Pumpkin spice season is right around the corner, and Starbucks is preparing to bring its Pumpkin Spice Latte back to stores on August 25. The popular drink will headline a much larger fall menu featuring new pumpkin beverages, returning seasonal favorites and several flavors inspired by pecans, banana bread and apple cider.
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The Pumpkin Spice Latte will not be carrying the fall rollout alone. Starbucks is introducing an Iced Pumpkin Cream Shaken Espresso, Pumpkin Spice Chai and Iced Pumpkin Cream Matcha. Customers will also see the return of the Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew, Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai and Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino when the menu arrives.
The expanded selection gives customers more ways to participate in pumpkin spice season without ordering the traditional latte. Matcha drinkers, chai fans and customers who prefer shaken espresso will each have a pumpkin option on the menu, while the returning cold brew and Frappuccino provide familiar choices for longtime Starbucks customers.
Starbucks is also revisiting its pecan lineup. The Pecan Cortado, Iced Pecan Crunch Latte and Pecan Crunch Latte will return on August 25. A release shared with the outlet described the pecan drinks as having “a signature combination of nutty flavors, rich brown-buttery notes and baking spices.”
Although pumpkin remains the star of the seasonal menu, Starbucks is also making room for one of the year’s other noticeable flavor trends.
“Banana is having a moment and it’s joining the Starbucks menu,” the company announced.
Starbucks continued, “As banana flavors continue popping up everywhere, Starbucks is expanding its banana-inspired lineup with two new beverages inspired by freshly baked banana bread.”
The new Iced Banana Bread Latte and Iced Banana Bread Chai will combine banana, cinnamon and brown sugar flavors “to create dessert-like notes reminiscent of warm baked treats,” the company said. People reports that the two drinks are expected to remain available beyond the fall season, separating them from several of the limited seasonal offerings.
Another new drink, called the Chaider, will combine elements of chai and cider. Starbucks described the beverage as “a cozy twist on chai for fall.” Customers will be able to order it hot or iced, giving the fall menu a cider inspired selection alongside the pumpkin, pecan and banana bread drinks.
Food is also part of Starbucks’ fall expansion. The chain will introduce a Chicken Bacon Protein Pocket made with chicken, bacon and garlic herb cheese spread inside toasted whole wheat lavash flatbread. Starbucks says the pocket contains 20 grams of protein.
The sweet side of the menu will include a new Hedgehog Cake Pop made with vanilla cake, buttercream, chocolate icing and chocolate sprinkles. The Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffin will also return with spiced pumpkin cake, cream cheese filling and spiced pepitas. Together, the food and drink selections position Starbucks to offer a complete seasonal menu rather than relying only on the return of the Pumpkin Spice Latte.
Until the fall menu arrives, Starbucks is continuing to promote its Orange Cream beverages, which debuted on July 28. The lineup includes an Orange Cream Cold Brew, Iced Orange Cream Latte, Iced Orange Cream Matcha, Iced Orange Cream Chai and Orange Cream Frappuccino. Starbucks said the final flavor combines tangerine, mandarin and vanilla notes.
Starbucks may be setting one of the biggest dates on the pumpkin spice season calendar, but grocery stores are getting an earlier start. Aldi will begin rolling out several August Finds on August 5, including Clancy’s Drizzled Kettle Corn in Maple and Pumpkin Spice. The retailer is also offering Pumpkin Cream Cheese Blossoms as part of its early fall selection.
Little Debbie is preparing an even larger collection of pumpkin snacks. The company’s official seasonal product page says its fall products will begin arriving around the middle of August. The lineup includes Pumpkin Spice Mini Donuts, Pumpkin Spice Mini Muffins, Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal Creme Pies and Pumpkin Spice Rolls. Pumpkin Delights, Brownie Pumpkins, Fall Gingerbread Cookies and several seasonal cakes are also listed among the returning products.
The Little Debbie releases turn pumpkin spice season into more than a coffee trend. The company’s selection covers breakfast snacks, sandwich cookies, rolls, donuts and individually packaged desserts, giving shoppers several ways to bring the flavor home without visiting a coffee shop.
Nestlé Toll House is also preparing for fall baking. Pumpkin Spice Cookie Dough with white morsels is scheduled to begin arriving at retailers during August. The brand is also introducing Fall Cinnamon Cookie Dough and Football Cookie Dough as part of its seasonal collection.
The same report says Nestlé plans to release bags of Pumpkin Spice Morsels nationwide in September. That launch will allow home bakers to add the seasonal flavor to their own cookies, brownies, breads and other desserts instead of relying on a prepared dough.
Betty Crocker is joining the grocery store rush with both new and returning baking mixes. The brand is launching a Pumpkin Spice Cheesecake Bar Mix featuring a graham style crust and pumpkin spice cheesecake filling. The limited seasonal lineup also includes Apple Cider Delights Cake Mix and Maple Delights Cake Mix. Betty Crocker’s Soft Baked Pumpkin Spice Cookie Mix is returning alongside Caramel Apple Cookie Mix and Gingerbread Cake and Cookie Mix. The seasonal products are expected to remain available through December, although individual store inventory may vary.
The confirmed release schedule shows pumpkin spice season unfolding in stages. Aldi begins its early rollout on August 5, Little Debbie products are expected around the middle of the month, Nestlé cookie dough is arriving during August, and Starbucks will bring the Pumpkin Spice Latte back on August 25. Nestlé’s baking morsels will keep the rollout going into September.
That means shoppers will not have to wait for cooler temperatures or the official start of fall to find pumpkin flavored drinks, snacks and baking products. By the time Starbucks begins serving the Pumpkin Spice Latte again, pumpkin spice season will already be fully underway in grocery aisles across the country.
