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Full of maple flavor, speckled with pecans, and topped with a sweet maple glaze, these Glazed Maple Pecan Scones are light and flaky. They’re the perfect treat to share with your loved ones during the holiday season.
Soft & Flaky Maple Scones
I love coming up with new recipes and sharing food is one way I love to show my friends and family how much I care. While I do that year-round, I find myself sharing my favorite recipes more during this time of year.
These Glazed Maple Pecan Scones are one of my favorite treats to share during the fall and winter season.
This scone recipe starts with my soft scones dough, to ensure that soft, flaky texture. They’re sweetened with brown sugar and maple syrup, for a rich sweetness and maple flavor throughout and then laced with pecans.
Maple and pecan is a favorite fall flavor combo. I love the contrast of the sweet tender scone and crunchy, nutty pecans. I could eat this flavor of scone all day long.
They’re buttery, light, and taste just like fall. Hints of maple and crunchy pecans fill each bite. For the best experience, enjoy them warm from the oven – though they’ll be tasty the next day too!
What You’ll Need
Like most scones, this maple pecan scone recipe is made with your basic ingredients like flour and brown sugar, and, of course, maple syrup and pecans.
Ingredients
- All-purpose flour
- Baking powder & baking soda – Helps the scones reach just the right texture.
- Salt
- Light brown sugar – The molasses flavor of brown sugar is a great complement to the other flavors. You can also use granulated sugar.
- Pure maple syrup – Using pure maple syrup is essential, no artificial versions! It adds that delightful maple flavor to every bite.
- Heavy cream – You can also use milk.
- Egg – My secret to super soft scones.
- Vanilla extract – Adds a light flavor.
- Butter – Use cold butter that’s cut into small cubes. Be sure it’s unsalted.
- Pecans – Coarsely chop them into pieces.
- Buttermilk – Buttermilk should be cold. I do not recommend substituting it. However, you can make homemade buttermilk by combining whole milk with lemon juice.
- Confectioner’s sugar – Is needed for the glaze to add stability and help it “set”.
Helpful Items
Pastry blender: I find that a pastry cutter works best for cutting the butter into the flour mixture. If you don’t have one, you can use the tines of a fork.
Parchment paper: Lining your baking sheet with parchment paper makes for easy clean-up!
Sharp knife: Use a sharp knife to slice the dough into triangles. Or you can also use a bench scraper if you have one.
Pastry brush: Brush heavy cream over the scones by using a pastry brush.
How to Make Maple Pecan Scones
Making these delicious scones is quick and easy. You need only a mixing bowl and spatula to make the dough and it requires just 30 minutes of chill time!
Make the scone dough. Combine flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl.
Cut the butter into the dry ingredients until it looks like coarse crumbs. Fold in the pecans.
In a separate bowl whisk together the buttermilk, maple syrup, egg, and vanilla. Gradually add it to the flour mixture, stirring until the dough comes together.
You may not need all the buttermilk, just add a little at a time until the mixture is moist but not too well.
Shape the dough. Transfer to a lightly floured work surface and knead four or five times. Skip the rolling pin and just pat the dough into a circle. Cut into 8 triangles.
Freeze. Arrange on a prepared baking sheet 2 inches apart. Freeze for 30 minutes.
Bake. Brush the tops of the scones with cream and sprinkle with coarse sugar. Bake until golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes.
Add the glaze. In a small bowl, stir together the glaze ingredients until smooth. Drizzle glaze over the warm scones.
Tips for Success
For the best pecan scones, here are a few things to keep in mind.
- Make sure you use pure maple syrup. You want 100% of that maple goodness without all the extras. You will really be able to taste in the glaze, so it’s important to use the real deal.
- How to shape the scones. I like to shape the dough into a disk and then cut it into wedges. Alternatively, you can scoop the dough with a large cookie scoop and place them 2-inches apart on the baking sheet.
- Should I add the glaze while the scones are warm? You can wait until the scones cool before glazing the top so it goes on nice and thick. Or you can glaze them while they are fresh out of the oven for a thin layer of glaze.
- Add more pecans. While the recipe calls for ½ cup (56 g) chopped pecans, I’ve made them with a whole cup. I prefer the texture of more pecans as it adds extra crunch to the pecans. If you prefer more texture as well, go ahead and double the amount of pecans added.
- Avoid dense scones. Measure the flour correctly so that you are not using too much flour. Also don’t overwork the dough. It should be loose and shaggy but hold together when squeezed, much like the dough for pie crust.
Serving Suggestions
These Glazed Maple Pecan Scones are the perfect breakfast alongside a hot cup of coffee or tea on a cold morning! Of course, you can also enjoy them in the afternoon or as dessert as well.
How to Store
- How to store unbaked scones. Unbaked scones can be refrigerated overnight. You can also freeze them for up to a month. Add 2 minutes to the baking time if baking from frozen.
- How to store baked scones. Scones are best when enjoyed immediately but they will last for up to 2 days at room temperature, in an airtight container.
- Can I freeze scones? These scones can be frozen for 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge then bring to room temperature.
