Fall has officially arrived, and we’re ready to celebrate. The autumn equinox is here -- Sept. 22, 2022 -- and that means it’s time to indulge in some of the pumpkin spice products we’ve seen on the shelves at grocery stores, drug stores and the like.
If you’ve resisted the pumpkin spice trend until now, we certainly understand. If your only weakness has been a pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks or Dunkin,’ well, we get that, too.
A recent shopping trip in Alabama, however, revealed so many darn things made with pumpkin spice. Ice cream. Bath bombs. Muffin mix. Body butter. Coated espresso beans. Vape cartridges and more.
Refraining from this stuff made us feel like the pre-Halloween version of the Grinch, if there is such a thing. So pumpkin spice it is.
Here are 12 food products on our “must-try” list, all available at everyday stores in the Birmingham metro area. Some of these items strike us as slightly weird or offbeat, but that won’t stop us from sampling them. (Yay, fall!) And, although specific stores are mentioned for each item, many of them are available at several other spots.
We found Sundae Shoppe pumpkin spice ice cream at Aldi in Birmingham. Price: $1.99 per pint. (Mary Colurso | mcolurso@AL.com)
SUNDAE SHOPPE PUMPKIN SPICE ICE CREAM
Where we found it: Aldi, 7400 Crestwood Blvd., Birmingham.
How much it costs: $1.99 per pint.
Good to know: If pumpkin spice isn’t your thing, there’s also an apple cinnamon flavor.
We found MoonPie minis in a pumpkin spice flavor at a Cracker Barrel in Birmingham. Price: $6.49 per10.5-ounce box. (Mary Colurso | mcolurso@AL.com)
Where we found it: Cracker Barrel, 3415 Colonnade Parkway, Birmingham.
How much it costs: $2.49 for a box of six minis.
Good to know: Cracker Barrel also has pumpkin spice sticks covered in dark chocolate, priced at $6.49 for a 10.5-ounce box.
We found Lantana pumpkin spice hummus at a Publix store in Birmingham. Price: $4.99 for a10-ounce container. (Mary Colurso | mcolurso@AL.com)
Where we found it: Publix Super Market at Montclair Place, 1325 Montclair Road, Birmingham.
How much it costs: $4.99 per 10-ounce container.
Good to know: It’s made with garbanzo beans and pumpkin puree, topped with cranberries and sunflower seeds.
We found Sweet Chaos pumpkin spice drizzled popcorn at a Walmart Supercenter in Irondale. Price: $2.98 for a 5.5-ounce bag. (Mary Colurso | mcolurso@AL.com)
SWEET CHAOS PUMPKIN SPICE DRIZZLED POPCORN
Where we found it: Walmart Supercenter, 1600 Montclair Road, Irondale.
How much it costs: $2.98 for a 5.5-ounce bag.
Good to know: Walmart also has a pumpkin spice chai latte mix, a cookie mix, a cream pie kit, a quick bread and muffin mix, a syrup and a hot cocoa topper, all from the Great Value brand. Prices range from about $3-$6, depending on the item.
We found Simply Nature pumpkin spice fruit strips at an Aldi store in Birmingham. Price: $5.99 for a box with 21 strips. (Mary Colurso | mcolurso@AL.com)
SIMPLY NATURE PUMPKIN SPICE FRUIT STRIPS
Where we found it: Aldi, 7400 Crestwood Blvd., Birmingham.
How much it costs: $5.99 for a box with 21 strips.
Good to know: Not sure about pumpkin spice? This company also makes fruit strips in a spiced apple flavor.
We found Hostess Twinkies in a pumpkin spice flavor at a Target store in Birmingham. Price: $3.49 for a box of 10. (Mary Colurso | mcolurso@AL.com)
Where we found it: Target, 4616 U.S. 280, Birmingham.
How much it costs: $3.49 for a box of 10.
Good to know: Twinkie purists may frown, but that’s OK. The box describes these limited-edition treats as “golden sponge cake with pumpkin spice creamy filling.”
