Photo: Brianna Crane/Axios
While some of us are squeezing every last drop out of summer, the rest are taking Starbucks’ lead and diving right into pumpkin season.
Here’s our list of sweet and savory pumpkin-flavored items you can find around Charlotte this season.
- Several restaurants, including Good Food on Montford and Stagioni, are still crafting their fall menus. More delicious pumpkin-flavored foods will debut in October.
Sweet
Pumpkin bread and pumpkin roll from Smelly Cat Coffee
Pair with a pumpkin spice latte for a full fall experience.
Available starting: September 25
Location/hours: 514 East 36th St. Smelly Cat is open Tuesday through Friday from 6am to 2:30pm, Saturday and Sunday from 7am to 3pm, and Monday from 6:30-11am.
Pumpkin pie deluxe waffle from Cast Iron Waffles
It’s topped with pumpkin drizzle, caramel, and house-made whipped cream.
Available starting: Now through December
Location/hours: 9604 Longstone Ln. Open daily from 7am to 4pm.
Photo courtesy of Cast Iron Waffles.
Pumpkin Gooey Butter Cake Milkshake from Ninety’s Sandwiches & Ice Cream
Ninety’s is known for its over-the-top sweet creations. This milkshake takes it to the next level. It’s homemade pumpkin gooey butter cakes, blended with vanilla ice cream, cream cheese and butterscotch drizzle, and topped with whipped cream and pumpkin gooey butter crumbles.
Available starting: Now
Location/hours: 9009 JM Keynes Dr., Ste. 4. Ninety’s is open Monday through Thursday from noon to 10pm, Friday and Saturday from noon to 10:30pm, and Sunday from 3-10pm.
Pumpkin cheesecake from Sunflour Baking Co.
Other pumpkin-flavored items include pumpkin macarons, pumpkin whoopie pies, and pumpkin & cream cheese cupcakes and cakes.
Available: Now!
Locations/hours:
- Elizabeth – 2001 East 7th St. Open daily from 7am to 4 pm.
- Dilworth – 220 East Blvd. Open daily from 7am to 4pm.
- Harrisburg – 5040 Highway 49 South. Open daily from 7am to 4pm.
- Ballantyne – 14021 Conlan Circle, Unit B-9. Open daily from 7am to 4pm.
Pumpkin cheesecake from Jazzy Cheesecakes
The bottom layer is a pumpkin cinnamon bun crust with pumpkin cheesecake filling.
Available starting: Oct. 4
Location/hours: 9402 Northlake W Drive, Unit 102. Jazzy’s is open Monday through Friday from 11am to 8pm, Saturday from 10am to 8pm, and Sunday from noon to 6pm.
Pumpkin spice cupcake from Suárez Bakery
It’s topped with cream cheese icing and dusted with cinnamon.
Available: Now
Location/hours:
- Park Road Shopping Center – 4245 Park Road. Open Monday through Saturday from 9am to 5pm, and Sunday from 10am to 4pm.
- Optimist Hall – 1115 North Brevard St. Open Sunday through Thursday from 10am to 9pm, and Friday and Saturday from 10am to 10pm.
Vegan pumpkin doughnuts from Move That Dough Baking Co.
It’s made from pumpkin and it’s vegan? You can’t convince me this isn’t healthy.
Available starting: TBD
Location: Find Move That Dough at Common Market Oakwald – 4420-A, Monroe Rd. Open Sunday and Monday from 8am to 8pm and Tuesday through Saturday from 8am to 10pm.
Clean Juice’s pumpkin smoothie or acai bowl
If you’re looking for seasonally inspired lighter fare, try the fall bowl or pumpkin smoothie from Clean Juice. The fall bowl has acai, pumpkin, maple syrup, pumpkin spice and almond milk, topped with granola, banana and pumpkin Seeds
Available starting: Now
Location/hours: Clean juice has a dozen locations in the Charlotte area, from Matthews to Uptown to Concord. Find the one closest to you here. Hours vary by location.
