Cast-Iron Skillet Pumpkin Scones

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Warm from the oven, these golden, tender scones are bursting with cozy fall flavor! Made with pumpkin puree (or mashed sweet potatoes — shh, we won’t tell!), a touch of cream, and a swirl of butter, they bake up perfectly in a cast-iron skillet. The result? Crisp edges, soft centers, and all the comfort of autumn in every bite.

Just in Time for the Holidays: Pumpkin Skillet Scones!

We’ve been on a roll lately, baking up desserts in the cast-iron skillet. Like most of the others, this recipe is perfect on the grill or in the oven. (Most cast-iron recipes are.)

In this case, we decided to take a classic scone (or baking powder biscuit) and add a pumpkin component. This decision came after baking up our Pumpkin Spice Skillet Cake and ending up with leftover pumpkin puree.

Hey, never let a good thing go to waste, right?

A New Fall Recipe!

So, we tried our hand at this new recipe and it worked like a charm. These scones are simple, delicious, and baked up perfectly in the skillet. They would be ideal for a weekend brunch, Thanksgiving morning, or an easy holiday breakfast.

Serve them with some cinnamon honey butter, maple glaze, or your favorite jam — they’re irresistible no matter how you offer them to your family or guests.

What are we waiting for? Let’s make some scones!

Ingredients for Cast-Iron Skillet Scones

You will find a recipe card at the bottom of this post, which makes printing easy. The ingredients for this recipe are easy to find at your local grocery store. In fact, you might already have many of them in your pantry or fridge right now.

• 2 cups self-rising flour
• ¾ cup pumpkin puree (or mashed sweet potatoes)
• ¾ cup heavy cream or buttermilk
• ¼ cup melted butter (plus more for brushing)
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 1/4 cup brown sugar

Note: You’ll notice that our puree is dark in color. That’s because we had already added the spices and brown sugar before taking pictures.

How to Make Cast-Iron Skillet Scones from Scratch

Preheat oven: 425°F. Lightly grease your cast-iron skillet with butter or oil.

Mix wet ingredients: In a large bowl, stir together pumpkin puree, melted butter, spices, and cream until smooth.

Add dry ingredients: Gently fold in self-rising flour until just combined. The dough should be soft but not overly sticky — add a touch more cream if needed.

Shape: Transfer dough to a floured surface and pat into a circle about ¾ inch thick.

Cut into 8 wedges and arrange them in the skillet, slightly separated.

Bake: 15–18 minutes, or until the tops are golden brown and edges crisp.

Finish: Brush with melted butter while warm. For extra flair, sprinkle with cinnamon sugar or drizzle with a simple glaze made of powdered sugar, cream, and a dash of cinnamon.

Cut the scones in half and fill with some delicious Cinnamon Cream Cheese Buttercream for added flavor.

How to Cook Cast-Iron Skillet Scones on the Grill

If you’d rather keep the heat outdoors (or you just love that subtle smoky flavor), these scones bake beautifully on a grill! Here’s how:

1. Preheat your grill:
   • Heat your gas or charcoal grill to about 400°F (medium-high heat).
   • If using charcoal, let the coals turn gray and evenly hot before baking.
   • If using gas, preheat for at least 10–15 minutes with the lid closed.
2. Prepare your skillet:
   • Place your cast-iron skillet directly on the grates while preheating to warm it up.
   • Lightly grease it with butter or oil before adding the dough — this helps prevent sticking and gives a crisp edge.
3. Arrange the scones:
   • Cut the dough into 8 wedges and place them in the preheated skillet.
   • Close the grill lid to trap heat (it turns your grill into an outdoor oven).
4. Bake:
   • Cook for 15–20 minutes, checking around the 12-minute mark.
   • Rotate the skillet halfway through if your grill has hot spots.
   • The scones are done when they’re golden brown and firm to the touch.
5. Finish:
   • Brush with melted butter while warm.
   • Optional: Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar or drizzle with maple glaze for that extra holiday magic.
6. Cool slightly:
   • Let the scones rest 5 minutes in the skillet before serving. The bottoms will be perfectly crisp, and the centers soft and steamy.

Grilling Tips

• Keep the lid closed to maintain even heat.
• Use indirect heat for a more even bake — move coals to one side or turn off one burner if using gas.
• For a smoky touch, add a handful of applewood or pecan chips before baking.

Storage

Store leftover scones in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days, or refrigerate for up to five days. Reheat in the microwave for 10–15 seconds before serving.

What to Expect from These Cast-Iron Skillet Pumpkin Scones

These scones are everything cozy fall mornings are made of!

• Light and flaky: Thanks to the cream and butter combo, the texture is tender yet airy.
• Soft pumpkin flavor: Gentle spices and pumpkin puree (or sweet potato mash) give just the right autumn warmth without being overpowering.
• Crisp exterior, soft interior: Baking in a cast-iron skillet creates that perfect contrast — a golden crust outside and a pillowy crumb inside.
• Delicious warm from the oven: Slather on butter, honey, or a drizzle of maple glaze and enjoy them fresh from the pan.

These scones taste like a cozy October morning — comforting, aromatic, and just sweet enough to make you smile.

Variations to this Scone Recipe

There are so many ways to change these up! Here are some of our favorite suggestions:

• Not a fan of pumpkin? You can swap out mashed sweet potatoes.
• White chocolate chips: Add half a cup to the dough and you’ll end up with a delicious finished product.
• Craisins: You’re going to love this addition. Add half a cup to the dough to discover first-hand just how good Craisins and Pumpkin are together.

Other Skillet Favorites from Backyard Texas Grill:

• Jalapeno Cheddar Skillet Cornbread: Spice, delicious. . .easy!
• Spiced Apple Dump Cake: Perfect for the holidays!
• Easy Skillet Cookie on the Grill: This one’s a real crowd-pleaser!

That’s it for this post, friends. Before you go, why not pin some photos to your Pinterest boards?

About the Pit Master

Zach is the brains behind Backyard Texas Grill — the guy who can fire up a smoker, manage a grill full of meats, and still make room in the cast iron for something sweet. He’s all about big flavor, simple ingredients, and good times shared around the fire. Whether he’s perfecting ribs, searing steaks, or cookie up cast-iron favorites, Zach brings a true Texas spirit to every dish.