The air is cooling down, leaves are changing colors, and college football season is here. We all know what that means: autumn has arrived. However, my favorite sign that fall has begun is seeing all the pumpkin goodness throughout my local grocery store. In every aisle, I find something pumpkin flavored. With many options to sort through, one might get a little overwhelmed. Have no fear though, as I’ve compiled a list of my personal top five pumpkin-flavored products of the season.
Dunkin’ Donuts’ Pumpkin Donut
At the top of my list lies one of the greatest donuts I’ve ever eaten: Dunkin’ Donuts’ pumpkin donut. The pumpkin flavor is very prominent. It tastes almost as if I were eating an actual pumpkin. However, the consistency is very soft and the sweetness is just right, as it doesn’t become overly sweet. And to top it all off, the light donut glaze brings all these great flavors together, making for one addicting donut.
Starbucks’ Pumpkin Spice Latte
Now, I have to admit a big secret of mine: quite frankly, I hate coffee. The taste has never appealed to me, but I couldn’t ignore the most famous pumpkin product of the season: Starbucks’ Pumpkin Spice Latte. I was planning on tasting this drink solely to review, but the flavor instantly reeled me in. It still has that signature Starbucks roast taste, but the add-ins really masked all the unappealing factors of coffee and brought a warm autumn taste to the table. Surprisingly, it was the most enjoyable and soothing hot drink I’ve had in years.
#SpoonTip: Don’t want to spend all your money this fall on PSLs? Try this DIY pumpkin spice latte recipe that only takes 5 minutes with 5 ingredients.
Dairy Queen’s Pumpkin Pie Blizzard
Pumpkin has always been my favorite type of pie, so I was really ecstatic to see Dairy Queen combine my favorite pie with another favorite of mine — ice cream. Exclusive to the fall season, you can go to your local Dairy Queen and order the Pumpkin Pie Blizzard. The pumpkin flavor is very strong, so it almost feels like I’m at home eating one of my mom’s pies. However, my favorite part of the blizzard is getting those chunks of pie crust that really give the dessert a lovely texture.
Pumpkin Spice Oreos
Oreo is one of my favorite cookie brands because of its large variety in flavors. Every season, the company releases several new flavors that are only available for a limited time. The best fall flavor by far is pumpkin spice. Crisp, sweet, and packed with flavor, these cookies don’t disappoint. They are perfect for snacking throughout the day, pairing them with glass of milk, or splitting them in half and eating the cream.
Pumpkin Pie Pop-Tarts
Just like Oreo, every season Pop-Tarts releases limited edition flavors. My personal favorite is pumpkin pie. These can be a great on-the-go breakfast treat. They taste like pumpkin but have a very subtle sweetness to it. Putting them in a toaster makes them taste even more like fresh pumpkin pie, as the heat gives them a gooey consistency.
The next time you step outside your home and smell that crisp autumn air, I hope you think of these rich pumpkin flavors and try them out for yourself. They have made my fall so much better, and more importantly, so much tastier. They’re only available for a limited time, so do not wait too long to get into the fall spirit.