The moment temperatures begin to drop in Houston, pumpkin spice latte lovers emerge in full force, posting sweater-weather selfies with perfectly manicured nails wrapped around steaming cups of fall happiness. But there’s much more to the season than pumpkin spice lattes. The humble pumpkin is a delicious and versatile ingredient that shines in everything from savory dishes to decadent desserts.
From pumpkin-filled pastries and creamy cheesecakes to savory pastas and seasonal sweets, Houston restaurants and bakeries are embracing the flavors of fall. Here’s where to get your pumpkin fix around the city.
RA Sushi
It’s not often that you see pumpkin on a sushi menu, but RA has taken the North American native fruit and created a whole seasonal menu around it this fall. Dishes like wagyu katsu with pumpkin puree and hoisin sauce start off the menu, while lobster mushroom pumpkin ravioli and branzino with roasted pumpkin give diners autumnal entree options. For dessert, there’s pumpkin pie with vanilla ice cream. Multiple locations, rasushi.com
Kolache Shoppe
There are several locations of this locally-owned bakery, but it’s the Pearland location that has a pumpkin cream kolache that will delight cheesecake fans. Sweetened cream cheese is layered with spiced pumpkin curd, giving all the flavors of your mom’s pumpkin cheesecake without having to wait for Thanksgiving. It’s just $3 on weekends through Sunday, November 1 so you’ll want to stock up. 11940 Broadway St., Pearland, kolacheshoppe.com
Fluff Bake Bar
Open Wednesday through Sunday, Rebecca Masson’s bakery in the Heights really gets jumping on the weekends when Masson and her crew come up with all kinds of specials. Maybe it’s Cailyn’s pumpkin tres leches one day or pumpkin muffins another. Right now, Masson is busy making the pumpkin version of her whoopie pies, available through Thanksgiving. Holiday pies and cakes will soon be rolling out, too. 1701 W. 15th St., Houston, fluffbakebar.com
Kenny & Ziggy’s
Known for their over-the-top deli sandwiches, this New York-style delicatessen and restaurant also serves some spectacular desserts. For autumn, a couple of seasonal cheesecakes have hit the bakery cases, available whole or by the slice. The pumpkin cheesecake is a traditional New York cheesecake made with real pumpkin, topped with cream rosettes and a drizzle of caramel. There’s a Biscoff cheesecake as well. The whole cheesecake is $98 while a slice goes for $14. 1743 Post Oak Blvd., Houston, kennyandziggys.com
Nothing Bundt Cakes
Through Sunday, November 29, this nationwide chain is offering its spiced pumpkin cake, topped with its signature cream cheese frosting, available in all bundt cake sizes. For Halloween and Thanksgiving, there are also options for toppers and decorations. Multiple locations, nothingbundtcakes.com
Coltivare
Ryan Pera’s Italian restaurant does pasta perfectly and its pumpkin ravioli, sauteed in brown butter and sage with a sprinkle of walnuts, is a savory way to get your pumpkin fix. Also great is the brunch vegetable pasta, which incorporates spaghetti squash in Creole tomato sauce and a sprinkling of pumpkin seeds. Pumpkin season extends to dessert with the seasonal pumpkin crostata, a pate brisee crust filled with sweetened black pepper ricotta, roasted pumpkin and kobacha, and mascarpone. It’s seasoned with pumpkin spice and finished with chantilly cream. 3320 White Oak Dr., Houston, agricolehospitality.com/coltivare
Common Bond
With several locations throughout Houston, this local bakery and cafe offers plenty of sweet temptations, and fall is the perfect time to indulge in its handcrafted pastries. Known for its buttery croissants, Common Bond is rolling out a pumpkin cream cheese croissanr filled with spiced pumpkin, while its PSL macaron offers a delicate bite of spiced pumpkin ganache with a hint of espresso. Other seasonal treats include a pumpkin cream cheese entremet featuring layers of pumpkin cheesecake mousse, spiced caramel, crunchy caramel crisp, and roasted pepita shortbread. The elaborate dessert is available exclusively at Common Bond Bistro & Bakery locations. Multiple locations, commonbondcafe.com
