Spice It Up: review of this season’s pumpkin spice anomalies

Featured image photos by Ryan Gossick 

Pumpkin Spice season is upon us — the orange hue is in our coffee, scones and fall accessories. In order to avoid the basic items associated with pumpkin flavoring (lattes, muffins, etc.), I tested out the lesser-known products that pumpkin spice has taken over. Read below to see which ones upheld the prestigious pumpkin title and which ones fell short.

Kit-Kats

The artificial orange pumpkin pie Kit-Kats are a stark contrast to the usual milk chocolate coated wafers. Despite the alarming color, pumpkin pie is a nice addition to Kit-Kat’s other flavors: dark chocolate, apple and even matcha. The signature crunch was present as the pumpkin flavoring seeped through. The hint of vanilla was the perfect addition, adding a level of sweetness, but not overpowering the pumpkin. 

Cheerios 

Honey-nut cheerios are a staple breakfast food. Pumpkin spice Cheerios? Not so much. A better name for them would be cinnamon Cheerios, as the cinnamon flavoring was the only present taste. They looked the part — orange with gold flecks — but the flavor didn’t measure up.

Milano Cookies 

These cookies embody spooky season ideals, but the flavor…not so much. The outward appearance of orange and brown filling wasn’t pleasing to the eye and the cookie itself tasted like a stale piece of pumpkin bread. Fall doesn’t seem to be Milano’s season.

Caramel Apple Dip 

Fall is apple season, meaning it’s also caramel apple season. The pumpkin spice caramel dip is a sure-to-please add to any apple, honeycrisp to fuji. The subtle flavor of the pumpkin means the signature caramel is still there. Add in the creamy, yet sticky, texture and you’ve got a winner.

Donuts

Krispy Kreme glazed donuts can be found at any before-school function. Their take on pumpkin spice donuts should definitely be added to that spread. The mini donut holes had a thin layer of vanilla frosting that complimented the savoriness of the pumpkin spice within the donut. The fluffy factor was at an all time max — a perfect balance between squishy and soft.

Click here to watch Ryan Gossick’s video of Jackie (and friends) taste testing the items listed.