10 Groceries for People Who Hate Pumpkin Spice but Love Fall

Ah, autumn — the season where you can’t throw a gourd without hitting a pumpkin-flavored treat. Don’t get me wrong: Fall is my favorite season of the year. I just think the pumpkin-spice flavor profile is a little, well, overrated. That’s right — I said it.

In an effort to change up my fall eating routine, I hunted down snacks that delivered all of the cozy goodness of autumn without your traditional PSL overdose (think: flavors like cardamom, cinnamon, cranberries, maple, ginger, and apple). If you’re tired of pumpkin spice (or flat-out don’t like it!), these 10 picks won’t disappoint.

These figgy pops are great on-the-go snacks that give you the perfect balance of carbohydrates, protein, and fat to sustain you during a long afternoon at the office. They’re moist, chewy, and the perfect size. Plus, you get just a hint of tangy sweetness from the cranberry. It’s kind of like an energizing cranberry pie — minus all the sugar.

Buy: Made in Nature Cranberry Pistachio Organic Figgy Pops, $5 for 4.2 ounces

Churros are my go-to fair food. I just love the combination of cinnamon and sugar! Another love of mine? Sweet potatoes. I’m no mathematician, but I’d say the combination of sweet potatoes plus cinnamon equals pure magic, as exhibited by these delicious puffs. On top of that, these are way better for you than an actual churro. Win-win.

Buy: Spudsy Sweet Potato Puffs in Cinnamon Churro, $14 for three 4-ounce bags

Honestly, I feel like I could write a novel about how much I love these ginger candies. You get a good dose of spice from the ginger that hits your throat in just the right way. Plus, the combination of the candy’s texture along with the apple flavor reminds me of biting into a caramel apple; it’s kind of like a gingery caramel apple. (Side note: Is that a thing? Because it absolutely should be.)

Buy: The Ginger People Gin Gins Spicy Apple Chewy Ginger Candy, $3 for 3 ounces

First of all, I love the name of this product — it’s as though the cinnamon is lovingly embracing the cashews. Secondly, the nut-to-cinnamon ratio is next-level. Sometimes it’s hard to even see a nut beneath all of the spices, which I think is a great problem to have. Also, these are supposedly extra-good for you because the makers left the skin on the nuts. I’m not really sure what that means, but I’m here for it. 

Buy: Karma Nuts Cinnamon Wrapped Cashews, $10 for 8 ounces

Okay, I’m pretty sure these are technically for toddlers, but honestly I’d call them adult-approved too. I love the cardamom paired with the apple — it’s like candy without any added sugar. Also, freeze-dried textures are kind of irresistible. Plus, if you are a parent, the back of the bag has some criteria to help parents decide if their kid is ready to try the snack!

Buy: Fresh Bellies Apples and Cardamom Freeze Dried Snacks, $24 for six snack packs

I didn’t really taste the turmeric in these chips. That being said, these chips totally reminded me of fall because they tasted like … soup? Maybe it’s the added algae, or it could be the pumpkin, but there was something delightfully savory about these that made them feel healthy yet comforting at the same time.

Buy: Vegan Rob’s Turmeric Chips, $3 for 3.5 ounces

I never really knew that cardamom and apple were a thing before, but honestly, I’m unofficially declaring it the new flavor of fall (so stand aside, pumpkin spice!). Also, I think sprinkling this mixture on top of vanilla bean ice cream would be the ultimate snack. You can eat ice cream as a snack, right? 

Buy: Blue Diamond Almonds’ Sweet Cardamom Almonds and Honeycrisp Apple, $5 for 5 ounces

Maybe this is a slight cheat, as it involves pumpkin seeds, but honestly, what is fall without a tiny bit of pumpkin? Also, these are way better than your homemade pumpkin seeds, which typically still have remnants of guts from carving your jack-o’-lantern. The cinnamon and sugar add to the texture, making it a snack that’s really hard to put down.

Buy: SuperSeedz Gourmet Pumpkin Seeds, $5 for 5 ounces

The flax seed was a little strong in this snack, but eating flax is a great way to get your healthy fats in, right? Plus the cinnamon and ginger somehow work with the seeds, and the texture has just the right amount of snap. I feel like this would pair well with a really mild cheese such as ricotta.

Buy: Foodie Fuel Snacks in Cinnamon Ginger, $6 for four ounces

Technically probably a garnish, I definitely eat these more as a snack. At first, I was worried that the maple would be overpowering, but there’s just a hint to really complement the bacon, making it the perfect morsel of goodness. Also, I think sprinkling these bad boys onto your homemade butternut squash soup wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world.

Buy: Epic Provisions Uncured Bacon Bits with Maple, $7 for 3 ounces

Got anything to add to this list? Leave your suggestions in the comments below!