The Best And Worst Pumpkin Spiced Treats Of The Year

For a significant amount of people across the nation its not Fall or Autumn that is barreling down upon us, it's Pumpkin Spice Season.

We took a sampling of divisive seasonal treats that feature the spice mixture and sorted them in to categories.

The OG:

Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte

The original that started the craze. The beverage is celebrated as being delicious and iconic as well as being derided for being basic and oversaturated across the nation. While the flavor started out as simply pumpkin spice some customers complained that there was no actual pumpkin in the drink, the coffee giant added a little spurt of pumpkin puree to add a minimally different flavor and an odd orange hue.

The Good:

Pumpkin Pie Pop-Tart

Literally pumpkin pie for breakfast that you don't have to rationalize to yourself or anyone else, brilliant.

Chobani Flip Pumpkin Harvest Crisp

Breakfast, a snack, or desert. Perfect for any occasion while remaining a guilt free option for indulgence.

Pumpkin Spice Cheerios

Part of a balanced breakfast, as well as gluten free. It feels at home equally in a bowl or scattered around the back seat of a mini-van by a 3 year old.

Pumpkin Spice Grands Cinnamon Rolls

Fun the whole family can get in on for a quick and easy treat. It packs a one two punch with pumpkin spice icing as well.

Pumpkin Spice Oreo

Oreo had no business going so hard when they already have the perfect sandwich cookie Perfection.

The Bad:

Planters Pumpkin Spice Almonds

Mr. Peanut may have to get his prescription checked out if he looked at this and thought it was a good idea.

Pepperidge Farms Pumpkin Everything

While some brands leaned in to the PSL fad, Pepperidge Farms may have leaned a little too hard and fallen into the well. Someone call Lassie.

Philadelphia Pumpkin Spice Cream Cheese

While it may be fine in some uses, we're going to need an old priest and a young priest if this comes with in 500 feet of some smoked salmon.

Jet Puffed Pumpkin Spice Marshmallows

More artificial than Chat GPT, but without the intelligence.

The Greatest Of All Time:

Pumpkin Bars With Cream Cheese Frosting

The undefeated, undisputed, reigning champion of pumpkin/pumpkin spice goodies. These bad boys can not only put a smile on faces both young and old, but they are also often used as a currency. If you know, you know.

For those uninitiated few who have not had them, here is the Betty Crocker recipe.

Ingredients

Bars

4 eggs
2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
1 can (15 oz) pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix)
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1 cup raisins, if desired

Cream Cheese Frosting

1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup butter or margarine, softened
2 to 3 teaspoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
4 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup chopped walnuts, if desired

Steps

Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 15x10x1-inch pan with cooking spray.
In large bowl, beat eggs, granulated sugar, oil and pumpkin with wire whisk until smooth. Stir in flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger and cloves. Stir in raisins. Spread in pan.
Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean and bars spring back when touched lightly in center. Cool completely, about 2 hours.
In medium bowl, beat cream cheese, butter, milk and vanilla with electric mixer on low speed until smooth. Gradually beat in powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, on low speed until smooth and spreadable. Spreading frosting over bars. Sprinkle with walnuts. For bars, cut into 7 rows by 7 rows. Store covered in refrigerator.