Fall? Nah. For many, this is simply the season known as Pumpkin All The Things.
From cream-topped coffee drinks to cookies, tarts, and pies, when it comes to good eats and drinks made with pumpkin (and even IN a pumpkin) Metro Vancouver is like the pumpkin patch of your food dreams. There are pumpkin macarons, pumpkin cheesecakes, pumpkin truffles, and even pumpkin spice SPAM. Plant-based eaters take heart: there are some vegan pumpkin treats in the mix, too. And for the grown-ups, there's even a couple of pumpkin-inspired cocktails for toasting the season.
Ladurée Vancouver
“Fall is all about the changing of the seasons, cozy evenings at home, and family,” says Olesya Krakhmalyova of Ladurée Canada. You can catch those vibes at home with Ladurée's silky sweet Pumpkin Tart right now. Available in large and individual sizes, the dessert features a delicately sweet and buttery tartlet filled pumpkin compote, topped with pumpkin crémeux and pecan nuts, and skillfully “ribboned” by a pumpkin spiced Chantilly cream. The Parisian sweet spot is also serving up a Pumpkin Spice Latte in their café, and you can also check out their non-pumpkin seasonal treats, like their Honey & Almond Religieuse or Chaussons aux Pommes.
Railtown Cafe
Available Oct. 1-31, Railtown has a Pumpkin Buttered Chai (House-made spiced pumpkin syrup is combined with TeaLeaves Masala Chai, grass-fed butter, salt, and whole milk); individual pumpkin pies; and Pumpkin Spice Sofites (light and fluffy spiced cookies with a maple glaze).
Grounds For Coffee
Photo courtesy Grounds For CoffeeEvery fall, Grounds for Coffee is all about pumpkin spice. From Friday, Oct. 9 to Monday, Oct. 12, Grounds for Coffee will be featuring their best-selling seasonal Pumpkin Spice Cinnamon Buns.
To Live For
Don't recognize the name? That's because Erin Ireland's vegan bakery biz To Die For has rebranded as To Live For, as a celebration of all the animals' lives dear to their hearts. Right now, they've got a seasonal Pecan Pumpkin Loaf available, and it's totally plant-based.
Terra Breads
Talk about decadent and perfectly pumpkin: Terra Breads has their Pumpkin Pie Double Baked Croissants right now. These treats will be baked fresh daily for their café locations from October 1-31, so get them while you can.
Purebread
The Whistler-based bakeshop with multiple Vancouver outposts has Pumpkin Whoopie Pies this time of year, and you can also get in touch with them for pumpkin pie orders.
Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts and Blue Hat Bakery-Cafe
This October, the Bakery-Café will be featuring an array of comforting autumnal-inspired delights, including Pumpkin Spiced Cheesecake and a Pecan Tart with Pumpkin Crème Brûlée (and some non-pumpkin treats, too, like Apple Turnovers, Carrot Cake and mini Coronation Pies).
Shameless Buns
Back for another year, Filipino food truck Shameless Buns is shaking up the season with their Pumpkin Spice Spam-A-Lot Sandwich.
Temper Chocolate and Pastry
Temper owner and lead pastry chef Steven Hodge has introduced a new lineup of autumnal-inspired cakes, pies, viennoiserie and specialty drinks for fall. Highlights from this year's lineup of fall favourites include Hodge's classic pumpkin pie with Chantilly cream (made with a secret family recipe), buttery pumpkin scones, rich and decadent pumpkin cheesecake, and a signature pumpkin spice latte prepared with scratch-made pumpkin spice syrup and artisanal espresso.
The Praguery
Catch up with the Praguery's truck to get your hands on their signature Chimney Cakes filled with pumpkin ice cream.
Beaucoup Bakery
Here's something pumpkin-adjacent: Beaucoup's fall special is a Kabocha Tart ($38) made with brown butter almond cake, spiced kabocha and Dulcey cream, and kabocha crème Chantilly. “Kabocha is a Japanese squash and is one of my favourites to bake and cook with,” says Beaucoup owner Betty Hung. “The texture is fluffy, very similar to chestnut, with a sweet but not too sweet flavour. It’s also full of nutrients.”