Three Brothers Bakery
For decades, this family-owned bakery has been a source for holiday desserts, custom cakes, and traditional Jewish baked goods. Its pretty-as-a-picture pumpkin pie is a Houston favorite and there are pumpkin-filled cupcakes to wow a crowd. While hamantaschen is a traditional baked good for the Jewish holiday of Purim, Three Brothers sells them all year long, including a pumpkin version. For the ultimate fall dessert, have a slice of the hybrid pumpkin pie cheesecake. Multiple locations, 3brothersbakery.com
Hash Kitchen
With only two Greater Houston area locations, in Pearland and Webster, it may be a drive for some folks to check out this popular brunch cafe, but it’s worth it for its limited-time holiday menu. Thanksgiving comes early as the menu already features carved turkey hash and turkey and stuffing waffles. However, it’s the pumpkin pancakes that are really making a splash on the seasonal menu. The fluffy hotcakes get finished with dark caramel and pecan pieces for a decadent daytime meal. Guests can also enjoy a pumpkin spice espresso martini as a pairing. Multiple locations, hashkitchen.com
Via 313
This Detroit-style pizza concept is always adding seasonal treats to its menu and for the fall, it’s offering pumpkin sticks: pumpkin spiced Detroit-style dough that is topped with pumpkin cream cheese icing and dusted with powdered sugar. The sticks are available through November 2 and are offered regular ($8) and gluten-free ($12). Multiple locations, via313.com
La Hacienda Bakery
A few years ago, this Mexican bakery started stuffing conchas with different fillings. When it filled a pumpkin-shaped concha with spiced pumpkin cream, the treat went viral and became a TikTok sensation. It was even featured on ABC’s’ Good Morning America. While the price is a bit more than a typical concha, fans can’t get enough of the bright orange treat. It’s available through Tuesday, November 3. 180 Uvalde Rd., Houston, lahaciendabakery.com
El Bolillo Bakery
This bakery has been selling pan dulce for nearly 30 years, including pumpkin-colored conchas. Now, it has a filled version with pumpkin cream cheese for less than $3. It also sells pumpkin tres leches($35). Multiple locations, elbolillo.com
Coco Crepes
Coco Crepes is getting into the spirit of fall with two seasonal treats available through Monday, November 30. The Pumpkin Crème Brûlée Crepe puts an autumnal spin on the cafe’s signature dish, featuring a rich pumpkin crème brûlée filling topped with powdered sugar, caramel, whipped cream, and a dusting of pumpkin pie spice. For an extra dose of pumpkin goodness, pair it with the Pumpkin Spice Latte, made with espresso, pumpkin spice syrup, and foamed milk, finished with a generous swirl of whipped cream. Multiple locations, cococrepes.com
Koffeteria and Lil’ Koffeteria
Pastry wizard Vanarin Kuch is always experimenting with different seasonal flavors, but the pumpkin rolls ($7) are typically available at both locations, though pre-ordering is a good idea. Similar to a cinnamon roll, it’s made with pumpkin dough, pumpkin spice filling, cream cheese frosting, and toasted pumpkin seeds. Multiple locations, koffeteria.com
Trill Burgers
Best known for its wildly popular smashburgers, Trill Burgers is giving its signature vanilla shake a seasonal makeover. The new pumpkin spice Trill Shake blends spiced pumpkin puree into the classic frozen treat, then tops it with whipped cream, a generous drizzle of caramel, and a crunchy Biscoff crumble. Available through Monday, November 30, the limited-time shake can be found at all four Houston-area Trill Burgers locations, including Montrose, Spring, Missouri City, and Westheimer. Multiple locations, trill-burgers.com
Grimaldi’s Pizzeria
This New York-style coal brick-oven pizza brand is introducing a pumpkin cheesecake slice ($8) for fall, available through Monday, December 7. A cinnamon sugar cookie crust is filled with pumpkin and cream cheese, then topped with whipped cream and caramel sauce. Multiple locations, grimaldispizzeria.com
