Pumpkin spice season is on: Starbucks, Dunkin' and more serving lattes, coffee and donuts
Mike SniderThe calendar may still say August, but the pumpkin spice season is officially in full swing now with Starbucks bringing back its Pumpkin Spice Latte on Thursday, August 24.
That's an earlier return for the beverage, affectionately called "PSL," than last year, but the same date as in 2021. Several other favorite food spots kicked off their own pumpkin spice plans earlier this month.
Dunkin' launched its fall menu last week – also earlier than in the past – pouring Pumpkin Spice Signature Lattes and pumpkin coffee. By then, Krispy Kreme and 7-Eleven had already been offering its pumpkin spice goodies for more than a week.
7-Eleven picked its earliest date ever, too – August 1 – to bring back its Pumpkin Spice Latte and pumpkin coffee. “We decided to break out the pumpkin a little bit early this year,” said Dennis Phelps, 7-Eleven's senior vice president of merchandising (vault & proprietary beverages), in a statement. “It may not quite feel like fall outside yet, but it sure can taste like fall as we enjoy the first Pumpkin Spice Latte of the season.”
Supermarkets also have a harvest of pumpkin products including cereal, creamers and cookie dough available, while pumpkin ales and stouts are already vying for shelf space with Oktoberfest beers. Estimates of the "pumpkin spice industrial complex" – have ranged from about $300 million to $600 million annually.
“Pumpkin spice has solidified its role as autumn’s comfort flavor, just as we associate ice cream with summer months and soups with winter," Darren Seifer, food and beverage industry analyst for research firm Circana, told USA TODAY.
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Consumers have continued to spend more on pumpkin products over the last five years, up from $563.6 million five years ago, to about $802.5 million on pumpkin over the past 12 months, according to data from NielsenIQ.
Spending rose about 15% in the 52-week period ending July 29, 2023, compared to the same period a year ago. But inflation and higher prices actually resulted in consumers buying about 1.5% fewer pumpkin items overall, according to NielsenIQ data.
But there are signs of weakness in the pumpkin patch. Consumers opted for slightly less pumpkin and pumpkin spice food and beverages last fall, than in fall 2021, down 6% with consumption of 4.8 annual "eatings" per person dropping to 4.5 in the most recent 12 months, which included fall 2022, according to Circana, formerly IRI and The NPD Group.
And an unscientific poll on X, formerly known as Twitter, found that half of 422 respondents said they had "No taste for pumpkin," while 23.5% said they "can't wait" for pumpkin spice coffee and foods to hit stores, while 26.5% said "Pumpkin spice is ok."
We do still love our pumpkin drinks, especially coffee and specialty coffee, which has gained about 5 percentage points in the past three years, and now accounts for nearly 10% of all pumpkin and pumpkin spice consumption, Circana says.
Here's a look at some of the pumpkin spice products already available or coming soon.
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Dunkin' pumps up fall menu: Pumpkin spice latte, coffee, donuts, muffins ... and Goldfish
Dunkin' expanded its menu Wednesday with several fall pumpkin flavored treats. In addition to its Pumpkin Spice Signature Latte and Nutty Pumpkin Coffee, both available iced or hot, the food stop also has pumpkin cake donuts, donut holes and a pumpkin muffin – and Goldfish Dunkin' Pumpkin Spice Grahams.
Pumpkin not your preference? Dunkin's fall menu also includes a chorizo and egg wrap, a chicken and roasted pepper wrap, as well as a Maple Sugar Bacon Breakfast Sandwich, including an option of vegan bacon.
Krispy Kreme has two new pumpkin doughnuts
The purveyor of doughnuts (the company prefers to not use the word "donut") began serving up four different kinds of pumpkin doughnuts on August 7: two new treats, the Pumpkin Spice Cheesecake Swirl Doughnut and Pumpkin Spice Maple Pecan Doughnut, plus two returning ones, the original and cake pumpkin spice doughnuts.