Not Your Mama’s Pumpkin Pie Ice Cream from Two Scoops Creamery
This very appropriately named pumpkin ice cream is house-made with Oreos, graham crackers, chocolate syrup and caramel sauce.
Available starting: Early October
Location:
- Plaza Midwood – 913 Central Ave. Open Sunday through Thursday from 1-10pm and Friday and Saturday from 1-11pm.
- South End – 1616 Camden Rd., Unit 100. Open Sunday through Thursday from 1-10pm and Friday and Saturday from 1-11pm.
- Lake Norman – 119 Landings Dr., Ste. 104. Open Sunday through Thursday from 11am to 9pm, and Friday and Saturday from 11am to 10pm.
- Rock Hill – 161 West Main St. (Coming soon).
Savory
Inizio Pizza’s crema de zucca pizza (and cannoli)
The fall favorite is back for another season (or at least it will be starting in October). The pizza’s made with a pumpkin cream base, basil, buffalo mozzarella, ricotta and fior di latte.
Available starting: October
Location/hours:
- 2230 Park Rd. #101. Open 11am-9:30pm Sunday-Thursday and 11am-10pm Friday-Saturday.
- 10620 Providence Rd. Open 11am-9:30pm Sunday-Thursday and 11am-10pm Friday-Saturday.
- 16627 Birkdale Commons Pkwy. Open 11am-9:30pm Sunday-Thursday and 11am-10pm Friday-Saturday.
Courtesy of Inizio Pizza
Trick Or treat yo’self smoothie from Green Brothers
The smoothie is made with pumpkin, pumpkin spice, grass-fed vanilla whey protein, banana, Medjool dates and pumpkin seeds with a drizzle of charcoal honey for a ~spooky~ effect.
Available: Now
Locations/hours:
- Dilworth – 2230 Park Rd. #103. Hours are 7am-7pm Monday-Friday, 7:30-6pm Saturday, and 7:30am-6pm Sunday.
- Sedgefield – 2725 South Blvd. Ste. B. Hours are 7am-6pm Monday-Friday, 7:30-6pm Saturday, and 8am-6pm Sunday.
- SouthPark – 7802a Fairview Rd. Hours are 7am-6pm Monday-Friday, 7:30-6pm Saturday, and 8am-6pm Sunday.
Braised short rib with a pumpkin sage polenta from Osteria LuCa
The Italian spot will feature pumpkin on its fall menu in a couple of ways, including a braised short rib with a pumpkin sage polenta and pumpkin dessert.
Available: TBD
Locations/hours: 4127 Park Rd. Hours are 11am-3pm and 5-9pm Tuesday-Thursday, 11am-3pm and 5-10pm Friday-Saturday, and 5-9pm Sunday.
Drinks
Pumpkin pie latte from Central Coffee
They use real pumpkin puree and brown sugar cinnamon.
Available: Now
Location/hours: 719 Louise Ave. Open daily from 6am to 6pm.
The Pumpkin Spice Latte from CupLux
Nothing says fall quite like a good PSL. And this one is vegan.
Available starting: Now
Location/hours: 3115 Freedom Dr. Open Monday through Friday from 7am to 2pm, and Saturday from 7:30am to 3pm.
Photo courtesy of Cuplux Coffee.
Pumpkin Latte Blonde Ale from Sycamore Brewing
Pumpkin pie intertwined with roast/dark chocolate notes in the middle and an allspice and vanilla finish (5.8% ABV).
Available starting: Now
Location/hours: 2161 Hawkins St. Open from 4-9pm Monday through Wednesday, 4-10pm Thursday and Friday, noon to 10pm on Saturday, and noon to 7pm on Sunday.
NoDa Brewing’s Gordgeous Pumpkin Ale
The cult favorite is made with real pumpkin puree, brown sugar, ginger root, allspice, cloves and cardamom.
- Fun fact: it’s won gold for best pumpkin beer in the Great American Beer Festival, twice.
Available: Now
Locations/hours:
- 2921 N. Tryon St. Hours are 4-9pm Monday-Thursday; 3-10pm Friday; noon to 10pm Saturday; noon to 8pm Sunday.