Pumpkin Sage Scones

Preheat oven to 400ºF.

Add flour, sugar, spices, baking powder and salt to a food processor and pulse a few times to mix well. Add cubed butter and pulse 8 times (1-second pulses) until butter is still visibly chunky. Transfer to a bowl.

In a separate bowl, mix egg, cream and pumpkin pure. Add wet ingredients to the dry and lightly mix, until dough just comes together. Do not knead the dough, just barely mix until you can form a ball. You need to see the butter chunks, as they will provide the tender, buttery interior.

Transfer dough to a floured surface and divide into 2 equal portions. Add chopped walnuts to one portion, and shredded smoked cheese to the other (if using).

Form two disks, 4 inches (10 cm) in diameter, 3/4 inch (2 cm) thick, then cut into 8 equal triangles. Brush the triangles with beaten egg yolk, and sprinkle coarse brown sugar on top. Optionally, place a sage leave or a walnut piece on top.

Put the scones on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper, and bake in the middle rack of the oven for 20–25 minutes.