By: Briana Taylor

There is a faint chill in the air as the Autumnal Equinox has arrived, only meaning one thing: fall is just around the corner. Or, for those who celebrate a different season—pumpkin spice season—is about to get underway. Starbucks started selling its seasonal pumpkin spice lattes last week; this yearly occurrence has come to represent the official start of the crisp, cable-knit autumn of our collective consciousness.

When people think of pumpkin spice, the thoughts coming to many people’s minds are of fall, starting with pumpkin spice lattes. But the flavor’s range is wide with pumpkin spice breads, cookies, pasta sauces, and even extends beyond the kitchen, with pumpkin spice-scented candles, body sprays, deodorants, soaps and more. Even with all these variations and takes on the pumpkin spice, the most popular, and maybe the most delicious, one is the pumpkin spice latte.

So let’s talk about the beloved latte. The Starbucks pumpkin spice latte, which first appeared on the company’s menu in certain locations in 2003, is one of the most well-known pumpkin spice treats. According to Starbucks representative Erin Shane Riley, it is the company’s most popular seasonal beverage “ever.” Since the drink’s introduction, the firm has sold more than 600 million pumpkin spice lattes through U.S. retail locations. 

What if you don’t like coffee, but still want to enjoy the warmth of this seasonal flavor? Pumpkins can be used for more than to make scary jack-o-lanterns, it is also a great addition to breakfast, lunch, and dinner meals. Some people think that cooking with pumpkin is challenging, but it’s actually easy. Both savory evening dishes and delectable pumpkin desserts can be baked with fresh or canned pumpkin. Pumpkin puree is best used for classic breakfast dishes like pumpkin waffles, pumpkin pancakes, pumpkin muffins, or pumpkin spice oatmeal. When using fresh pumpkin, it’s best to cook in the oven, then blend up in a blender into a puree. This can be added to soups or used as a pasta sauce. 

From pumpkin pie to pumpkin and squash soup, there are so many great recipes to try out this fall season. Whether you’re a salty or sweet lover, gluten free, or even vegan, there is always a pumpkin dish waiting to be for you to try.

Be sure to click on the links to find great pumpkin recipes to use this season!

Pumpkin Maple Muffins: https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1018354-pumpkin-maple-muffins

Pumpkin Pancakes: https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/17036/pumpkin-pancakes/

Pumpkin Pasta Sauce: https://www.jaroflemons.com/creamy-pumpkin-pasta/

Pumpkin Soup: https://cookieandkate.com/creamy-vegan-pumpkin-soup/

Pumpkin Pie: https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/23439/perfect-pumpkin-pie/

Pumpkin Spice Latte: https://www.ambitiouskitchen.com/homemade-pumpkin-spice-latte/