Shipley Do-Nuts has a quartet of pumpkin spiced treats
Shipley Do-Nuts has four different pumpkin spiced seasonal snacks available now at participating locations: the Pumpkin Spiced Iced Yeast Do-nut, Pumpkin Spiced Buttermilk Cake Do-nut, Pumpkin Spiced Buttermilk Cake Cinnamon Sugar Do-nut, and Pumpkin Spiced Iced Buttermilk Cake Do-nut (festive fall sprinkles included on this one).
7-Eleven lets you pumpkin up your coffee drinks
In addition to its Pumpkin Spice Latte and Pumpkin Coffee, 7-Eleven also has pumpkin spice creamers and pumpkin syrup available to enhance your coffee drink at participating 7-Eleven, Speedway, and Stripes stores across the U.S. No pumpkin donuts, but there's a limited-time Apple Cider Donut to pair with your pumpkin drink – and a pumpkin muffin coming to stores later this month.
Starbucks' Pumpkin Spice Latte arrives August 24
Starbucks typically brings its Pumpkin Spice Latte (PSL) back by the end of August, but this year it comes a bit earlier. And this season marks 20 years since Starbucks created its signature coffee drink, followed in the years since by a cornucopia of Starbucks pumpkin spice products including a Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino Chilled Coffee Drink, Iced Espresso Pumpkin Spice Latte, Pumpkin Spice Flavored creamers (dairy and non-dairy versions), and at-home Pumpkin Spice Flavored Coffee and K-Cup pods.
Two new beverages join the PSL this year: an Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai Tea Latte and Iced Apple Crisp Oatmilk Shaken Espresso. The Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew is back, too, along with a Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffin.
Caribou Coffee has 15 pumpkin drinks coming August 24
On August 24, Caribou Coffee will begin offering 15 different pumpkin drinks including the new Pumpkin Espresso Shaker – puréed pumpkin and fresh espresso shaken with ice and topped with oat milk – as well as the Pumpkin Iced Crafted Press and the Pumpkin White Mocha. For snacks, there's the Pumpkin Cake Pop and Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffin.
Caribou Coffee's limited-time Pumpkin Love ground coffee – which comes with hints of "fresh pumpkin, warm spices, and sweet whipped cream" – are available nationwide at select Target stores and online.
Scooter's Coffee: Fall menu include Pumpkin Caramelicious drink
Scooter's Coffee has a pumpkin-filled menu including its own Pumpkin Spice Latte and a Pumpkin Caramelicious drink that combines two favorite fall flavors. And you can add Pumpkin Cold Foam to any cold or hot drink. Pumpkin treats include a Pumpkin Spice Cake Bite and a Pumpkin Caramelicious Muffin.
IHOP's pumpkin spice pancakes and cold brew returns August 28
Coming to IHOP locations nationwide on August 28:
- The Pumpkin Spice Pancake Combo, with two pancakes made with real pumpkin and seasonal spices and whipped topping. Hash browns and bacon or sausage come on the side.
- Pumpkin Spice Cold Foam Cold Brew: 100% Arabica iced cold brew sweetened with vanilla, and topped with a pumpkin spice creamy foam.
Perkins Restaurant & Bakery adds pumpkin to menu September 6
Perkins' pumpkin lineup, which arrives for a limited time Sept. 6, includes the Pumpkin Spice Pancake Platter, with three pumpkin buttermilk pancakes with whipped topping, two eggs and bacon or sausage links, Pumpkin Cream Cheese Mammoth Muffin, and pumpkin pie. Also returning: Baconfest, which includes a Maple Bacon Pancake Platter.
Tim Horton's pumpkin spice flavors for fall
Tim Horton's is tapping into the pumpkin spice trend, too. Beginning Wednesday, August 23, you can get a Pumpkin Spice Iced Capp, a sweet and cold drink made with pumpkin spice flavored syrup and topped with whipped cream and more pumpkin syrup (available as a latte, iced latte and cold brew). Treats to accompany the drink include a pumpkin spice donut and muffin. Other limited-time products include a Maple Cinnamon Sugar Iced Latte, Spiced Apple Cranberry Refresher and a Peach Refresher with fall spices. Members of Tims Rewards also get double points on purchases Aug. 30 to Sept. 26.
