The official beginning of fall used to be the fall equinox, but since 2004, when Starbucks rolled out their version of the pumpkin spice latte nationwide, the frothy beverage is now the true harbinger of cooler weather, football and sweater season.
Clarity Coffee was the first local coffee shop to offer an elevated version in the Oklahoma City metro area, using regionally sourced fresh pumpkin to make their syrup, which they still do.
While pumpkin is typically associated with Halloween and Thanksgiving, there is no reason not to have it all season, especially given how delicious the options on the list below are.
Coffees & Breakfast
Aurora, a hot spot in the Plaza District, kicks off fall with pumpkin waffles or pancakes every year, and this is a waffle year. Their waffles are served with cream cheese icing and candied pecans for a creamy-meets-crunchy texture, making for deeply satisfying comfort food. Plus, their cinnamon rolls are a must-try at any hour of the day, and the fall specialties with pumpkin make them extra appealing.
As noted above, Clarity Coffee has been serving a pumpkin spice latte using locally grown pumpkin for several years now. This year they’re also offering a delicious riff of the flavor in the form of a pumpkin spice mocha latte, which tastes like a chocolate-covered pumpkin pie.
Mezzo Bakeshop offers a cold weather indulgence in the form of a Fireside Cold Brew, with their house roast in a brown sugar cold brew, topped with pumpkin cold foam and cinnamon.
The Adult Beverages
The Angry Scotsman is your source for tasty pumpkin beers again this year in OKC. They often make interesting styles work well, like this fall with their Fall Back Pumpkin, a dark wheat beer that’s quaffable in warm or cold weather.
New takes on espresso martinis are a popular way to get pumpkin spice on the bar menu, and Aurora has a pumpkin espresso martini with Rumchata to amp up the creamy, boozy profile. It’s available at brunch, lunch and dinner, so you get to decide when to enjoy their festive cocktail creation.
The Hamilton has long made one of Oklahoma City’s best espresso martinis, so it’s no surprise to see them add The Witching Hour to their fall martini menu – yes, they have a whole section of espresso martinis. The Witching Hour features chai vanilla bourbon with Kahlua, ancho chile liqueur and pumpkin syrup with freshly brewed espresso.
The Sweets
Boom Town Creamery released their pumpkin cheesecake ice cream in early October, and it sold out quickly. Fortunately, Chef Kayli Bartinicki is whipping up another batch! So, if you missed it the first time, you can grab a cone, scoop, shake or pint at any of their locations. They make it with Biscoff crumbles in the house-made pumpkin cheesecake base, so it never leans too sweet.
Holey Rollers is tucked inside 30th Street Market just off The Paseo District, and both have pumpkin choices for the season. Holey Rollers has their vegan pumpkin pie donut, filled with spiced pumpkin puree and topped with vegan whipped cream. The pastry case at 30th Street Market has gluten-free chocolate-pumpkin financiers and a pumpkin-pecan pie danish.
Mezzo Bakeshop has more than pumpkin coffee-- including their Pumpkin White Chocolate Torte Caprese, a flourless almond torte with white chocolate and pumpkin spice. The added good news is that it’s gluten friendly.
OKC Sweets features the delicious work of chef and owner Stefanie Embree, who single-handedly elevated OKC’s food profile last year when she won the inaugural season of Gordon Ramsay’s “Next Level Baker.” Her Western Avenue shop is always stocked with rows of temptation, and for the fall, she’s offering pumpkin spice macarons and pumpkin cupcakes.
One thing there is never enough of every fall – pumpkin rolls, but Picasso Cafe has us covered. Their rolls are made with pumpkin spice sponge cake, cream cheese frosting, candied pecans and whipped cream, all topped with a drizzle of caramel for a magical fall treat.
Pie Junkie has a few nods to pumpkin --they always have their take-and-bake pumpkin pie, but you can also grab a six-inch pumpkin crumble “Cutie Pie.” It’s spiced pumpkin filling in a flaky crust, topped with their brown sugar and oat crumble. And you might as well grab a pumpkin whoopie pie (or a dozen) while you’re there.
Quincy Bakeshop has a small storefront and bakery on NW 11th St. Chef Tricia O’Donoghue keeps the selection small for the fall season, including ridiculously delicious pumpkin cookies as well as pumpkin crumb cake (perfect with coffee!) and a pumpkin cinnamon roll that has us wondering why we can’t have pumpkin cinnamon rolls year-round.
Spark, the popular burger joint from Social Order Dining Collective, changes up their featured custard every month. In October, they’re featuring pumpkin chai custard, which you can get in a cup, cone or shake, and if you want a side-by-side tasting, might as well grab the shake of the month too: the flavor is pumpkin pie.
Shannon Roper is the co-founder of Sunnyside Bakery, which delivers their traditional pumpkin pie to all their Sunnyside Diner locations plus Classen Grill. It’s a very traditional take on pumpkin pie, and like everything else coming for their bakery, it’s excellent.
Tuckers, the local onion burger concept from A Good Egg Dining, is also getting in on pumpkin shake action, and why not? Burgers and shakes are the perfect pairing. For the season, they have a pumpkin spice shake, and if you choose to dip your fries “frosty style,” we’re not here to judge.
Harvey Bakery's croissant of the month for October is the pumpkin pie croissant, made with pumpkin frangipane and rum syrup with a cinnamon glaze, all topped with candied pepitas. This one ends on Halloween, so you'll need to get in there soon!
Paseo Grill brings back their pumpkin cake every year in the fall, and once you have it, you'll wish they offered it in every season. It's a brown sugar pumpkin cake, served with cinnamon ice cream and drizzled with caramel. It's a shareable size, too!
Whether you’re sipping it, scooping it, slicing it or pairing it with fries, pumpkin season in OKC clearly has more than enough treats to keep fall delicious from the first latte to the last bite.
