Have you ever wondered how different pumpkin-flavored snacks stack up against each other? Whether it’s pumpkin pie or a spiced latte, this article is a comprehensive review of a few popular fall snacks.
I’ve never been a huge fan of pumpkin-flavored foods, but as Thanksgiving is just around the corner, I almost feel obligated to eat at least one pumpkin snack. I decided to try the classic pumpkin pie, pumpkin cookies, and the famed Starbucks pumpkin spice latte.
I picked up a slice of pumpkin pie for a pretty fair price of three dollars at Safeway. The pie did look a little bit miserable when I bought it, with parts of the crust already falling off and the tip of the pie smushed into the corner of the box.
As I took my first bite, I was filled with instant regret. The thick filling of the pie was really hard to swallow, and I still had a quarter of an entire pie to go. The crust was extremely flaky and flavorless, but also for some reason especially salty. The pie itself was overly sweet and had a texture like pudding. Although some people eat pumpkin pie hot, I ate it straight out of the box as soon as I got home. Perhaps I should have heated it up first, but nevertheless, I would choose apple pie over pumpkin pie at every opportunity. The flavor is simply too monotone and the texture isn’t great either. However, being only three dollars, it wasn’t the worst dessert I’d ever had. Overall I would give this pie a 2/5 rating, and I think that’s being pretty generous.
Next up from Safeway was the pumpkin pecan cookies. Much to my pleasant surprise, these tasted much better than the pie, and I was able to finish half the box in one sitting.
The texture was quite soft and moist, but chewy enough. I found that the pecan half of the cookie complemented the pumpkin spice perfectly, and it didn’t have that sickly sweet taste like the pie. They were decently sized too, and all very uniformly shaped. Despite being a huge skeptic of pecans themselves, I liked the pecan portion of the cookie, save for the moments I bit into an actual pecan. I think this mishmash of pumpkin and pecan was rather gracefully executed, and I don’t have any complaints at all. 4/5.
Finally on my list of foods to try was Starbucks’ pumpkin spice latte. This drink was rather a letdown, considering how many positive reviews I’ve heard about it every fall. The initial sip wasn’t horrible, but as I drank more, I noticed that the pumpkin spice flavor wasn’t especially prominent. It tasted quite similar to a normal latte, but to be fair, I haven’t had a latte in a long time either.
Still, the pumpkin flavor was nowhere as noticeable in the latte as in the cookies and pie. It was also a little less sweet than I expected, but still partially enjoyable. After a few more mouthfuls, it began to feel like a chore to finish. At this point, I wasn’t even drinking it to review anymore, but finishing it just so my mom wouldn’t yell at me. Overall, I’d take more than a few generous sips if my friends bought it, but definitely wouldn’t buy it myself. Perhaps it’s because I’m not the target demographic, but this drink just doesn’t strike me as particularly enjoyable nor does it live up to the expectations. 3/5.
While the pumpkin spice latte and pie were rather a disappointment, I think that the cookies were a pleasant surprise that almost made this endeavor worthwhile. Whether it’s out of pure love for pumpkin desserts or to virtue signal to your friends how much you love all things autumn, perhaps this list will provide a little insight into your options.
