Item: Pumpkin Donut
Where to find: Dunkin Donuts
I tried a few of Dunkin Donuts Pumpkin choices last year but for some reason never tried their pumpkin donut. While staying at a friend's house in Maryland, her husband went on a DD run and she asked him to get her a pumpkin donut and a coffee, sounding delicious, I asked for the same. I had no doubts that the donut would be delicious, and it of course was. I ended up going to DD again myself recently and got another one it was so good. I think the second one was even better than the first. I plan to have many more pumpkin donuts while they still have them!
Where to find: Target or other grocery stores
I don't think I'm a big fan of frozen waffles in general but these are definitely a step up from your typical Eggo. I think regular Eggos are flavorless but these have a nice pumpkin spice flavoring to them. If you're going to go frozen waffles, I'd definitely recommend these. I had them with just syrup but I think whipped cream would be delicious on them.
Where to find: Bath and Body Works
The name of this post is "Fall in Love with Pumpkins" which means it can be anything pumpkin, doesn't necessarily have to be something you eat. This scented candle from Bath and Body Works smells absolutely delicious! I just purchased a couple mini ones which were on special 3/something but I think you can get a full sized one as well. This cute little candle can add a fall feel to any room in your house.
Where to find: Sonic Drive In
I've been seeing commercials for all of Sonic's new hot dogs, they look so tasty, I finally decided to try one. When I was looking at the menu board, I happened to notice that they had a Pumpkin Pie Shake. I, of course, had to try it! This shake was pretty much what I expected. It was a pumpkin flavored shake with graham cracker chunks (for the crust) and whipped cream on top. It was really good but I couldn't drink much of it after eating dinner, I was too full! I'd recommend getting this for a snack by itself, not at the same time as getting food or it's too much. Or you could split it with someone! The graham cracker chunks got stuck in the straw sometimes making it hard to drink but this was definitely tasty!
Item: Pumpkin Iced Chai
Where to find: Hyperion, Fredericksburg, VA
I think it's pretty much a given in this day and age to expect to find pumpkin flavored options at a coffee shop in the fall, Hyperion was no exception. For those who do not live in Fredericksburg, Hyperion is a local coffee shop downtown that is very popular. My friend and I met there for a "coffee" date and I was excited to try one of their pumpkin options. They have a chalkboard that said "It's that Pumpkin Time of Year" with a list of things to try with their pumpkin syrup. It was a warm day so I knew I wanted something cold to drink so I decided to try a pumpkin iced chai. It was quite tasty! I think their iced chai alone is delicious and to add pumpkin syrup to it could only make it better.
Where to find: Wal-mart or other grocery stores
Last fall I discovered pumpkin cream cheese, this year, pumpkin spice bagels. Now I just need to put them together! I had a pumpkin spice bagel with regular cream cheese this morning and it was delicious! I can only imagine how good it would be if I find the pumpkin cream cheese again. Special shout out to Kim for telling me that these existed!
*UPDATE: I was able to find the Pumpkin Spice Cream Cheese again with one Pumpkin Spice Bagel remaining. They tasted delicious together but the cream cheese also tastes great on plain bagels.
Where to find: Wal-mart or other grocery stores
I love marshmallows and these pumpkin spice ones are no different. They are even shaped like pumpkins which is super cute. I just tried a few by themselves and while the bag says "Great for snacking!" I feel like their potential is meant for something bigger. They'd be great for recipes such as on top of sweet potatoes for Thanksgiving or in rice krispie treats (there is a recipe on the back for those!) I can also see them being delicious in a pumpkin or white chocolate flavored hot cocoa. I'll update this accordingly if I try them on or in anything else.
Where to find: Wal-mart or other grocery stores
Last year I tried some tasty pumpkin muffins at coffee shops and convenience stores but these Little Debbie pumpkin muffins are perfect for a quick breakfast on the go from home. They come individually packaged in boxes of 6 and are quite tasty for a pre-packaged baked good. They're a little small but do the job.
Item: Pumpkin Spice Hershey's Kisses
Where to find: Target or other places that sell kisses
To be honest I wasn't sure what to expect with these. I wasn't sure if they were going to be chocolate with pumpkin filling or what. I unwrapped one to find it a light orange color. I bit into it halfway to reveal a white filing. These are honestly amazing! I feel like they had the potential to be gross but were are actually quite delicious! They're sweet with the perfect amount of pumpkin spice flavoring. And in a small kiss size, they're the perfect portion to just have 1 or 2!
