Panera Bread is kicking off the return of fall with its very own pumpkin spice menu. I tried the whole thing and will be going back all season for one sweet treat in particular.
Whether you love it or hate it, pumpkin spice season is back. Truthfully, I wish that we could wait until at least September before rolling out the cinnamon and clove, but I think that ship has already sailed. I’m still recovering from last year. That’s when I decided to sample 65 pumpkin spice-flavored treats in one sitting. So when I say that I am an expert in all things PSL, I have receipts!
When I heard that Panera was dropping four brand-new treats to celebrate the return of fall, I knew I had to try them out. And there was one item in particular that I am already looking forward to having again.
What’s on Panera’s pumpkin spice menu this fall?
Of course, no menu is complete without the drink that started it all: the Pumpkin Spice Latte. Panera’s is back (hot and iced), but the chain also dropped two new remixes. The Pumpkin Spice Iced Coffee and Pumpkin Spice Frozen Java. Both drinks deliver on flavor, but in totally different ways. Then, there are the bakery goods: the returning Pumpkin Cookie and the new Pumpkin Cinnamon Roll and Caramel Pumpkin Slice.
Pumpkin Spice Frozen Java
If you like Starbucks Frappuccinos and Dairy Queen MooLattes, then I have a feeling that you will love the Pumpkin Spice Frozen Java. It’s a frozen, blended coffee drink with pumpkin sauce. It’s topped with plenty of whipped cream and pumpkin spice crumbles. It’s very sweet, very cold and full of PSL flavor. I think that if this drink was around when I was in high school, I would have ordered one every day. As an adult, though, it just leans a little too sweet for me.
Pumpkin Spice Iced Coffee
This drink combines Panera’s newly reformulated dark roast coffee with pumpkin sauce, sweet cream cold foam and pumpkin spice crumbles. It feels a little bit like the cool older cousin of the frozen java. First, the coffee flavor remains strong despite all the sweet accoutrements. The pumpkin flavor came through nicely, and the little crunchy pumpkin spice crumbles were a fun textural element.
Caramel Pumpkin Slice
Dare I say that I like this better than Starbucks’ pumpkin loaf? I know, that’s a huge claim. But this slice was not overly sweet, and it tasted homemade. It doesn’t have an overwhelming pumpkin flavor, but it’s still nicely spiced. Where other chain loaf slices can lean gummy, Panera’s has a moist crumb, and the little bursts of caramel sweetness really make it stand out. My slice didn’t have pumpkin icing drizzled on top, but even without it, I thoroughly enjoyed this.
Pumpkin Cinnamon Roll
OK, you should know by now that I always save the best for last. In fact, I’m already planning my next trip to Panera to get this again! The Pumpkin Cinnamon Roll was the winning treat in the bunch by a landslide. The flavor is so complex for a ready-made bakery treat, and I was impressed by how enjoyable it was to eat, even cold. The pumpkin-cinnamon filling puts me right in the cozy-season mindset, and the thin coating of pumpkin icing gives the roll a nice texture and sweetness. But again, it wasn’t cloying in its sweetness and didn’t make my teeth hurt (if you know, you know).
How long will the Panera pumpkin spice menu be available?
The pumpkin spice menu is available now at participating Panera locations nationwide. While there is no specific end date for when these treats will be leaving the menu, it’s safe to say they will be sticking around for a while. If you love pumpkin spice a lot or a little, I think these are definitely worth checking out. The Pumpkin Spice Iced Coffee and Pumpkin Cinnamon Roll combo will be my new go-to fall treat for the foreseeable future.
Which drink or bakery treat are you most excited to try? Let us know in the comments below!
