Go Back Email Link

BUTTERNUT SQUASH-PECAN SCONES WITH COCONUT

An oh-so-fall version of my favorite scone, adapted from my Peach or Blueberry Scones, which were in turn adapted from Sour Cream and Fruit Scones by Dawn Perry in the New York Times. Best fresh, bakers can also make the dough, cut the scones, and freeze them for up to a month to later bake from frozen. (Hello, Thanksgiving breakfast!) I make these using a food processor and large bowl, but they will work fine in only a large bowl with a pastry cutter or your fingers. While there appear to be many steps, this is a simple, win-win, forgivable bake. Read through before beginning as you'll need to briefly cook the squash and toast the pecans before mixing and baking. You could do those two things the night before to hasten a morning bake.
makes 8 large or 16 smaller scones

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup (3.5 oz/100 grams) peeled butternut squash, cut into medium dice and patted dry with paper or cloth towels 
  • 1/4 cup (2 oz/29 grams) pecans, chopped
  • 2 cups (240 grams) unbleached all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting the counter or board
  • cup (66 grams) granulated sugar, plus more for sprinkling on scones before baking or freezing
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ cup frozen salted butter (4 oz/115 grams) cut into ¼-inch slices or pieces
  • ½ cup (170 grams/190ml) sour cream or full-fat Greek yogurt
  • ¼ cup (57 grams/60ml) milk
  • 1 large egg beaten with 1 teaspoon water for brushing on the dough
  • 1/4 cup (1 oz/25 grams) sweetened coconut for topping the dough

Instructions

  • PREP: Preheat oven to 400 degrees with a rack in the upper third. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • COOK SQUASH/TOAST PECANS: Place squash in a microwave safe bowl, cover with water, and top bowl with a snug-fitting plate. Microwave on high 3 minutes. Drain and set aside to cool. (Alternately, simmer squash covered in water in a small pan on the stovetop for 3-4 minutes, drain, and cool.) The squash should be just barely tender, not terribly done, or it will come apart when mixing the dough. In the meanwhile, toast the pecans in a small, heavy skillet over medium-low heat, stirring often and watching carefully, for 8-10 minutes or until toasted. Set aside to cool.
  • MIX DRY INGREDIENTS/CUT IN BUTTER: In the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade (or in a large bowl using a pastry cutter or your fingers), measure in the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Pulse or stir a few times to mix. Add the pieces of butter and pulse (or cut in/rub in) carefully 6-8 times or until you have pea-sized and smaller pieces of butter.
  • TURN OUT FLOUR MIXTURE INTO A LARGE BOWL and stir in the cooled squash and toasted pecans. Whisk together the sour cream or yogurt and milk in a measuring cup and pour into the bowl. Using a table fork, stir until all the dry bits are incorporated, but the dough is still shaggy. This may take a few minutes. If you just can't get the dough to come together, add a teaspoon or two additional milk and keep mixing. Knead a few times until the dough barely holds together, then turn it out onto a lightly floured counter or board. The dough shouldn’t be uniform, smooth, or neat. Do not overwork dough.
  • PAT DOUGH with floured hands into a 1-inch-thick rectangle approximately 6"x10". Brush with a little of the egg mixture (you'll have quite a bit leftover to make a little scrambled eggs) and sprinkle evenly with a bit of granulated sugar (maybe two teaspoons) and then with the 1/4 cup coconut. Pat sugar and coconut gently down with your fingertips. Using a bench scraper or a knife, cut into first 2, then 4, then 8 (or then 16 for small scones) rectangles. (See Cook's Notes for info on even smaller, bite-sized scones.) Place on prepared sheet pan as far apart as possible.
    If freezing, wrap the tray securely in foil and freeze at this point for up to a month. Use the following direction for baking from frozen -- don't thaw--and give them an extra minute or two in the oven.
  • BAKE scones in preheated oven on lined tray until lightly golden on top and a crispy light-medium brown on the bottom, 17-19 minutes. Remove to a rack and cool for a minute or two before serving warm. Scones will keep for a day or two, well-covered but are best when fresh. To reheat, split in half lengthwise, spread lightly with butter, and grill until toasty and hot in a stove top grill pan or skillet. Freeze extras in a Ziplock freezer bag for 2 months.
    Unsure about whether your scone are done? Break one open; they should be tender and moist but not wet or doughy.

Notes

COOK'S NOTES: For 32 one-bite scones for a buffet, chill the patted-out dough at least an hour before cutting and baking. 
Copyright Alyce Morgan, 2022. All rights reserved. Weights from KA Flour.