With Starbucks introducing their famed pumpkin spice lattes this week, which I have happily sipped down, I found myself missing something with my Fall treat: their pumpkin scone. I went to three (yes, three, and no, I’m not ashamed to admit I’ve been to Starbucks three times in 8 days) and could NOT find a pumpkin scone.
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| The new looking Starbucks “La Boulange” pumpkin scone pic source – Starbucks |
…but there it was, front and center on the menu! All three times I had asked, I was met with a similar response: “we are currently out.” Finally, on the third try, I thought this was too much of a coincidence and I mentioned something to the barista. With shifty eyes, she looked around and finally whispered, “they have been recalled”.
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| the “old looking” pumpkin scone pic source -Starbucks |
Recalled. There ya have it! I KNEW something was up… because why else would a company put something front and center and then not have any product in the store? After switching to a new looking scone and likely a new recipe based on the pictures in their ads, I guess something went awry. This scone was likely produced by their (in)famous collaboration with La Boulange Bakery.
Alas, now I must sip my pumpkin spice latte with my cereal at home. Or, since I have been craving the scone, I will try to bake my own copycat recipe. And hey, it will likely taste better than a new recipe produced by the Boulange bakery, if their old vs new cranberry orange scone is any indication. (Old cranberry scone = much better!). You can spot differences in the pictures above.
I found a few recipes for copycat Starbucks pumpkin scones. I’ve rounded them up below. Likely one will hit the spot!
Copycat Pumpkin Scone Recipe #1
Copycat Pumpkin Scone recipe #2
Copycat Pumpkin Scone Recipe #3
An internet search as of 9/7/14 only brought up one anonymous person mentioning that there were pieces of glass or plastic in the scones and that was the reason they’ve been recalled. I don’t know whether to believe it or not, but what I do know is that Starbucks is being silent on the manner as no official press releases are out. I would have assumed they are recalled due to the scones causing turkey squirts or something of the like.
Either way, I will be trying one of these yummy looking copycat recipes (which are also likely healthier) to go with my morning #PSL.
And I may just have to start making my own pumpkin spice lattes like I did last year. Check out my recipe for DIY copycat pumpkin spice lattes.
***UPDATE*** 9/14/14
Still no official word from Starbucks. Several people have reported here and on another message board that there has been glass/plastic as I noted previously before. Someone else noted that when they received the scones in their store and reheated them, they were super soggy and all of the frosting melted off. I find it hard to believe that all batches of these scones had plastic or glass in them… maybe a few, but all of them?? Usually when foods are mass produced they go through an xray to look for metal/glass but plastic would be missed on xray. While some batches of scones may have some glass or plastic in them, I think more likely when the scones were reheated they were soggy and gross. A poor recipe would affect every single scone in the country… while a few pieces of glass or plastic would only affect a few batches. If it were really glass or plastic, then they should have thrown those out by now and have distributed new scones…. but they haven’t. Which makes me think it’s also a recipe problem. My 2 cents. Also, can’t believe I’m the only blogger that has written about this! We wants ze scones!
These opinions are my own. Recipes and their respective pictures are from the sources in the links.
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Pumpkin scone recall by Starbucks
Copycat Starbucks pumpkin scone recipe
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Written at http://peoniesandorangeblossoms.blogspot.com
I really miss the old pumpkin and cranberry orange scones. The sugar sprinkled on the new cranberry orange scones is gross vs. orange frosting with pieces of orange in it. I am like the NY school district, I want the old menu!
I went to a Starbuck's today and a "temporarily sold out" sticker was placed on the drive thru menu board. I asked the barista when I pulled around and she said that glass had been found in the scones. I had a cranberry-orange scone (not realizing they changed it) and I, too, prefer the old recipe. My young son has had it with the bakery changes. They ruined his beloved marble loaf and, judging from the picture of the new pumpkin scone, he is pretty sure they have messed that up, too :).
Just found out from a barista here in Tucson that they were recalled because because of glass in them. Not sure on the full details, but she's the first to actually admit there was something wrong and that they weren't just sold out like the others have been telling me.
I was able to get my little tootsies on one of those new, now recalled, Pumpkin Scones, and I can say it was delicious. I however, requested it not be heated, just wouldn't be right anyways. It wasn't exactly like the original in that they are a little more moist, but still yummy. No plastic in mine! lol… Guess I got one from a good batch. I went into scone withdrawal with the departure of the old one. But If these new ones return I will happily reorder, its one of the only bakery items form their new line that I can say I have thoroughly enjoyed.
I was excited to hear that you were able to get a scone… so I went. Nope. Met with the same response "we are out of them." I asked why, they told me "they are very popular". Um… ok. Except for the fact they were recalled… I guess lying to your customers is okay. I hope they hit the stores around me soon… and I'm glad to hear the new recipe is just as good (better??) than the old one!
I did get one of the new Pumpkin Scones before they were recalled, and I agree they were yummy. I kept asking why they don't have any (I get to Starbucks by 6am, so I doubt they were sold out) and the barrister confirmed that they had been recalled. I also agree in that this is the ONLY thing I like on their new menu. I used to get the Cran-Orange scones or the Petite Vanilla too, but they messed those up.
My barista said they were recalled because they did not meet StArbucks quality standards. Nothing about glass, but maybe that's code for "they contained glass!" Regardless, I miss the scone! It was my favorite!
Pumpkin scones back and sooooo yummy….much moister than last year's recipe…very good.!!!!
The new scones are moist but kind of flavorless. I'm so sad! I have been waiting and waiting for the scones to come back and I'm thoroughly disappointed!
I can get pumpkin scones in 2 locations. They aren't as delicious as I want them to be. At one location the cashier argued with Me that they were not in the display case while I was staring at them. 2 baristas each gave Me one and the cashier snatched one away and said I didnt pay for it. It's been an interesting experience with these things. Funny to Me but kind of sad overall
I didn't know until I read this blog that the pumpkin scones had been recalled. I've been looking for them for several weeks. I also agree that Starbucks should bring back the original cranberry orange scone. I alsomiss the maple scone and the oat fruit scone of several years ago as they are far superior to what Boulange produces.