Where to find: Target or other grocery stores
These were definitely an impulse purchase. I did not know they existed but saw a box of them near the Halloween stuff at Target. As my mission is pumpkins in the fall, I couldn't resist. I didn't really know what to expect with these but thought they were super cute with the pumpkin shape and jack-o-lantern face. I was pleasantly surprised at how good they really were. They have the perfect pumpkin spice flavor and the name is very fitting, these little guys are quite the delight. They make a great on the go breakfast choice or just a tasty snack.
Where to find: Inside any pumpkin you purchase at your local pumpkin patch!
While roasted pumpkin seeds aren't a new concept, they are a tasty way to get more for your money when you're carving pumpkins for Halloween. There are tons of tasty recipes you can try out, I used a simple one I found in a magazine years ago that includes ingredients that most people have lying around their kitchen. Recipe to come soon!
Where to find: Target
I believe Market Pantry is Target's exclusive brand so to my knowledge that is the only place to get these. These are actually quite amazing. The cookies are similar to ginger snaps in texture and consistency but instead of the ginger flavor, they are pumpkin flavored! They also sell ginger ones as well. Basically they put two of the cookies together with cheesecake icing to make a cookie sandwich. These are delicious and quite addictive so beware!
Where to find: Rita's
I always heard that Rita's had a pumpkin flavor but most Rita's close down at the end of the summer and by the time I'm thinking pumpkin, they're all closed. Lucky for me, I discovered that the one inside the mall is still open and when I checked to see if they had pumpkin, sure enough Pumpkin Pie was the first flavor on there. I got a kids size because Pumpkin Pie is a cream ice which are very sweet and a full size one would be a little much. One bite of this and it tasted exactly like a piece of pumpkin pie; creamy, sweet and delicious! While tasty, even a kids size was too much. I ate about half and put the other half in the freezer to share with Gary later. I might not get this again but am glad I tried it.
Where to find: World Market
Of course my mind is always on pumpkins in the fall so when I saw this soup mix, I just had to try it. All you need to add to the mix is water and heavy cream. The thing I really like about this soup is that it is spicy pumpkin which is a twist on the normal pumpkin spice or pumpkin pie flavor. Not that I'm a big fan of spicy things, but a little spiciness keeps it interesting. This soup was warm, flavorful and all around delicious. It's perfect for a cold rainy night which was what last night was when I made it. I thought the soup was perfect the way I made it but they also suggested adding a can of pumpkin to make it thicker and top it with sour cream. I think that would have been too much for me but an interesting idea to try if I ever get the mix again.
Where to find: The recipe is from tablespoon.com
I found this recipe on tablespoon.com. See the recipe and my comments here.
Where to find: The recipe is from Cosmopolitan Magazine, you can get a pumpkin facial at many spas
I saw a lot of Groupon offers for pumpkin facials and was intrigued. While I didn't purchase one, I did come across a recipe for one in Cosmo and decided to give it a try. All you need to do is mix an egg white with half a cup of canned pumpkin which is supposed to brighten skin. You apply it to your dry face and remove after 10 minutes with a wet cloth. I don't know if my skin looks brighter but it does feel soft and refreshed.
Where to find: My aunt purchased it at a shop in downtown Fredericksburg, I'm sure you can get it online or at other stores
While this is called instant coffee, the Pumpkin Pie Mocha is better described as a hot chocolate. My aunt tasted it at a store when we were shopping downtown and purchased it. Since I love pumpkin things, she was kind enough to share some with me. Mine was a little watered down, I think my hot water to powder ratio wasn't exactly right, but I could tell it was tasty and would have been way better if I had a little more powder or less water. This is a delicious substitute from normal hot chocolate! It's also fat free and decaf so it makes a great after dinner dessert.
Where to find: I found this at a tea shop in downtown Fredericksburg, I'm sure many taffy companies make a pumpkin flavor so check out your local candy stores in the fall
I'm very picky with my taffy so this particular one wasn't my favorite. I think I'm a snob and love the fresh made kind that is still soft. Once it gets a little hard, it still tastes good but it's so much work to eat! Since I got this near the end of the fall season, I"m sure it was harder than it was when it first came out. The flavor was good, I just wish it were a little softer.
