The warm fall spices of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cardamom, allspice and the bittersweet caramel/toffee notes of brown sugar call people together to celebrate all this harvest season has to offer.
Blend the wet ingredients with a milk frother or blender.
Transfer to a squeeze bottle and place in your refrigerator.
Dry Ingredients
Mix the flour, dark brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large mixing bowl.
Add individual spices or 1 tbsp of the fall spice blend and mix thoroughly.
Slice the butter into chunks and mix with the dry ingredients.
Cut the butter into the dry ingredients with a butter cutter until the butter is the size of peas.
Put the bowl with the dry ingredients in your freezer for 15 minutes.
Preheat your oven to 400°.
Line your baking sheet with parchment paper.
Combine the Wet and Dry Ingredients
Using the "tine method" (see video in step by step instructions above), combine the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients until the ingredients are wet but still pea sized.
Form the Scones
Gently flip and press the ingredients in the bowl until they form one log.
Fold the log in half and move it to a silicone mat.
Using the guide of the measured circles on a silicone mat or a 7" ring, form the dough into a 7" circle by gently pressing from the center of the dough to the edges.
If using a 7" ring, swirl the ring around the dough a few times to firm the edges. If forming by hand, press the edges of the dough lightly with the flat side of a long knife to firm the edges.
Use a long serrated knife to make four equal cuts through the center of the dough to divide the dough into eight scones.
Slide the flat edge of the long knife under each scone and move it to the parchment paper on the baking sheet, leaving about 1" between each scone.
Bake the Scones
Place your baking sheet on a middle rack in your preheated oven and bake for 14 to 16 minutes at 400°.
Halfway through, check to see if one side is cooking faster then the other and, if so, turn the pan around in the oven and continue to bake.
During the final bake, thoroughly mix the powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and milk in a medium bowl until smooth and somewhat think. Optionally, you can use apple juice instead of milk for an apple glaze. Adjust the amount of milk or apple juice to your desired consistency.
Remove the scones to a cooling rack when the center of the scones feel solid, not liquidy.
Glaze the Scones
With a spoon (thicker glaze) or silicone brush (thinner glaze), spread or dab the glaze on the top of each scone while they are still warm.
Storage
Cover any scones that will not be eaten right away. They will last about 5 days without refrigeration, about 10 days in your refrigerator, and about 3 months in your freezer.
Let the scones cool completely before covering them with plastic wrap,
To thaw frozen scones, let them come to room temperature (about 30 minutes) or microwave for 10 seconds.
Notes
*You can substitute 2%, Almond, Coconut, or Soy Milk for Whole Milk.**You can substitute light brown sugar or granulated sugar. For a restricted sugar diet, you can put as little as 1 tbsp of sugar.***You can use as much as 6 or as little as 2 Tbsps of butter .