Umaluma
No dairy? Not a problem. Chinatown's Umaluma has a plant-based pumpkin flavour they're scooping up for the season, called Pumpkin Pie Hazelnut Brittle.
Cadeaux Bakery
Cadeaux Bakery is baking up the Spiced Pumpkin Praline October ‘chef’s special’ Croissant: A praline croissant filled with spiced pumpkin crème pâtissière and soft praline, finished with praline crusted milk Callebaut chocolate shards, hazelnut florentine and a hand made sugar pumpkin.
The Pie Hole
The Pie Hole is a great choice for pumpkin pies. Get your orders in while they've got 'em.
Purdys
Photo courtesy PurdysLegendary Vancouver-based chocolatier Purdys is getting into the spice of the season with their Pumpkin Spiced Latte truffles. Real pumpkin, pumpkin spices (cinnamon, ginger and clove) and a kick of mocha in a smooth milk chocolate ganache, enrobed in creamy milk chocolate.
Maan Farms
If you're in Abbotsford and in the pumpkin spirit, Maan Farms is dishing up a Double Pumpkin Spice Cream - pumpkin ice cream swirled in a mini pumpkin.
Soirette
One of the best places for macarons (and other treats) in Vancouver, Soirette is making Pumpkin Earl Grey (and Burnt Caramel Pecan) macarons for the fall.
Gotham Steakhouse and Bar
To celebrate Thanksgiving, Gotham will be featuring a special House-made Pumpkin Cheesecake made with a gingersnap crumb crust served with a caramel sauce and a cinnamon-spiced whipped cream. The dessert is available from Oct. 10-31.
Kouign Cafe
The recently-opened Kouign Cafe is baking up pumpkin spiced Ube tarts with chantilly whipped cream for fall. Put in an order and don't forget to grab some other treats from this creative Asian-inspired French-style bakeshop.
Best Kind Bakeshop
This indie online-order bakeshop has a sourdough pumpkin bread for Thanksgiving weekend. This loaf is a true sourdough bread made with pumpkin purée which gets its nutty kick from the roasted salted pumpkin seeds in it.
The Bench Bakehouse
Commercial Drive's Bench Bakehouse is baking up fresh Pumpkin Pie, available via pre-order.
The Victor
The Victor's Pumpkin Sour. Photo courtesy The VictorThe Victor Pumpkin Sour is available for the month of October, perfect for the fall and pumpkin lovers. It's a grown-up drink made with Oakheart Spiced Rum, pumpkin syrup, lemon juice, and egg white with an anise rinse, and is garnished with licorice all sorts.
Straight and Marrow
Here's another cocktail to consider. Available in October, East Van's Straight and Marrow is serving up their Autumn Shower Sour, made with 5 spiced infused brandy, pumpkin seed orgeat, unsweetened cranberry juice, lemon, absinthe, cranberry sugar and charred egg white.
Matcha and Cocoa
Get your orders in for something pumpkin-y that's a little different: Pumpkin Spice Crumble mochi from Matcha and Cocoa.
Uno Gelato
This Vancouver gelateria is making batches of their Pumpkin Pecan Cheesecake gelato this month.
Chez Christophe
Chez Christophe is making some seasonal magic. They recommend placing pre-orders for Pumpkin Tarts from their Burnaby or White Rock bakeshop cafes.
Thomas Haas
One of Vancouver's most beloved bakeries and chocolatiers, Thomas Haas has all things pumpkin going right now, promising: Pies, Lattes, Truffles, Hostess gifts...and maybe a cake too.
Trafiq
Main Street's Trafiq is baking up batches of their fall Pumpkin Loaf: Super moist pumpkin loaf studded with pumpkin seeds and chocolate chips topped with a chocolate ganache cream cheese frosting.
Batard Bakery
Fraser Street's French bakery Batard has got your pumpkin cravings covered with their Pumpkin tarts this fall.
Did we miss including your favourite Metro Vancouver seasonal pumpkin treat? Send your tip to lindsay@vancouverisawesome.com. And if you love our food content, sign up for the Forking Awesome Newsletter - you get the top food news, tips, and insider info right in your inbox twice a month.
