Gingerbread Scones Recipe {Quick & Easy!}

This gingerbread scones recipe is full of rich molasses, brown sugar, and warm spices just like you would find in every bite of your favorite gingerbread cookie. This recipe is quick and easy and you will enjoy every morsel of these soft and fluffy scones with a hot cup of tea or coffee. In fact, the gingerbread flavor is perfect to enjoy this holiday season with cookie trays or easy desserts.

I love how simple ingredients create such scrumptious baked goods. No need to get super fancy when making these eggless scones and you will be amazed at how soft and flaky they are. You must check out my other post for my favorite scone base recipe. I call it our Master scone recipe because it is where every recipe we make begins. Once you have this down, it is just a matter of adding your favorite sweet or savory fillings and spices and you are on your way to perfect scones.

Tools to make freshly baked scones

These are the tools used to make this gingerbread scone recipe and all of our homemade scones.

• Pastry blender we mention this item with every single recipe because it is THE item that will ensure a fluffy outcome for your scones. You can use 2 knives or your hands, but a pastry blender or aka pastry cutter is best.
• Parchment paper a baking sheet lined with parchment paper is not only great for non-stick baking, but it is also awesome for easy cleanup! No pan scrubbing is needed!
• Mixing bowl should be a large mixing bowl if you want to make this a one-bowl recipe! I mix and also knead the scone dough right in the bowl before turning it out onto a floured surface.

Gingerbread scone recipe ingredients

• all-purpose flour
• sugar
• brown sugar
• baking powder
• salt
• cinnamon
• ground ginger
• ground cloves
• vanilla extract
• chilled unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
• half-and-half, plus 1 tbsp.
• molasses (not blackstrap molasses)

Related recipes: Master Scone Recipe, Nutella Scones, Clementine Scones, Pumpkin Spice Scones, Maple Walnut Scones, Eggnog Scones, Hot Chocolate Scones, Peppermint Scones

Important steps for every scone recipe

Making this good scone recipe is easy! In less than 20 minutes, you can have a from-scratch, soft scone that is fluffy and full of gingerbread spices.

First, let's go over TWO VERY IMPORTANT THINGS you MUST DO to ensure a perfect flaky scone:

Preheat your oven to 425 degrees for at least 20 minutes before baking. A hot oven will help your scones rise tall instead of being flat.

Make sure your butter is COLD. It does not matter if you use cold unsalted butter or salted butter, but it MUST BE COLD. As the butter melts it will allow for air to create a flaky texture scone.

How to make a delicious recipe for gingerbread scones

In a large bowl, mix your dry ingredients first. You will whisk together flour, baking powder, sugar, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and salt. Next, add in the brown sugar and gently mix until combined. Set aside the dry mixture.

Working with a sharp knife, cut cold butter into small pieces. Add to the flour mixture and using a pastry blender, cut in the butter until the flour mixture begins to look like coarse crumbs. This will give the best texture to your scones.

Now it is time to add in your wet ingredients. Add half and half, vanilla extract, and molasses, and mix gently with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula until a shaggy dough forms.

Using your hands, knead gingerbread scone dough for a little time until it forms a smooth soft ball, about 5-10 times. The dough may be a bit sticky, but that is what you want.

Place dough on a lightly floured surface and gently push the dough into an 8-inch round disc, about 1 inch thick. Using a bench scraper or knife, cut the disc into 8 wedges and place them on a prepared baking sheet.

With a pastry brush dipped in half and half, brush the tops of the scones and add a small pinch of sugar to the top of the scones.

Bake in preheated oven for 12-15 minutes until the bottoms are golden brown.

Remove from the oven and let cool on a wire rack. 

Holiday Brunches with scones

When you have the wonderful aroma of these holiday scones wafting through the kitchen, it may be hard to wait for Christmas morning to enjoy them!

We really enjoy the flavor of these scones; they are sweet and a little spicy. They are perfect this time of year, but if you love gingerbread recipes, then there is no harm in enjoying them any time of year!

Storing baked scones

Store scones in an airtight container for up to 3 days on the kitchen counter. If you would like them to last longer, you can freeze them for up to 3 months. Simply defrost until room temperature and enjoy!