Pumpkin Spice It-Up: 11 Foods and Drinks to Get in On the Craze

I know you might be tired of hearing “pumpkin spice this” and “pumpkin spice that.” Make fun of the pumpkin-spice-girl allegations all you want, but the numbers don’t lie.

A 2023 Harris Quest and Stagwell Marketing survey found that 63% of Americans feel the hype is just right. More than a quarter of respondents said it should be a year-round staple.

Coherent Markets reports that the pumpkin spice market was worth $1.1 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow to $2.4 billion by 2031.

A portion of that money could flow into your business account, so it’s time to get in on the action. It doesn’t have to be complicated, either. Here’s a breakdown of ideas to get you started.

Breakfast

Cinnamon rolls. They’re a staple of my childhood and something I fondly go back to from time to time. You’ll need someone on staff familiar with baking for this recipe, but if it’s in the cards, this warm, soft treat will be worth it.

Pancakes. What can go wrong with these bad boys? Here’s a recipe to try, but you can also use a mix from a box. Krusteaz has never let me down.

Lunch or dinner

Spicy pumpkin pork noodles. I need this flavor combo in front of me ASAP. If your customers are anything like me, this unique recipe will have pumpkin fans ready to try a more savory alternative to the often-sweet flavor staple.

Red curry chicken and pumpkin soup. Pumpkin spice season goes hand-in-hand with chilly weather. I think most of us can agree that a warm soup is a comforting meal as the weather turns. Check this recipe out.

Desserts

Zeppole is an easy dessert. I made these fried goodies at 19 years old while working in a small pizza restaurant (regretfully, not pumpkin-flavored). I promise if I can do it, you can too. Check out this recipe.

Flan. My partner recently made flan (a successful experiment that threatened our weight-watching effort). It was easy and a dinner-party hit, and adding some pumpkin spice won’t make it much harder. This recipe is also low-fat, so you can appeal to a broader customer base.

Drinks

Hot chocolate. Premade powders make serving pumpkin hot cocoa incredibly easy. If simply buying a box of mix sounds like cheating to you, my brief stint working at Dunkin’ gives me the authority to assure you it’s normal.

Hot pumpkin pie cocktail. Heating things up at the bar doesn’t have to be hard. I’ve seen bartenders make delicious seasonal heated drinks with the help of an electric kettle. With that hack in mind, consider this recipe.

Pumpkin spice and apple cider cocktail. Combine two fall flavor favorites in one drink. This recipe calls for pumpkin purée, but if you’d rather avoid having those cans clutter your bar – try this one instead. The writer calls specifically for Sprouts products, but I’m sure you’ll be fine with any decent brand.

Sides, snacks, and small bites

Pumpkin butter. I made this addictive spread for Thanksgiving last year and brought some artisan bread that I wasn’t skilled enough to make. But the pumpkin butter was easy even for my inexperienced self and was a hit. The leftover jars of this stuff I left with my parents were emptied out in no time as were the extras I kept in my fridge back home. This is the recipe I used.

Pumpkin and sun-dried tomato tapenade. This easy recipe can be prepared in advance and stored for up to three days. You can add it to bread, veggies, dips, or chicken.