We found Favorite Day pumpkin spice hot drink bombs at a Target store in Birmingham. Price: $3.99 per bomb. (Mary Colurso | mcolurso@AL.com)
FAVORITE DAY PUMPKIN SPICE HOT DRINK BOMB
Where we found it: Target, 4616 U.S. 280, Birmingham.
How much it costs: $3.99 per 1.8-ounce bomb.
Good to know: The drink includes mini marshmallows. Directions on the box say: “1. Heat 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 cups milk until very warm. 2. Drop drink bomb into cup. 3. Let dissolve, stirring as needed. Watch for the marshmallow explosion!”
We found several types of pumpkin spice coffee creamer at a Publix store in Birmingham. This one is Silk Almond Creamer, priced at $5.59 for 32 fluid ounces. (Mary Colurso | mcolurso@AL.com)
Where we found them: Publix Super Market at Montclair Place, 1325 Montclair Road, Birmingham.
How much they cost: About $4-$6 per bottle, depending on the brand and the size.
Good to know: Pick your brand in this category. Pumpkin spice flavor is available from Nestle Coffee Mate, Chobani Oat Coffee Creamer, Silk Almond Creamer and more.
We found pumpkin spice Oreos at a Target store in Birmingham. Price: $4.39 for a 12.2-ounce bag. (Mary Colurso | mcolurso@AL.com)
Where we found it: Target, 4616 U.S. 280, Birmingham.
How much it costs: $4.39 for a 12.2-ounce bag.
Good to know: The Oreo brand is classic and eye-catching. However, we spotted several types of pumpkin spice cookies at Target and other stores. Whole Foods, for example, has pumpkin spice fig bars from Nature’s Bakery. Aldi has pumpkin spice cookies with white chocolate chips from Tate’s Bake Shop.
We found Pillsbury pumpkin spice rolls at a Target store in Birmingham. Price: $4.79 for a container that makes five rolls. (Mary Colurso | mcolurso@AL.com)
PILLSBURY GRANDS! PUMPKIN SPICE ROLLS
Where we found it: Target, 4616 U.S. 280, Birmingham.
How much it costs: $4.79 for a 17.5-ounce container that makes five rolls with icing.
Good to know: Easy to make? “Just pop, place, bake and spread with icing,” the company’s website says. The dough is made with Cinnabon cinnamon, in case that matters.
We found Special K cereal in a pumpkin spice variety at a Target store in Birmingham. Price: $4.49 for a 17.7-ounce box. (Mary Colurso | mcolurso@AL.com)
KELLOGG’S PUMPKIN SPICE SPECIAL K CEREAL
Where we found it: Target, 4616 U.S. 280, Birmingham.
How much it costs: $4.49 for a 17.7-ounce box.
Good to know: The box describes the cereal as “crunchy wheat and ice flakes with nutmeg, allspice, ginger and cinnamon clusters.” Add milk and you’re ready to roll.
We found Flipz pumpkin spice covered pretzels at a Publix store in Birmingham. Price: $3.99 for a 7.5-ounce bag. (Mary Colurso | mcolurso@AL.com)
FLIPZ PUMPKIN SPICE COVERED PRETZELS
Where we found it: Publix Super Market at Montclair Place, 1325 Montclair Road, Birmingham.
How much it cost: $3.99 for a 7.5-ounce bag.
Good to know: “Pairs well with sweaters, apple cider, fireplaces, and good friendz,” an online description says. A marshmallow drizzle is involved, as well.
We also found pumpkin spice Goldfish crackers (graham crackers in a collaboration with Dunkin’), pumpkin spice ground coffee and K-cups, pumpkin spice caramels, pumpkin spice Swiss Miss hot cocoa mix, pumpkin spice cupcakes, pumpkin spice tea, pumpkin spice muffins, pumpkin spice coated espresso beans, pumpkin spice candles, pumpkin spice soap and pumpkin spice bath bombs. All of these are available at various stores in the Birmingham metro area.
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