Fall may bring our precious summer to an end and require a lot of leaf-raking, but it shouldn’t mean we all need to hibernate until Memorial Day. There are some perks to the coming of colder weather — bonfires, football and most importantly: pumpkin. Once October hits, you can find just about anything pumpkin-flavored, from desserts to soaps to candles— you name it, it probably comes in pumpkin. As an avid pumpkin-lover myself, I’m here to review some of my favorite fall treats.
THE CLICHÉ: Pumpkin Spice Latte
The average high school student probably sees at least five tweets a day about Pumpkin Spice Lattes (PSL) once September rolls around. I’m pretty sure it’s a proven fact that the number of PSL tweets a day is directly proportional to the temperature; the colder it gets, the more tweets you’ll see. This drink is bursting with pumpkin flavor and topped with whipped cream and spices. To me, Pumpkin Spice Lattes signify the return of fall. Starbucks debuts this festive drink each year around the beginning of September. Once this drink is available, you know it’s time to pull out your sweaters and boots. Plus, everyone knows a Starbucks cup looks cute with any outfit.
Pumpkin bread is just one of those staples you can’t help but crave. It’s full of flavor and is delicious any time of the year, but of course it is best in the fall. For a time, I was obsessed with Starbucks’ pumpkin loaf. But then they did some- thing I will never forgive them for: they decided to stick Pumpkin seeds on the top of their bread. When I first tried the new bread, I was appalled. Those crunchy seeds ruined the dense, smooth texture. Now, I stick to the Tippins bread that you can find at Hen House. However, nothing beats my mom’s traditional, homemade pumpkin bread.
THE DYNAMIC DUO: Pumpkin Bagel & Cream Cheese
Alone, they are average, but to- gether, they are divine. When I first tried the pumpkin bagel from Einstein Brothers, I was not impressed. It was bland and I could barely taste the pumpkin. But being a pumpkin-lover, I decided to give it a second chance. This time, I added pumpkin cream cheese. To my delight, the combination was full of flavor; the cream cheese livened up the boring bagel. I can’t just have pumpkin in moderation, I need an overload of flavor. But even though they were both pumpkin, it wasn’t too much. These two truly are a dynamic duo — a staple food made festive with the perfect amount of pumpkin flavor.
THE WEIRD BUT GOOD: Pumpkin Ice Cream & Concretes
When I first saw pumpkin on the TCBY flavors-of-the-day, I was bit concerned. There’s no way pumpkin ice cream can be good, right? Combining a summer treat with a fall flavor sounded like a recipe for disaster. But as always, I had to try it. And I sure am glad I did. Pumpkin frozen yogurt may be one of the weirder things I have eaten, but it was delicious. It’s perfect for one of those it’s-supposed- to-be-fall-right-now-but-it’s-still-100-degrees-out days. TCBY isn’t the only place that rocks the pumpkin-flavored ice cream, Sheridan’s pumpkin concrete also hits the spot on a not-yet-chilly fall day.
THE JUST PLAIN WEIRD: Pumpkin Pop-Tarts
I hate to say this, but pump- kin Pop-Tarts just aren’t good. Even I — a self-proclaimed pumpkin fanatic — can admit these are bad. Like really bad. If I’m being honest, Pop-Tarts aren’t good to begin with. They have no flavor and fill you up for maybe five minutes max. They are a sorry excuse for breakfast food. But the pumpkin flavor made Pop-Tarts —if possible — even worse. The flavor is practically non-existent, and they are truly a disgraceto pumpkin-lovers everywhere.
THE FAVORITE: Pumpkin Whoopie Pies
Made at Dolce Bakery in the Prairie Village Shops, these signature pumpkin whoopie pies win my award for the best fall treat. They are downright delicious and bursting with pumpkin flavor. A pumpkin whoopie pie is pumpkin cake with cream cheese frosting in the middle, like a little dessert sandwich. These treats are chilled and the icing is the perfect compliment to the pumpkin flavor. Fall is my favorite season, and I could easily make a list of 30 things I look forward to when September rolls around. Every year, pumpkin whoopie pies make the top of the list. They are my seasonal guilty pleasure.
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