Chai Pear Scones Recipe

Introduction

These Chai Pear Scones bring together warm spices and juicy pears for a comforting treat perfect for breakfast or afternoon tea. Tender, flaky, and lightly spiced, they are topped with a cinnamon-sweet glaze that adds the perfect finishing touch.

Ingredients

• 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
• ⅓ cup granulated sugar
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ¾ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ¼ teaspoon ground cardamom
• 1 medium pear, peeled, cored, and diced
• ½ cup unsalted butter, cold and cut into pieces
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup buttermilk, cold
• 1 tablespoon heavy cream (for brushing)
• 1 cup confectioners’ sugar (for glaze)
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon (for glaze)
• 3-4 tablespoons heavy cream (for glaze)

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cardamom until well combined.
2. Step 2: Cut the cold butter into the flour mixture using a pastry blender, two knives, or your fingertips until it resembles coarse crumbs. Gently fold in the diced pears.
3. Step 3: In a separate bowl, whisk the vanilla extract and cold buttermilk. Gradually add this to the flour mixture, stirring just until the dough comes together. Add the buttermilk a little at a time so the dough is moist but not too wet. Avoid overmixing to keep scones tender.
4. Step 4: Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and gently knead it four or five times. Pat the dough into a 7-inch round circle.
5. Step 5: Cut the circle in half, then cut each half into four triangle wedges. Arrange the scones on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, spacing them about 2 inches apart. Place the baking sheet in the freezer for 30 minutes.
6. Step 6: Preheat the oven to 400°F and position the oven rack in the center. Brush the tops of the chilled scones with heavy cream.
7. Step 7: Bake the scones for 15 to 20 minutes, until they are golden brown. Transfer to a wire rack to cool slightly.
8. Step 8: While the scones bake, make the glaze by whisking together confectioners’ sugar, ground cinnamon, and 3 to 4 tablespoons of heavy cream until smooth. Drizzle the glaze over the warm scones before serving.

Tips & Variations

• For an extra burst of flavor, add a handful of chopped nuts like pecans or walnuts to the dough along with the pears.
• If you don’t have buttermilk, use regular milk with 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar added, let it sit for 5 minutes before using.
• To keep scones extra flaky, ensure your butter stays cold and handle the dough gently.

Storage

Store leftover scones in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. For longer storage, freeze unglazed scones in a sealed container for up to 1 month. Reheat in a warm oven before glazing to restore their fresh-baked texture and flavor.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use other fruits instead of pears?

Yes! Chopped apples, cranberries, or blueberries work well as substitutes, but adjust the moisture level by slightly reducing the buttermilk if using very juicy fruit.

What if I don’t have ground cardamom?

You can omit cardamom or replace it with an equal amount of ground cloves or allspice for a similarly warm, spiced flavor.

Chai Pear Scones Recipe

Pin Recipe

Print Recipe

★★★★★

5 from 59 reviews

Delight in the warm, spicy flavors of these Chai Pear Scones. Infused with aromatic spices like cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cardamom, and featuring sweet, juicy pear pieces, these tender scones are perfect for breakfast or an afternoon tea treat. Finished with a cinnamon-spiced glaze, they offer a comforting twist on a classic scone recipe.

• Author: Maya
• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Total Time: 50 minutes
• Yield: 8 scones 1x
• Category: Baked Goods
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American
• Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Scones

• 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
• ⅓ cup granulated sugar
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ¾ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ¼ teaspoon ground cardamom
• 1 medium pear, peeled, cored, and diced
• ½ cup unsalted butter, cold and cut into pieces
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup cold buttermilk

Topping and Glaze

• 1 tablespoon heavy cream (for brushing)
• 1 cup confectioners’ sugar
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 3–4 tablespoons heavy cream (for glaze)

Instructions

1. Mix dry ingredients. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cardamom to combine all the dry spices and leavening evenly.
2. Cut in the butter and fold in pears. Using a pastry blender, two knives, or your fingertips, cut the cold butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs. Then, gently fold in the diced pear to distribute it without breaking apart.
3. Add wet ingredients. In a separate bowl, whisk the vanilla extract with the cold buttermilk. Gradually add this mixture to the dry ingredients, stirring just until the dough comes together and is moist but not sticky, being careful not to overmix to keep scones tender.
4. Knead and shape the dough. Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead gently 4-5 times to bring it together. Pat into a 7-inch round circle shape.
5. Cut and chill. Slice the dough circle in half, then cut each half into 4 triangular wedges, forming 8 scones. Arrange them spaced about 2 inches apart on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Freeze for 30 minutes to help the scones hold their shape.
6. Prepare for baking. Preheat the oven to 400°F with the rack in the center. Remove the scones from the freezer and brush their tops with a tablespoon of heavy cream to encourage browning.
7. Bake the scones. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until the scones turn golden brown. Transfer to a wire rack to cool slightly before glazing.
8. Make the glaze. In a small bowl, whisk together confectioners’ sugar, ground cinnamon, and 3-4 tablespoons of heavy cream until smooth to a drizzling consistency. Drizzle the glaze over warm scones.
9. Serve and enjoy. These scones are best enjoyed fresh, warm with the lightly spiced glaze enhancing the chai flavors and tender pear pieces.

Notes

• Use cold butter and buttermilk to ensure tender, flaky scones.
• Do not overmix or over-knead the dough to avoid tough scones.
• Freezing the scones before baking helps them keep their shape and improves texture.
• If you don’t have buttermilk, you can substitute milk with a tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice added, let sit 5 minutes.
• The glaze can be adjusted in thickness by adding more or less heavy cream.
• Fresh pears work best; choose a firm and ripe pear for best flavor and texture.

Keywords: Chai Pear Scones, spiced scones, pear recipes, breakfast scones, chai spices, cinnamon scones, easy scones, baked goods