).
- Make a well and add the rest of the wet ingredients. Mix together to form a soft dough (this may be on the wetter side if your pumpkin is soggy, or your coconut milk has less fat, or if your coconut oil is runny – just add a little more chickpea flour until it’s more manageable).
- Scrape dough onto a parchment-lined baking sheet and pat into a flat circle, approx 2 inches thick. Alternatively, drop spoonfuls onto pan like drop-biscuits/cookies and pat into nice circles to make individual scones!
- Bake at 375F for 15-20 mins (depending on size/thickness), or until fragrant and golden around the edges. It shouldn’t sink in the middle when you poke it gently.
- Allow to cool on a rack for 10-15 mins before cutting into 8 wedges. Serve with butter alongside your favourite tea or coffee, or add a glaze and serve as a sweet dessert.
3 Comments
Kary Ross
Also forgot to ask if Cassava flour is an acceptable flour?
New Moon Holistic
Hi Kary, thanks for reaching out!
If you are attempting an AIP version of these, you could PROBABLY sub the 3 cups (total) of chickpea/almond/tapioca flours for a mix of:
– 1.5 cups coconut + 1 cup tapioca starch. If you need to add more flour, you can add in more coconut flour until you have a good consistency.
– You could also try 1 cup coconut + 1 cup cassava + 1 cup tapioca.
– Or even 1.5 cups cassava + 1.5 cup tigernut maybe?
I have not made this recipe to any of these specifications though, I’m guessing based on how I might sub alternate flours!
Tapioca starch is everywhere now, or you can also use arrowroot starch.
I know some folks have made scones out of the Fluffy AIP Biscuit recipe if that helps you visualise substitutions!
This Pumpkin Scone recipe from HealMeDelicious is also great and already AIP 🙂
Baking SODA is corn-free, but baking POWDER (like the “magic” brand) is made with corn. Many stores here in Canada now have a corn-free version available, or you can make your own with arrowroot or tapioca starch and some cream of tartar – look up “AIP Baking Powder” for a recipe from A Squirrel in the Kitchen!
Your coconut milk should work great.
Good luck, I really hope this helps! Subbing ingredients is always an adventure, but it’s a great skill to have if you’re willing 🙂
Kary Ross
Hi! I snagged your Spiced Pumpkin recipe from Instagram (I think). Questions about the ingredients. Can I sub coconut flour for the almond flour?
Is Tapioca Starch readily available? I’ll be looking at our local health food store Monday.
Corn free baking powder- I checked the box of my Arm&Hammer Baking Soda and I don’t see anything about corn on the label. If you have a brand that you can recommend I’d love that!
Full fat coconut milk I have is a Best Choice brand with 18 grams of fat. (No trans fat. 16g saturated fat)
Thank you for your help! I’m going to make this recipe to try it out for a girls weekend Oct 23, 2022