Another Broken Egg Cafe's pumpkin menu
Another Broken Egg Cafe, which has 90-plus locations in 15 states, is serving up some pumpkin dishes as part of its limited-time seasonal menu through January 8:
- Pumpkin Waffle: A pumpkin-infused Belgian waffle topped with pecans, cinnamon-spiced compound butter and powdered sugar.
- Pumpkin Spiced Pancakes: Three pumpkin spiced pancakes, layered with sweet cream and topped with fresh whipped cream, caramel sauce, biscotti crumbles and crispy sage. A complete breakfast, it comes with two eggs any style and choice of baked bacon or house-made sausage patties (available in select cafes).
- Pumpkin Spice Cold Brew: Comes with a cream-spiced topping and a caramel pecan rim. you can also add Captain Morgan Spiced Rum.
Make your own pumpkin spice drinks at home
Chobani has two different pumpkin spice creamer options: its Chobani Coffee Creamer Pumpkin Spice flavored creamer, made with real cream and milk, and Chobani Oat Coffee Creamer Pumpkin Spice non-dairy creamer made with natural flavors. There's also a new Oatmilk Pumpkin Spice drink, which is vegan-friendly, diary-free and lactose-free.
Of course, Chobani has some yogurt, too. In addition to Chobani with Zero Sugar Pumpkin Spice, there's also the Chobani Flip Pumpkin Harvest Crisp, with oatmeal pastry pieces, frosting chunks, and cinnamon frosted cookies to mix into pumpkin Greek yogurt. There's also Chobani Greek Yogurt Pumpkin Spice Blended.
Elmhurst Pumpkin Spice Oat Creamer is a dairy-free, vegan- and carrageenan-free, non-GMO project verified, OU Kosher-certified creamer made with oat milk, hemp cream and natural flavors.
You can make your own pumpkin spice latte thanks to Planet Oat Oatmilk's recipe posted online. The recipe calls for its Extra Creamy Oatmilk, but you could choose to make it with any of the other five flavors, including Vanilla.
Orgain's Pumpkin Spice Protein Powder, available for a limited time
You can make a PSPL – Pumpkin Spice Protein Latte – by adding Orgain’s Pumpkin Spice Protein Powder to your at-home concoctions. A serving of this gluten-free, organic, plant-based and non-GMO powder provides 170 calories and 21 grams of protein. Available for a limited time on Amazon or at orgain.com.
An ever-earlier August crop of pumpkin beers
Each summer it seems like autumn seasonal beers arrive earlier, in part because consumers can't wait for them. "You heard us right: two major breweries, Samuel Adams and Dogfish Head, released their signature pumpkin ales on Tuesday – in the middle of a heat wave," wrote Hannah Staab of VinePair, a drinks culture site, on August 2.
Meanwhile, Southern Tier Brewing Company of Lakewood, New York, began promoting its Pumking Imperial Pumpkin Ale and Warlock Pumpkin Stout on July 31. And a few days later, it unveiled a new pumpkin beer, Caramel Pumking Imperial Ale.
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In addition to Samuel Adams Jack-O Pumpkin Ale and Dogfish Head Punkin Ale (available in cans for the first time), other perennial favorites available now include Schlafly Pumpkin Ale, Rogue Pumpkin Patch Ale, Shipyard Pumpkinhead and its boozier cousins Smashed Pumpkin and a bourbon barrel-aged Smashed Pumpkin. Dogfish Head has also released a Punkin Liqueur, made from Punkin Ale aged in Dogfish Head rum barrels; available at the brewery's Delaware locations and in upstate New York.
For a few years, demand had gotten "soft, but it's rebounded," said Norm Yow, owner of Norm's Beer and Wine in Vienna, Virginia. "Fall seasons are probably the strongest segment of craft beer."
Sales figures bear that out. Seasonal beers typically account for 9%-10% of total craft beer sales during the year, but during the fall – when pumpkin beers and Oktoberfest beers dominate – seasonals' share rises to the 12% to 14% range, according to data from Bump Williams Consulting, a Shelton, Connecticut firm, which services the alcoholic beverage industry and uses NielsenIQ data.