Where to find: World Market
The best way to describe this dish is interesting. The fall pasta has a hint of pumpkin and the sauce tastes exactly like pumpkin, but just pumpkin. If you notice, most pumpkin flavored things are pumpkin pie or pumpkin spice, not just plain pumpkin. This sauce might be better with a little pumpkin pie spice added or a sprinkle of cinnamon on top. I added rosemary but it wasn't quite right. It's not bad but I probably wouldn't buy it again. It was fun to try though!
Where to find: Any grocery store
I like my coffee strong and black so I normally do not bother with creamer. Of course I couldn't resist picking up a bottle of Pumpkin Spice creamer though. I have been using this in my Pumpkin Spice coffee. I think the two pair well together and if you like creamer, this is delicious. I just prefer my coffee black, plain and simple.
Where to find: Twinning's Website, stores that sell Twinings brand teas
I actually got the chance to order 3 free samples from Twinings and was able to pick 3 flavors. I of course saw the Pumpkin Spice Chai and immediately made that one of my choices. Since I only had 1, I've been saving it for the perfect moment to try. This morning just felt right. I think this chai is delicious. It has the perfect pumpkin flavoring and the right mix of spices to pair with it. I normally like my tea plain or with Splenda so I had this plain but I think if you added cream and sugar, it might have been more chai like. I will definitely look to order some of this from Twinings and experiment.
Where to find: T.J. Maxx, stores where Tasty brand products are sold
I just happened to come across this box while browsing at T.J. Maxx. It was one of those situations where this box was randomly laying in the wrong spot but it immediately caught my attention with the bright orange pumpkin on the front. I like organic things and needed a quick breakfast food in my cabinet so I figured why not. These are pumpkin banana which is something new and different for me in my pumpkin quest. I wouldn't say these are the best thing in the world but they're very good for what they are. I don't think you expect an organic whole grain cereal bar to be an orgasmic experience. But for an everyday breakfast food, these are quite tasty and a new unique flavor.
Where to find: Crave (or various other frozen yogurt shops)
I love frozen yogurt shops that let you pick your flavors and toppings and you pay based on weight. I've tried a few different shops with this concept and for the most part I've loved them all. A new place called Crave opened up in Fredericksburg, VA this year and I've been wanting to try it but hadn't gotten a chance when I visited. Finally I made it to Crave over my holiday break and was excited to find they still had their pumpkin flavors on tap! I sampled both the Pumpkin Spice and the Pumpkin Pie a la mode. I believe the second one is just the pumpkin spice flavor swirled with vanilla. I decided to go with the straight up Pumpkin Spice because the vanilla just took away from the delicious pumpkin taste. As for toppings, it was hard to think of what would pair well with the pumpkin so I just went with a light dusting of graham cracker which ended up being perfect.
Where to find: Yankee Candle stores or retailers that sell Yankee Candle brand
Crave just happened to be next to the Yankee Candle store in Fredericksburg so my mom and I hit up their semi-annual clearance sale. I was pleased to find multiple items in their delicious Spiced Pumpkin scent including lip balm, a diffuser, and a package of tea light candles. This scent is perfect for fall but smells good year round!
Where to find: World Market, or wet-noses.com
Even my adorable dog Chloe got the chance to fall in love with pumpkins. I actually read somewhere that pumpkin is good for dogs tummies. While I don't know if this is true or not, Chloe certainly enjoyed these pumpkin dog treats. They're organic and healthy so I trust putting them in my dog's system plus they smell good enough for a human to eat!
Where to find: World Market
This was one of my more disappointing pumpkin finds. Don't get me wrong, it's absolutely delicious, it just didn't have any pumpkin taste to it. It's a caramel corn with chocolate covered almonds and pumpkin chocolate pieces in it. The pumpkin pieces were orange but just tasted like white chocolate. Again, this is amazing tasting, just doesn't taste like pumpkins!
***This post will be updated and edited as I try new things, stay tuned! While fall is long gone, I still have a few pumpkin things I need to try so this blog isn't over quite yet!
Terrif blog! Makes me hungry for a pumpkin smorgasbord - yumm.
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