40+ Spots for Pumpkin Inspired Menu Specials, Beer, Ice Cream, Pasta, Baked Goods & Oh So Much More
Pumpkin, pumpkin everywhere. Isn’t autumn divine?! And how crazy that we all get so excited about, well, a gourd. Life is funny but it’s that time of year to embrace the crazy and roll with the pumpkins. From fancy-schmancy drinks to sumptuous desserts, handmade raviolis, cakes and sweets, pumpkin has hit everything that stands still. Get on the haywagon, it’s a good one!
Here are 30+ spots to savor pumpkin season in EVERY WAY possible.
Elmwood Pastry Shop-West Hartford
www.facebook.com/ElmwoodPastryShop
Family-owned since 1948, the oldest bakery in West Hartford, CT, and the oldest Polish bakery in Connecticut, Elmwood Pastry Shop uses only quality ingredients, no preservatives or fillers, and makes everything from scratch using recipes dating back to 1948. They offer a wide variety of European pastries and breads. Some of their fall favorites are pumpkin pie (it’s heaven!), Pumpkin Yogurt Cake, pumpkin muffins, Pumpkin Cream Cheese cupcakes, Pumpkin Cream Cheese Caramel Squares, pumpkin donuts, and pumpkin spice coffee!
Green and Tonic-Cos Cob, Darien, Westport, New Canaan, Rye Brook, Chappaqua
Fall-lovers rejoice! Green & Tonic is offering delicious, cozy, gluten-free treats! You will love to see their Pumpkin Spice Lattes Line (3 healthier versions of the seasonal cult favorite) and Pumpkin Spice Coffee Cake. All the new bevys are sugar and dairy free! Plus, the iced drinks are topped with a pumpkin spice new vegan cold foam- yum! The Pumpkin Spice Coffee Cake has a cinnamon-y crumble and a moist delectable center that is a perfect addition to your caffeine fix!
Two Roads Brewing-Stratford
www.tworoadsbrewing.com/events
Come fall, there are a variety of ways to have a scary-good time, from carving pumpkins, to streaming Sleepy Hollow, to reading your favorite Stephen King stories, but our favorite is sipping on Two Roads Brewing Company’s one-of-a-kind Roadsmary’s Baby Pumpkin Ale. This gourd–eous beer is aged in rum barrels with vanilla beans for added complexity and depth of flavor. The result is a SCARY GOOD smooth drinking brew with notes of pumpkin, spices, vanilla, oak, and a touch of rum. Two Roads Brewing Company is hosting their Fifth Annual Pumpkin Fest Weekend Friday, October 21st through Sunday, October 23rd. These three days will be packed with Friday’s Roadsmary’s Baby Horror Film Competition Screening, Saturday’s Pumpkin Fest with music, and vendors, and Sunday’s Family Fall Festival with costume contests for families and dogs, face painting, and crafts. ’Tis the season for craft beer, so find Two Roads Roadsmary’s Baby near you!
Wood-n-Tap-Enfield, Farmington, Hamden, Hartford, Newington, Rocky Hill, Southington, Vernon, Wallingford
It’s that pumpkin time of year and Wood-n-Tap restaurants have it covered. Featured as part of its fall menu is an old favorite, the Famous Pumpkin Cheesecake. Made from scratch and on their menu since 2002 (that’s 20 years folks,) this $8.99 made in-house dessert delight features a cinnamon graham cracker crust and pumpkin filling that is topped with a signature caramel drizzle. It’s so good that offer it for both in-dining and take home-what a treat! Wood-n-Tap also offers a whole cake to-go (serves eight to 10) for $42. Just give them 24-hour notice. For more information go to www.woodntap.com or any location: Newington, Rocky Hill, Vernon, Hamden, Wallingford, Southington, Farmington or Hartford.
Bakery on Maple-Bristol
Bristol’s only artisanal micro bakery, so well, you just have to get over there. If for no other reason-their Impossible Pumpkin Pie that is topped with Maple Mousse (and yes, they have Pumpkin Latte cupcakes, pumpkin coffee cake and cheesecake and…).
BE Chocolat-Fairfield
Grab their Halloween box for your favorite little ghoul, which includes perfectly fall-ish flavors and designs, and of course, a Pumpkin-flavored pumpkin.
B.J. Ryan’s-Norwalk
Their featured Fall cocktail is a twist on the classic Pumpkin Spiced Latte; the creamy, dreamy Pumpkin Spiced Espresso Martini. Get it while it lasts.
Buttonwood Farms-Griswold
www.buttonwoodfarmicecream.com
Cool weather? Ice cream? Of course! Try their dairy-free Pumpkin (made with coconut and oat milks) along with Pumpkin Oatmeal Crumble ice cream, which has a salty cinnamon swirl and cinnamon oatmeal crumble.
Castle Hill Chocolate-Sandy Hook
They have created gorgeous solid Belgian chocolate pumpkins (nearly 1/2 lb!) that are hand colored in all the glorious colors of fall. Perfect for your table or a sweet treat for someone you think is fabulous.
The Charles-Wethersfield
Start with their special autumn mocktail, the “Orange is the New Black”, a concoction of
pumpkin pie spice, cream, non-alcoholic coffee liqueur, maple, and house-brewed espresso (decaf available), then end things with a slice of Pumpkin Maple Cheesecake with Pecan Butterscotch and Caramel Pumpkin Butter from their new fall menu.