Busch Light's pumpkin spice pup brew
Busch Light's new limited edition Pumpkin Spice Busch Dog Brew ($15 for a 4-pack, shopbeergear.com) lets dogs get into the pumpkin spice trend. The non-alcoholic, all-natural drink is made with pumpkin, cinnamon, ginger, turmeric and water to refresh your dog. This isn't Busch Light's first dog brew. In the past it has released a port bone broth-based product and a Busch Light Turkey Brew, made with turkey broth, according to food news site Delish.
Pumpkin cookie doughs from Nestlé and Pillsbury
Want to bake your own pumpkin snacks? You've got some options. Nestlé has Toll House Pumpkin Spice Cookie Dough, made with pumpkin spice flavors and white chocolate morsels. Other fall flavors include new Toll House Hot Cocoa & Marshmallow Morsels and the returning Toll House M&M's Ghoul's Mix Sugar Cookie Dough.
“Fall-flavored products continue to spark excitement, particularly among Gen Z and Millennials,” Chandra Kumar, president of Nestlé USA's bakery sweets division, told USA TODAY.
You can quickly bake pumpkin cream cheese cookies and sugar cookies graced with pumpkin shapes with Pillsbury Ready To Bake refrigerated cookie doughs, arriving in early fall. Pillsbury's Pumpkin Cream Cheese cookie dough has pumpkin-flavoring and cream cheese-flavored chunks. Pillsbury Pumpkin Cookie Dough comes with 20 pre-cut sugar cookies adorned with orange and green pumpkin art.
Another cookie concoction, Betty Crocker Pumpkin Spice Cookie Mix, requires just a few ingredients before baking. You can find it in Target and Walmart at the end of the month.
Not a cookie fan? Pillsbury Pumpkin Spice Grands let you bake five big pumpkin spice cinnamon rolls and you can top them with premade pumpkin spice icing.
Simple Mills Pumpkin Muffin & Bread Mix, which is made with real pumpkin, almond and coconut flour, can be used to make gluten-free muffins or bread.
Pumpkin smoothies, snack bars, Pop-Tarts, cereal and more
Available for a limited time at Jamba, a new Pumpkin Smash Bowl and Pumpkin Smash Smoothie, both made with pumpkin spice. You can sub in oat milk and So Delicious Dairy Free oat milk frozen dessert to make it plant-based, too.
Smoothie King has five limited-time pumpkin smoothies, each made with 100% organic pumpkin puree and containing more than 10 grams of protein, arriving August 29. A new offering is the Pumpkin Power Meal Smoothie, a meal replacement drink delivering 20 grams of protein, which is made with organic pumpkin, almonds, dates and seasonal spices. The other drinks include the Pumpkin Slim-N-Trim – under 300 calories and 14 grams of protein – the Pumpkin Vegan, made with Califia Farms Oat Milk and Sunwarrior organic plant-based protein and stevia, the Pumpkin Coffee High Protein (made with cold brew or espresso), and the Pumpkin D-Lite, made with frozen yogurt and nonfat milk.
You can get a free 12-ounce Pumpkin Power Meal Smoothie on September 6 by signing up for the Smoothie King's Healthy Rewards app.
Great American Cookies will be bringing back its Pumpkin Spice Cookie beginning September 11.
Lärabar Pumpkin Pie fruit and nut bars, available for a limited time, are made from nine ingredients including pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg allspice, ginger, apples, and nuts including almonds (200 calories, 4 grams of protein).
RXBAR Pumpkin Spice Protein Bars, made with pumpkin, cinnamon, cloves, dates, nuts and egg whites, deliver 12 grams of protein (210 calories).
KIND Snacks has a pair of new fall-flavored bars: Chocolate Pumpkin Spice and Caramel Apple Cinnamon. Both are gluten free (100 calories).
Perfect Bar brought out its refrigerated Pumpkin Pie Perfect Bar on July 31, earlier than ever, after 10,000 fans signed a petition seeking its early release. Made with dried pumpkin, pumpkin seed oil, peanut butter, honey and other ingredients, the bar weighs in at 310 calories and 14 grams of protein. Available at retailers including Target, Whole Foods, Costco, Starbucks, Walmart, Safeway, Publix and more.
