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Pumpkin-flavored treats to drool over

October 14th, 2009, 8:05 pm · 28 Comments · posted by Nancy Luna, Staff Writer

Updated 10/27
susiecakes_4001

This time of year, it’s easy to find a pumpkin pie at the grocery store or bakery.

But who makes a pumpkin shake, a pumpkin muffin top or a pumpkin tart?

In Orange County, there are a number of restaurants and cafes that are concocting some unique pumpkin-flavored foods and beverages.

Here’s a list of some I have found:

( If you know of more, please comment here or email me and I’ll add it to the list. Please include the price of the item.)

  • quinns_pumpkin-cupcake230Quinn’s Ice Cream and Sweets in Los Alamitos is selling pumpkin ice cream ($1.95/$2.70), pumpkin shakes ($3.95/$4.95) and pumpkin cupcakes ($2.95). Remember, Quinn’s is the spot that sells Frosted Cupcakery cupcakes and  Fosselman’s ice cream. The latter is the creamiest ice cream I’ve ever eaten.
  • Ruby’s Diner is offering a pumpkin shake.
  • Hof’s Hut: Beyond its regular pumpkin pie, Hof’s Hut is also selling a Pumpkin Crunch Pie (Homemade pumpkin filling topped with a blend of pecans and brown sugar) Cost: $10.49: Pumpkin Crunch Cheesecake (cheesecake baked with pumpkin, pecans and brown sugar and topped with homemade cinnamon nutmeg whipped cream. ) Prices: Slice-$4.99/Mini-$12.99/Large-$24.99; Pumpkin Muffins, $1.99 each; and Pumpkin Bread, small-$4.49/large $6.99
  • Jack in the Box -  Last week, I was in pumpkin heaven after one sip of Jack’s Pumpkin Pie shake. It was so good, I was fighting my daughter for the straw. Cost: $2.99 (large)
  • Polly’s Pies: After testing a pumpkin pie shake last year in Fullerton, Polly’s is rolling out its Pumpkin Pie shake at all restaurants. The shake is made with vanilla ice cream and a slice of pumpkin pie, including crust. Holy cow. It is awesome.  Cost $3.99. The chain also sells a Pumpkin Maple Crunch Pie for $6.99 during the chain’s pie sale, which ends Nov. 1. After that date, the pie sells for $10.99. (10/19 update: Went to Polly’s in Orange, and was bummed out to  learn this unit was NOT selling the Pumpkin Pie shake.  I was told they were available at all restaurants, so you might call ahead before heading over to a Polly’s.)
    Hof's Hut pumpkin pecan pie
    Jamba Juice's pumpkin smash smoothie
    Quinn's pumpkin shake

    Quinn's pumpkin ice cream

    This rich pecan pumpkin pie at Cheesecake Factory better feed an army for the $44.95 price tag!


  • Cheesecake Factory sells a pumpkin cheesecake and pumpkin pecan cheesecake.  I’m told the pumpkin pecan one is rich and perfect for large groups, which is good because the 10-inch pie costs $44.95 at restaurants and $45.95 online. Per slice price for each cake — $6.95.
  • Red Mango is offering a pumpkin spice flavor now through Dec. 31.
  • Yogurtland is offering pumpkin and gingerbread flavors for a limited-time in froyo shops.
  • Panera Bread is selling a Pumpkin Muffin for $1.79;. In an interesting twist, the chain is also selling pumpkin muffin tops dubbed Muffies. Cost: $1.19
  • Juice It Up is selling pumpkin-flavored smoothies called the Pumpkin Pleaser smoothie. (Price:  $3.75 16 oz, $4.25 24 oz, $5.25 32oz.)  It’s made with fat-free vanilla frozen yogurt, soymilk and pumpkin. Also at Juice It Up/Ziiing stores, consumers can expect a pumpkin-flavored frozen yogurt sometime soon. Tests are under way now in some Ziiing shops.
  • Jamba Juice is countering with a Pumpkin Smash smoothie — made with pumpkin pie mix, frozen yogurt and soymilk.  Price: $4.10 for the 16 0z.
  • Dairy Queen — The chain is offering up a Pumpkin Pie Blizzard and a Pumpkin Pie cake.
  • Baskin-Robbins is selling pumpkin-flavored ice cream.
  • Krispy Kreme is selling pumpkin spice cake, as well as Halloween-themed doughnuts. Price: 99 cents each or $7.99 for a dozen.(Orange and Mission Viejo locations)
  • SusieCakes (top photo) is selling a pumpkin spice cupcake with cream cheese frosting, pumpkin cheesecake and assorted Halloween-themed treats such as frosted sugar cookies in the shapes of pumpkins. Prices vary per item.  (O.C. & other locations)
  • Blackmarket Bakery in Irvine is making Pumpkin Cranberry Scones  (buttermilk scones made with pumpkin puree and dried cranberries) Cost: $3; Pumpkin Ginger Pound Cake ( a pound cake with pumpkin, candied ginger and spices) Cost: $6;  Maple Pumpkin Tart (a vanilla tart crust with pumpkin filling topped with meringue) Cost $4 - small  $16 -large and Cinnamon Pumpkin Bread Pudding (Blackmarket’s signature brioche soaked in heavy cream with pumpkin, candied ginger and spices.) Cost: $4.50
  • Divine Desserts in Laguna Niguel is selling pumpkin cupcakes.
  • Starbucks – Pumpkin Spice Latte. Price varies by region, but a Tall beverage is $3.40 in Southern California. (Reader Pat says she’s addicted to the cafe chain’s pumpkin/cream cheese muffins.)
  • Fresh & Easy has some great deals on fall treats: a Pumpkin Cheesecake Pie for $5.99;   Halloween (chocolate and vanilla ) mini-cupcakes $2.99 for a dozen or 2  (one-dozen) for $5; “Boo” Cookies $2.99 for 10 cookies or 2  (10-count) for $5.
  • bjspumpkin-aleBJ’s Restaurants: The Huntington Beach-based pizza chain is brewing a seasonal Pumpkin Ale.  Cost: $4.95 for a 16 oz. pint.
  • Dunkin’ Donuts (No DD’s in Orange County, but this one goes out to my out-of-state readers): Pumpkin Coffee and Latte ($2.49 for a 10 oz. beverage) Coffee with pumpkin flavoring ($1.39 for a 10 oz. beverage); Pumpkin Coffee Coolatta ($1.99); Pumpkin Muffin, ($1.39); A pumpkin-flavored glazed doughnut (89 cents each.)
(Note: Prices provided when possible.)
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