8 Local Pumpkin Treats That Will Add Spice to Your Fall Life

Because it’s not all about PSL at Starbucks.

October 25, 2016

Natalie Schack,

Kaka‘ako Kitchen is getting in the autumn spirit with its October dessert special: pumpkin mochi.

Photo: Courtesy of Kaka‘ako Kitchen

We’re getting worried we’re about to turn into a pumpkin, and it’s not because we’re running late. Honolulu has managed to completely fall for everything flavored with this autumnal ochre veg, from candies to cakes to cookies, and we’ve been eating so much that we’re starting to look a little orange. Care to join us in this game of squash? Take your pick from our list of local pumpkin treats for a guaranteed gourd time. (Sorry, we had to.)

Brug Bakery has pumpkin-shaped pan (bread) for the fall.

Photo: Natalie Schack

1. Pumpkin-Shaped Pan

Was there ever a cuter wee loaf? These ingeniously simple and kawaii little pumpkin-shaped pan from Hokkaido’s Brug Bakery have a delectably soft, chewy texture, are stuffed with pumpkin and finished with an almond “stem.” Perfect.

$3, Brug Bakery, Ala Moana Center, 942-2200, brugbakery.com

2. Spicy Pumpkin Cookies

They’re still in the signature Honolulu Cookie Company pineapple shape, but, for this year’s holiday season, the local cookie monolith is offering a delectably spicy pumpkin option, which comes plain or white-chocolate-dipped. (We say treat yo’self and go for the latter.)

$1 each, Honolulu Cookie Company, Royal Hawaiian Center, 2233 Kalākaua Ave., 931-3330, honolulucookie.com

New to Choco le‘a is this truffle filled with pumpkin spice cookie butter. Oh, yeah.

Photo: Courtesy of Choco le‘a

3. Pumpkin Spice Cookie Butter Truffle

This year the Mānoa chocolatiers are ringing in the season with a pumpkin. spice. cookie. butter. truffle. Be still our hearts. Or, actually, get moving, because these gems aren’t going to last forever. (Don’t worry, though, when they run out they’ll start whipping up pumpkin pie truffles.)

$2.35 each, Choco le‘a, 2909 Lowrey Ave., 371-2234, chocolea.com

4. Pumpkin Pudding Cups and Pumpkin Thanksgiving Tart

This year, perennial favorite Palme d’Or is bringing back its delish pumpkin pudding cups, alongside a full-size pumpkin Thanksgiving tart (complete with Cubist-like garnish of chocolate slices and kabocha) and a new, elegant caramel pumpkin mousse cake that totally won us over.

$5, Palme d’Or, Ala Moana Center, 941-6161

5. Pumpkin Pie Ice Cream

We love ice cream. We love pumpkin pie. Imagine if some brave soul dared to toss the two in a blender and scoop the result into a sugar cone. No need to imagine: Lucy’s Lab Creamery serves up fragrant, rich flavor that tastes just like that, complete with bits of pie-crust-like surprises mixed in.

$2.72, Lucy’s Lab Creamery, 437 Kamake‘e St.

6. Pumpkin Doughnuts

Did you know the new Foodland Farms bakes up its own house-made doughnuts right on the premises? It’s no secret that we’re serious about doughnuts at HONOLULU Magazine, and this gooey, cakey, festive little number gets our (sticky) thumbs up of approval.

$1.99, Foodland Farms, Ala Moana Center, 949-5044

Imagine a Dreamsicle as a cake. That’s what Kulu Kulu Bakery is serving right now.

Photo: Natalie Schack

7. Pumpkin Dreamsicle Cake

OK, this deserves some explanation. See that narrow layer of orange up top? That’s the pumpkin. The rest of the orange is actually an orange-flavored cream, with an overpowering Dreamsicle flavor that’s definitely the dessert’s driving force—but in the most delicious, refreshing way.

$4.80, Kulu Kulu Bakery, Ala Moana Center in Shirokiya Japan Village Walk, 931-0506, kulukulucake.com

8. Pumpkin Mochi

What could be a better flavor of the month than pumpkin? Kaka‘ako Kitchen is getting in the autumn spirit with its October dessert special: pumpkin mochi. And apparently we’re not the only pumpkin fans—these popular seed-dotted treats have been getting snapped up fast.

$2.95, Kaka‘ako Kitchen, 1200 Ala Moana Blvd., 596-7488, kakaakokitchen.com