More scone recipes you’ll love
- Blueberry Buttermilk Scones
- Lemon Cream Cheese Scones with Strawberries
- Sweet Potato Scones with Brown Sugar Glaze
- Vanilla Cardamom Scones
- Peach Almond Scones
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Glazed Maple Pecan Scones
Full of maple flavor, speckled with pecans, and topped with a sweet glaze, these Glazed Maple Pecan Scones are light and flaky. They're the perfect treat to share with your loved ones during the holiday season!
Ingredients
For the scones
- 2 ¾ cups (358 g) all-purpose flour
- ⅓ cup (70 g) light brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup (113 g) cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces
- ½ cup (56 g) coarsely chopped pecans
- ¾ cup (180 ml) cold buttermilk
- ¼ cup (60 ml) maple syrup
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon heavy cream, or milk
For the glaze
- 1 cup (120 g) confectioners' sugar
- 4 tablespoons pure maple syrup
Instructions
Make the scones
- In a large bowl, whisk the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together.
- Cut the butter into the flour using a pastry blender, 2 knives, or your fingertips. The mixture should look like coarse crumbs. Fold in the pecans.
- Whisk the buttermilk, maple syrup, egg, and vanilla together. Gradually add it to the flour mixture. Stir just until the dough comes together. You may not need all the buttermilk. Add a little at a time until the mixture is moist but not too wet. Do not over mix the dough or the scones will be tough.
- Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and gently knead the dough four or five times. Pat the dough into a 7 inch round circle. Cut the circle in half, then cut each half into four triangle-shaped wedges. You should have 8 triangles.
- Arrange the scones 2 inches apart on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Place the scones in the freezer for 30 minutes.
- Position the oven rack in the center of the oven and heat to 400°F.
- Brush the tops of the scones with milk or cream and sprinkle with coarse sugar. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown.
Make the glaze
- In a small bowl, stir the confectioner's sugar and maple syrup together until smooth. Drizzle the glaze over the warm scones. Scones are best enjoyed right away.
Notes
Sugar: Brown sugar offers warm notes of molasses. You can use regular granulated sugar if preferred.
Buttermilk: This is required. There are no substitutions.
Pecans: Feel free to swap the pecans for your preferred choice of nuts.
Maple syrup: Use real maple syrup, not pancake syrup.
The scones need to be cold when going into the oven. Placing the shaped dough into the freezer for 30 minutes ensures the scones will bake up light and fluffy.
Alternatively, you can place the scone dough in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.
Make-Ahead Tip
- Unbaked scones can be refrigerated overnight. Or seal in an airtight container and freeze for up to 1 month. Add about 2 minutes to the baking time when baking from frozen.
- Baked scones will keep for up to 2 days stored in an airtight container at room temperature or in the refrigerator.
- Scones can be frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1 sconeAmount Per Serving: Calories: 485Total Fat: 19gSaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 59mgSodium: 534mgCarbohydrates: 72gFiber: 2gSugar: 36gProtein: 8g
The nutrition information provided is for convenience and as a courtesy only. It is not guaranteed to be accurate because nutrition information can vary for a variety of reasons. For precise nutritional data use your preferred nutrition calculator and input the exact ingredients you used in the recipe.
Ok these are my new fav! I follow your blog often and I must say my boyfriend and I love your scones and one of the brownie recipes we tried. Thanks for all the great recipes and baking tips.
Thank you so much, Bettina! I’m happy to hear you guys love my recipes.
Hi. Can I use parchment or is that a bad idea? Thanks!
Parchment is fine to use on the baking sheet.
Hi, Jen. Just left a five star review! Thanks for answering my question. I’ll tag you on my Instagram post. Can’t wait to continue working my through your amazing recipes!
These scones are wonderful. They came out so good. Thank you for this recipe. I did, however, forget to add in the brown sugar but with the maple syrup in the mix and the glaze in top, we didn’t really miss the added sugar. Next time I make these, I will remember to add in the brown sugar, though. Next I am going to make your apple cinnamon scones. I bet they will be fantastic too.
Absolutely delicious. I used the Cook’ s Illustrated trick instead of cutting in cold butter.
Put the cream in the freezer about 15 min. Melt the butter and cool slightly. Then pour it the cream and stir with a fork. Mix the syrup, egg and vanilla separately and add it last.
Try it!
I’ve never tried that tick for cutting in cold butter! I’ll have to test it out. Thanks for sharing!
I love scones, and these sound wonderful…but I’m trying to stay away from the wheat flour, could other flours such as coconut, almond or quinoa flour/s work?
Gluten-free baking is an entirely different baking, and unfortunately, I have no experience with it. You can try this recipe instead. It’s not mine but it comes from a trusted source. I wish I could be more helpful.
Thank you so much…I’ll try the recipe and let you know how it turned out.
These look so good! I haven’t made scones in a long time, but need to try this combination!
I haven’t made scones in way too long! These look absolutely delicious and I love the maple-pecan flavor combo!
It’s time you make some!!
Scones are some of my absolute favorite indulgences. Always have been! I need to make more of them, actually! 🙂 Your maple-pecan combo sounds SO perfect for the season. Can I just move into your house, please? The baked goods that are continually produced in your kitchen AMAZE me. You are seriously talented, Jen!
Have a great holiday! xoxo
You are so incredibly sweet, Blair! Thank you!