Date and Spice Pumpkin Scones

• pumpkin, Queensland Blue↗500 g
• ground cinnamon↗1⁄2 teaspoon
• salt↗1⁄2 teaspoon
• self raising flour↗3 cups
• butter, chopped↗50 g
• caster sugar↗2 tablespoons
• pitted dates, chopped finely↗1 cup
• milk, approximately↗1⁄3 cup

  approximately

Step-by-step instructions

1. 1

   Steam or microwave coarsely chopped pumpkin until tender, drain well. Add the cinnamon and salt; mash until smooth, cool to room temperature.

2. 2

   Preheat oven to 200 degrees centigrade. Lightly grease and flour a scone tray.

3. 3

   Sift flour into a large bowl, rub in butter. Add sugar, pumpkin, dates and most of milk. Mix to a soft dough. If dry, add remaining milk.

4. 4

   Gently knead dough on lightly floured surface until smooth. Press dough out evenly about 2 cm thick. Cut out as many rounds as possible using 6cm scone cutter.

5. 5

   Place rounds on prepared tray. Gather remaining dough together and repeat cutting out process as above - handle lightly and gently.

6. 6

   Brush tops of scones with a little milk.

7. 7

   Bake in moderately hot oven for about 25 minutes.

8. 8

   Serve warm with butter.