Another pumpkin protein option, to drink or add to your coffee: Premier Protein's limited edition pumpkin spice shakes. Each 11.5-ounce shake contains 30 grams of protein (160 calories) and 24 vitamins & minerals.
Simply's Pumpkin Spice Gum is made with pumpkin, nutmeg and clove oils and other natural ingredients. You can order six packs of 15 pieces each on Simply's site or on Amazon.com ($14.99).
Entenmann's Little Bites Pumpkin Muffins, in stores now and available nationwide through October, are bite-sized in 200-calorie portioned pouches. They are made without high fructose corn syrup and have 0 grams of trans fat.
Fazoli's will begin offering its Pumpkin Cheesecake on Sept. 20. It's made with a graham cracker crust and drizzled with Ghirardelli’s Salted Caramel Sauce, and available until Thanksgiving.
Kellogg's Limited Edition Frosted Pumpkin Pie Pop-Tarts are in stores, well, if someone hasn't snatched up the available inventory.
An alternative: Nature's Path Frosted Pumpkin Toaster Pastries, made with organic pumpkin filling – and available all-year-round. The food maker also makes Pumpkin Spice Frozen Waffles.
Those aren't the only pumpkin breakfast options. There are Pumpkin Spice Cheerios and Kellogg's also has Frosted Mini-Wheats Pumpkin Spice, Frosted Flakes Pumpkin Spice and Special K Pumpkin Spice cereals.
Chill with pumpkin ice cream treats
Carvel's Pumpkin Cheesecake lineup arrives August 28. Made with Carvel’s Original Soft Serve, the treats combine the flavors of pumpkin and creamy cheesecake. You can opt for soft serve ice cream, special toppings, a sundae or Pumpkin Cheesecake Flying Saucer ice cream sandwich.
Bubbies Ice Cream, which wraps premium ice cream in a sweet mochi rice dough, has limited-edition Pumpkin Spice Mochi Ice Cream available on its website and in regional grocers including H-E-B and Harmons Grocery. It's gluten-free and weighs in at 90 calories.
My/Mochi's Pumpkin Spice mochi ice cream, made with cinnamon pumpkin spice ice cream and graham cracker wrapped in the mochi dough, will be available at stores nationwide in early September. There's also a Apple Pie á La Mode flavor.
Halo Top’s Pumpkin Pie ice cream, available now at stores including Walmart, adds up to only 360 calories for an entire pint.
Chosen Foods Pumpkin Spice Avocado Oil Caviar
Here's a new pumpkin spice product we didn't know we needed: Chosen Foods' Pumpkin Spice Avocado Oil Caviar. Its circular shape mimics caviar, but it's made with 100% pure avocado oil and fall spices – and can be used as a topping on all kinds of foods and desserts including pancakes, yogurt and ice cream.
Some are out of their gourd over pumpkin spice. Others, not so much
Searches for all kinds of things pumpkin on Amazon.com began trending up in July, with "pumpkin spice" searches up 246%, according to Amazon sales support firm Jungle Scout Cobalt. Among hot items: a pumpkin spice graphic T-shirt, Jordan's Skinny Mixes' Pumpkin Spice Simple Syrup and Scentsationals Pumpkin Spice Scented Wax Cubes.
Last year, when Hefty brought out Cinnamon Pumpkin Spice Ultra Strong Trash Bags, the online allotment sold out in minutes, according to food site Mashed.com. They are available again at stores including Walmart, Target, Albertsons, and more, the company said Wednesday.
Many Americans also chimed in with their excitement for fall flavors on social media, posting pictures of fall-themed products and memes.
But some consumers aren't as enamored with the seasonal "pumpkin creep."
A video clip on X, formerly known as Twitter, questioned the need for Pumpkin Spice Cheerios in August. "August 15th come on now!! Enough," they posted.
A poster on Instagram said about the Member's Mark Pumpkin Spice Empanadas, made with pumpkin and cream cheese: "August used to be in the Summer. I think we're calling it pre-Autumn now. ….sigh…. "
Another poster on X used a "Game of Thrones" meme to sum up the situation: "Brace yourself. Pumpkin Spice everything is coming."
Follow Mike Snider on X and Threads: @mikesnider &mikegsnider.
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