Claire’s Corner Copia-New Haven
A New Haven staple of healthy eating since 1975! Their baked-goods counter is a hot spot for scrumptious treats that cater to a variety of dietary needs and are, happily, clearly labeled, so everyone can enjoy something. On deck for autumn: Dairy Free Pumpkin Spice Cake.
Ferris Acres-Newtown
Who knew cows could make Pumpkin ice cream? They must be very sincere cows (ok, who got that?). Maybe one is even named Linus.
Flander’s Donut and Bake Shop-East Lyme
50 years of churning out the donuts-they’ve got this down to a delicious science! Henceforth and ergo, go snag one of their Pumpkin donuts !
Half Full Brewery-Stamford
Positively Pumpkin Ale is loaded up with pumpkin, nutmeg, cinnamon and allspice, the much-loved autumn triumvirate. Get a few growlers for your favorite goblin.
Kloter’s Ice Cream Barn-Ellington
Don’t miss the limited appearance of their Pumpkin ice cream, along with fall faves of Caramel Apple Crumb and Maple Praline
LaRocca’s Country Market-Stamford
It’s soup weather so get thee a quart of LaRocca’s creamy Butternut Pumpkin Bisque!
Lis Bake Shop-Mystic
FB @ Lis Bake Shop LLC
Cool weather has arrived and that means Pumpkin Squares and Pumpkin WHOOPEE pies have too!
Mr. Frosty-Norwalk
Thank the heavens above that Mr. Frosty is now open year round-that way you can enjoy this spooky treat: the Pumpkin Cheesecake Craver, with Pumpkin Pecan ice cream layered with cheesecake, caramel, whipped cream and cinnamon crumb.
Munson’s Chocolates-various
You had us at Pumpkin Fudge, but there’s also Peanut Butter pumpkins, gummy pumpkins, Pumpkin Spiced truffles, and Apple Cider Caramels.
Olive Bar-Unionville
Belly up to their bar for their fall cocktail special: The PSL (Pumpkin Spice Latte, for those in the know), with vodka, Pumpkin Crème, espresso, and all your favorite fall spices.
Panificio Navona-Newtown
Cottage baking at its best and at this time of the year, this cottage baker is churning out Mummy and Halloween sugar cookies with almond glaze or vanilla buttercream along with fluffy and sugary, cream-dolloped Apple Spice and Pumpkin Spice doughnuts.
Plasko’s Farm-Trumbull
Fall Pumpkin ice cream…while it lasts! Or their Apple Cider Donut Sundae cup or Apple Cider Donut Swirl ice cream
Rich Farm-Bristol, Brookfield, Oxford
All hail Rich Farm’s seasonal specials! Pumpkin, Pumpkin Oreo and Caramel Apple ice cream, along with Pumpkin ice cream sandwiches. New Englanders love their ice cream!
Sift-Mystic
Autumn has arrived in Mystic! Scurry to Sift for freshly baked Pumpkin Scones, Pumpkin Cheesecakes (with white chocolate Bavarian), Pumpkin Tarts with a decadent sable crust, pecan praline and a caramel Bavarian filling, and their very popularPumpkin Oat Granola, which you can sprinkle on anything that stands still or just munch out of the bag.
Sorrento Importing-Fairfield
Known for their Italian pastas and imported goods, at autumn they get on the bandwagon and stock delicious Pumpkin Ravioli! Have your Sunday dinner with a fabulous autumn twist.
Stew Leonard’s-Danbury, Newington, Norwalk
From the store that’s got it all, they’ve now got Pumpkin Frozen Yogurt, freshly made Pumpkin Brownies, Pumpkin Bread, Pumpkin Spice coffee, and caramel and candy apples. No shortage of holiday spirit at Stews!
Thimble Islands Brewery-Branford
Throwing a Halloween bash? They’ve got Ghost Island IPA, Moon Island IPA, their Dark Pumpkin Porter, Triple Ghost IPA, an Oktoberfest Marien-style Lager and some more good brews for hearty weather.
Thorncrest Farm LLC & Milk House Chocolates-Litchfield
White, milk or dark hollow chocolate pumpkins! Perfect as holiday table decor, a small gift or hell, put an engagement ring in one for the the ultimate TREAT (no trick).
TJ’s Burritos-East Granby
Whet your whistle with some boozy pumpkin coffee drinks, or sweets like their Pumpkin Oreo cheesecake, Pumpkin Scones and Macaroons
Villarina’s Pasta Shop-Newtown
Perfect for your autumn dinners-Pumpkin ravioli with Pumpkin Cream Sauce or Tuscany Pumpkin pasta sauce to slather on on those crisp fall evenings
Wells Hollow Creamery-Shelton
Get into the spirit with Wells Hollow’s Pumpkin or Pumpkin Praline (pumpkin with brown sugar and cinnamon ribbons and praline pecans) ice cream
White Horse Country Pub & Restaurant-New Preston
A dinner out at a cozy pub is great on a cool fall evening, but when you get to have Pumpkin Ravioli with crumbled goat cheese, toasted pecans and a sage madeira sauce it’s even better
