Beginning in September you can see pumpkin spice flavored products showing up on menus and grocery shelves. In this post, I share my experience with some new products I’ve never tasted before, as well as a couple that I have.
Paleonola Granola Grain Free, Pumpkin Pie
[two_third] Since this is grain-free granola, it doesn’t taste like typical granola. It is heavy on the nuts, instead of oats. When I opened the bag, I could smell the pumpkin pie aroma. However, the dominant flavor is of the pecans, although they are the second ingredient after almonds. After the pecans, I could taste the flavors of cinnamon and ginger, with a hint of nutmeg.
The protein to carb balance is decent. Each serving has 4 grams of protein and 8 grams of carbs. I found the granola flavorful and filling, however, I did miss the oats.
I also received the Original and Maple Pancake flavors. I will discuss them in a separate post.
Available at Paleonola.com, Thrive Market & Amazon. [/two_third]
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Tasting Score: 3 out of 5 Pumpkins
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PBFit Pumpkin Spice Peanut Butter Powder
[two_third] I was excited to try out PBFit. I’d seen in the stores but was afraid to purchase a jar only to find out I couldn’t eat it. Due to my acid reflux, I can no longer eat peanut butter without heartburn. 🙁
But then I was offered a sample of PBFit’s Pumpkin Spice flavor and thought it was the perfect opportunity to test if I could have peanut butter powder because it had most of the fat removed.
So, I added a scoop to a vanilla smoothie. I could taste the peanuts but not the pumpkin spice. However, I also didn’t get any heartburn!
On the jar, it recommended using PBFit to make a dipping sauce for fruit and veggies. Simply mix with water. So I tried that, too. Again, it simply tasted like peanut butter. I could not detect the pumpkin spice.
So, in conclusion, if you’re looking for the pumpkin spice flavor don’t use this product. But, if you want to add extra protein to dishes that a peanut flavor would enhance, I highly recommend PBFit. I’ll be buying it now that I know I can enjoy one of my favorite flavors without the pain!
Available on Amazon. [/two_third]
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Tasting Score: 3 out of 5 Pumpkins
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Kellogg’s Frosted Mini-Wheats, Limited Edition Pumpkin Spice
[two_third] As I opened the box, I knew I was in for a treat. The aroma of pumpkin spice wafted up and filled my nose with the scent of Fall cooking. Yum.
I served myself a bowl of the cereal along with some unsweetened vanilla almond milk. It was so good! I could taste the cinnamon and ginger vying for my tastebuds’ attention.
I’ve always liked frosted mini-wheats, but Kellogg’s Pumpkin Spice version has become my new favorite cereal. And, frankly, is my favorite pumpkin-themed food of this season.
Available in your local grocery store, probably in a special end-cap display. [/two_third]
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Tasting Score: 5 out of 5 Pumpkins
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Cheerios Limited Edition Pumpkin Spice
[two_third] I reviewed Cheerios Limited Edition Pumpkin Spice back in 2017. Back then I commented that it was spice and had the tastes of “cinnamon with a touch of cloves.”
I’m afraid they may have changed their recipe for this year’s batch. I found the pumpkin spice notes too subtle. What I ended up with was a bowl of Cheerios with only a trace hint of pumpkin spice — not even enough to taste which spices within the mix I was tasting.
How disappointing.
Available in your local grocery store, probably in a special end-cap display. [/two_third]
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Tasting Score: 2 out of 5 Pumpkins
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Kellogg’s Special K Limited Edition Pumpkin Spice
[two_third] This cereal strikes a nice balance between giving you a taste you’ve grown accustomed to if you regularly eat Special K, while also giving it a pumpkin spice twist.
When I opened the box, I could detect the light aroma of pumpkin spice. It was not as strong as the Frosted Mini-Wheats, but still there — unlike the Cheerios.
I filled my bowl with the cereal, noting traditional flakes and white clusters, and added my unsweetened vanilla almond milk. When I took a mouthful, I again noticed how gentle the pumpkin spice flavor was. The flakes are lightly coated with the flavor and the clusters are more intense. This time I found the ginger and nutmeg spices to dominate.
Overall, I enjoyed it.
Available in your local grocery store, probably in a special end-cap display. [/two_third]
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Tasting Score: 3 out of 5 Pumpkins
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Pumpkin Pie Pop-Tarts
[two_third] During my taste tests in 2017, I tried out Pumpkin Pie Pop-Tarts and thought they “tasted good, but not like what I would expect something called ‘pumpkin pie’ would taste like.”
As with Cheerios, I think they changed their recipe — and improved upon it. This time, I tasted them straight out of the box and found them to be sweet with pumpkin and cinnamon notes, enhanced by the pumpkin pie spice icing.
I enjoyed them much more this year. Due to temporary housing, I don’t have access to a toaster to test my theory out, but I bet it would taste much like a pumpkin pie if toasted.
Available in your local grocery store, probably in a special end-cap display. [/two_third]
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Tasting Score: 3 out of 5 Pumpkins
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Boom Chicka Pop (Limited Edition) Pumpkin Spice Drizzled Kettle Corn
[two_third] I’m a big fan of Boom Chicka Pop, so when I saw that they had a pumpkin spice version sitting on the shelves at my local grocery store, I had to give it a try. As usual, the popcorn is popped to perfection. The lightly sweet taste of kettle corn was a good pairing to the drizzle of pumpkin spice.
When I opened the bag, I knew from the aroma that I was in for a treat. Boom Chicka Pop did not disappoint. Each bite treated me to the flavor of cinnamon with a hint of ginger and nutmeg. Yum!
This popcorn would pair wonderfully with It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, and a warm fire.
If you can’t find it at your local grocery story, you can purchase it as part of Fall Flavor bundle on Amazon. [/two_third]
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Tasting Score: 5 out of 5 Pumpkins
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Limited Edition Pumpkin Spiced Products Taste Test Conclusion
If I had to rank this year’s entries, my top three choices would be
- Kellogg’s Frosted Mini-Wheats, Pumpkin Spice
- Boom Chicka Pop Pumpkin Spice Drizzled Kettle Corn
- Kellogg’s Special K Limited Edition Pumpkin Spice
I was pleased that nothing I tried this year tasted bad, just some embraced the spirit of pumpkin pie spice more than others.
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NOTE: I received free samples of these products in exchange for an honest review. Others I purchased because I saw them on the shelf. If you’ve read past taste tests, you’ll know that I don’t pull my punches when I believe they are warranted. I also try to provide balanced information so you can make your own decision to buy or not buy this product, even if you disagree with my opinion.
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