The debut of pumpkin spice flavored foods and beverages seems to come earlier and earlier every year – bringing promises of crisp mornings fueled by fall-themed lattes, baked goods and, this year, bacon.
First the classics: Bulletproof’s best-selling Pumpkin Spice season creamer will return Aug. 18 after selling out three years in a row, according to the company. The health-conscious creators of Bulletproof say its creamer is unique in that it has no sugar added and is made with real pumpkin, grass-fed butter, MCT oil and “warm fall spices.” It also claims its creamer does more than invoke nostalgia and comfort, it also claims to support brain function, metabolism and mental clarity.
Pop-Tarts Frosted Pumpkin Pie toaster pastries are already available and fans are clamoring for an early taste of fall, based on comments they posted on the brand’s Instagram. Poptart.thecat says, “I’ve been waiting all year” and gbyrd13 tells the brand to make the flavor all year.
Hatfield moves pumpkin spice beyond sweet to savory with the launch of its limited-time-only Pumpkin Spice Thick Cut Bacon, which it says is “generously coated with a mouthwatering blend of sugar, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and allspice.” The smokey and sweet combination is available for foodservice providers nationwide, including in Prop 12 and MAQ3 compliant versions so that consumers can enjoy it even in states that more tightly regulate animal welfare standards.
Beyond pumpkin spice
Other popular fall flavors beyond pumpkin spice that are hitting store shelves include apple cider, featured in Flipz Apple Cider Donut limited edition covered pretzels. The company claims the combination of sweet and tart apple cider, warming spices and “notes of cakey donut” will “take your tastebuds on a fall-flavored hayride.”
Kerrygold also features the classic fall combo of cinnamon and sugar in a new launch of its all-natural Irish grass-fed butter. Maker Ornua says the butter sticks include a blend of cinnamon, brown sugar and nutmeg and are free from artificial flavors and preservatives.
Goldfish and Dunkin’ join forces to bring back what they say is one of the most requested Goldfish products: Goldfish Dunkin’ Pumpkin Spice Grahams. Returning for its third season, the product features pumpkin, donut glaze and warm fall spices. It hits shelves this month.
Collaborations bridge nostalgia for late summer and early fall festivities
Collaborations are emerging as a hallmark of 2025 as brands explore how to lighten the lift and extend the impact of new products and marketing campaigns.
Taylor Farms and Good Foods embrace the ethos that two brands are better than one with the launch of Taylor Farms’ Mexican Street Corn Snack Packs. The convenient product marries the flavors of summer with an elote style dip featuring fresh corn, jalapenos, Greek yogurt and Monterey jack cheese, which are paired with celery and carrot sticks and toasted corn kernels.
Baked By Melissa reimagines the late summer bounty of backyard gardens and fall harvest with limited time cupcakes featuring SunChips Honey BBQ, Harvest Cheddar and Garden Salsa flavors.
General Mills teams with the Jim Henson Company to give its iconic Monsters Cereal lineup a “magical makeover” with Count Chocula, Boo Berry and Franken Berry appearing as puppets. The limited edition boxes include details about how the Jim Henson’s Creature Shop recreated the characters. Additional collectibles will be available as well.
General Mills also collaborated with Universal Pictures to bring a complete lineup of cookies, cereal, cupcakes and cake pops inspired by the upcoming movie Wicked: For Good. The lineup includes cookies shaped like Glinda’s crown and Elphaba’s hat, mix-to-reveal baking kits under the Betty Crocker brand that could be pink or emerald like the main characters’ signature colors and movie-themed cereal, including Glinda Good Berry and Elphaba Caramel Apple flavors.
Food for kids: Solutions for lunchboxes and after school snacks
As students return to school, manufacturers are debuting products that easily fit into lunchboxes or can keep kids fueled for afterschool activities.
Nuggets are a kid-friendly favorite and new launches feature nutrition callouts and fun shapes.
Tyson Foods brings a clean label, high protein option to freezers with the launch of Tyson High Protein Simple Ingredient Nuggets in original and spicy. The gluten-free nuggets are made with all-natural white meat chicken, natural mozzarella, parmesan cheeses and simple seasonings. They have 23 grams of protein, 1-2 grams of carbs and no added sugar, according to the company.
Real Good Foods’s new Lightly Breaded Dino Nuggets also are rolling out to more than 4,7000 stores nationwide, including Walmart, HEB and Publix. This is the brand’s first play in the children’s food category. The nuggets are grain and gluten-free, have 13 grams of protein per serving and made free from refined flour and artificial additives, according to the company.
In early summer, Dr. Praeger’s debuted its Pizza Stars, which are just as convenient as chicken nuggets but made with plant-based ingredients, including cauliflower and zucchini. Each serving has 5 grams of protein, 4 grams of fiber and just 170 calories.
Joining Dr. Praeger’s in promoting produce for children, Mott’s debuted its first-ever line of Fruit Smoothie pouches, including Strawberry Banana made with oat milk and Vanilla Peach with dairy milk.
Also suited for on-the-go feeding, Saputo USA launched Cheddarella String Cheese, which blends the iconic stringy texture of mozzarella with the flavor of cheddar, and Kraft Heinz expanded its Lunchables line to include a dippable, no-thaw crustless peanut butter sandwich that can be dunked in a grape- or strawberry-flavored dip. While the snack does not require thawing, it does need to be refrigerated.
