Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice
It’s that time of year again - pumpkin spice season. This seasonal favorite has truly taken over, from the OG #PSL to Cheerios to Oreos, and it isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. But it wasn’t always this way. Believe it or not, there was a time when this now classic wasn’t always a staple. So we wanted to know pumpkin spice’s origin story and just when it took center stage.
What exactly is pumpkin spice?
Pumpkin spice as we know it is a mixture of nutmeg, allspice, cinnamon, and cloves and combined with the flavor of, you guessed it, pumpkin.
Where did it come from?
According to The Chicagosit, the earliest record of these ingredients being used together is in a Pumpkin Spice Cake recipe published in 1936 by The Washington Post. Then, in the 1950s, McCormick started selling a packaged version labeled pumpkin pie spice. The name was shortened to what we know as pumpkin spice in the ‘60s.
Why did it become so popular?
One word: Starbucks. Starbucks launched the PSL (or Pumpkin Spice Latte for those of you now in the know) in 2003, which really led this flavor to be ubiquitous with Fall. According to The Good Trade, consumers loved it and proved initial worries of coffee companies that the spices would be too overpowering. Funnily enough, it wasn’t until 2015 that Starbucks actually added pumpkin into their PSL recipe. Either way, pumpkin spice had an excellent marketing team to say the least.
Now that you know a bit more about this Fall phenomenon, we are going to share with you three of our favorite pumpkin spice recipes. One savory, one sweet, and one beverage. You can look at it as one big pumpkin spice meal!
Savory
There is something so comforting about a bowl of hot chili on a cool autumn evening. That’s why we love this Spicy Slow Cooker Pumpkin Chili. You can set your slow cooker on low, go out and pick some apples in the crisp Autumn air, and return to smells and tastes that can only be described as cozy. If you are a vegetarian (like me!), we highly recommend substituting the ground meat with Beyond Meat Plant Based Ground Beef. Even meat-eaters won’t know the difference.
Sweet
There are more sweet options than simply pie for this pumpkin/spice combination. Being a “technical” New Yorker (i.e. living in New York for 10 years), cheesecake is a must on the dessert list. This Pumpkin Swirl Cheesecake recipe is deliciously rich and creamy and the perfect balance of traditional expectations with vibes of the season.
Beverage
We’re going adult here and recommending this Pumpkin Spice White Russian cocktail. It adds a tasty and fun twist on a classic. Serve it at a dinner party and you will surely impress.
Do you love pumpkin spice or are you ready for it to step down as Fall’s sweetheart flavor? Let us know in the comments below!
Photo by Hello I'm Nik on Unsplash
