by Liat Rubin

Editor-in-Chief

I was born on National Dessert Day, October 14th, and as a result have acquired an obsession with pastries, cakes, and other baked goods. I cherish every bite of moist red velvet cake and worship cream cheese icing for all of its salty-sweet wonders. I once became so addicted to local bakery/heaven Icing on the Cake that I had to ban myself for a month from stepping foot on the premises.

As it does every fall, my addiction to desserts has shifted solely to pumpkin-flavored treats: pumpkin bread, pumpkin gelato, pumpkin doughnut muffins, pumpkin pound cake, and pumpkin pie. In this ode to all of my favorite pumpkin-flavored, fall-inspired treats, I will take you on a journey towards true happiness.

Pumpkin Pie: Although it is doubtful that pumpkin pie was present on that first Thanksgiving, it is such a timeless dessert that it might as well have been. Besides, what brings people together more than a fabulous pumpkin pie? Personally, I am a fan of pumpkin pies from the brand Upper Crust which can be found at your local Whole Foods. For those of you not willing to spend thirteen dollars on a pumpkin pie, Whole Foods and Safeway both bake fabulous fresh pies daily during the fall. Although pumpkin pies are absolutely wonderful, many stores stop selling them in December so be sure to enjoy them while they are in stock!

PS: I strongly recommend investing in a significant amount of whipped cream if you want to have the full pie experience.

Pumpkin Bread: Perhaps the runner-up for most classic fall treat, there are countless online recipes for making a simple and scrumptious pumpkin bread. For those inept in the culinary arts, I strongly recommend pumpkin breads from Great Bear Coffee, Los Gatos Coffee Roasting Company, and Icing on the cake in downtown Los Gatos.

Pumpkin Ice Cream/Gelato/Frozen Yogurt: Pumpkin pie flavored ice cream or gelato is perfect if you are looking for pumpkin-flavored treats in the hot California fall. Almost every major brand offers a fantastic pumpkin-flavored ice cream or gelato. Although Ben & Jerry’s pumpkin cheesecake with Graham cracker swirl is life-changing, I have always had a special place in my heart for the smooth and creamy Dreyer’s slow churned pumpkin patch flavor. Local frozen yogurt, ice cream, and gelato restaurants like Yogurt in Love, Baskin Robbins, and Dolce Spazzio, respectively, offer wonderful pumpkin flavors that go well with graham cracker or caramel toppings.

Pumpkin harvest pound cake and doughnut muffins at Icing On the Cake

I cannot stress enough how deeply in love I am with Icing on the Cake. If I had to choose just two of my favorite treats from the vast selection of perfect fall desserts at Icing on the Cake, I would choose the harvest pound cake and pumpkin doughnut muffins. I first tasted the harvest pound cake during the fall of last year and have been obsessed ever since. This cake, which consists of gooey brown sugar covered pecan clusters, woven into a perfectly moist piece of pumpkin pound cake is, without a doubt, my favorite fall treat. Coming in close second is Icing on the Cake’s pumpkin doughnut muffins. These buttery, cinammon-y doses of perfection are the perfect size for someone who isn’t quite willing to gain five pounds with the ingestion of the harvest pound cake. Both of these life-changing desserts are very, very seasonal so I recommend calling in advance before you make the trip to icing on the cake.

PS: Please remember that Icing on the Cake is closed on Mondays! There is nothing worse than looking forward to a gorgeous piece of harvest pound cake but having to settle for staring longingly through Icing on the Cake’s clear windows at all of the treats suddenly out of your reach. If you think I sound crazy, eat a piece of harvest pound cake and see for yourself.

Please do yourself a favor this fall and eat as many pumpkin flavored treats as you possibly can, trust me, it’s worth it.