Welcome to our newest series. In “Friday Favorites,” our team will share a handful of favorite items. These can range from clothes to beauty products to recipes to books and anything in between.
I’m an unabashed pumpkin spice lover. Take your basic millennial girl and throw her in a city with no seasons, and she’ll develop a fierce love for all things nostalgic.
I first fell in love with pumpkin spice when I was living in Los Angeles and was desperate to feel some holiday cheer. Since my days in California, I’ve lived all over the country and had the opportunity to sample many different pumpkin spice delights. There are some bizarre flavors out there, including Pumpkin Spice Spam (I will confess, I haven’t tried that one!). I’m here to guide you to the best flavors for you to wrap yourself in some autumn warmth.
STARBUCKS PUMPKIN SPICE CREAMER
True confession: while I love pumpkin spice, I’m actually not a coffee drinker. When I go to Starbucks, I get my PSL fix with a milk steamer or white hot chocolate with pumpkin spice syrup added. Buying the creamer and mixing it with milk, hot chocolate, or herbal tea makes for a much more cost effective way to enjoy this treat!
SPECIAL K PUMPKIN SPICE
I’m not typically a Special K fan, but there’s something unique about this cereal! I love the lightly spiced bran flakes and the clusters of pumpkin-flavored yogurt. It’s perfect for a fall morning.
TRADER JOE’S PUMPKIN O’S
If you’re lucky enough to live near a Trader Joe’s and you’re a fan of pumpkin spice, you can find a total treasure trove of delicious pumpkin treats in October. My number one favorite offering is their Pumpkin O’s cereal. It’s crunchy and loaded with that pumpkin spice flavor that I love. My family has progressively moved further and further from Trader Joe’s with each duty station, and we are currently at ninety minutes from the nearest store. You can bet when I make my annual pumpkin spice run, I will be loading up on this pumpkin spice staple.
TRADER JOE’S PUMPKIN SPICE CREAM CHEESE
Another pumpkin spice must-buy for me each year is Trader Joe’s pumpkin spice cream cheese. It pairs well with their pumpkin spice bagels, which also come out in early fall, but honestly, the crucial ingredient is the cream cheese itself. It is sweet and gently spiced, and feels like the taste of the holidays condensed into a single bite.
Also, try this pumpkin butter – you can find it by clicking on the button!
BLUE BELL SPICED PUMPKIN PECAN ICE CREAM
Y’all, I’ve sampled a few pumpkin ice creams in my time, and I’ve rarely been disappointed. Pumpkin spice is a flavor that goes well in ice cream, especially when you pair it with homemade pumpkin pie. But when I moved to the South, I found the holy grail of pumpkin ice cream.
Blue Bell’s version has crunchy cinnamon pecans and syrupy glaze swirled through a perfectly flavorful pumpkin base. And let’s be real – if you live in a southern state that has access to Blue Bell, you’re probably better off with some ice cream than a hot pumpkin spice latte, because it’s going to be in the 80’s until November.
