There are two kinds of people in the world: Those sipping pumpkin spice on September 10, dreaming of Autumn despite the 90 degree heat, and those who aren’t.
For all the fellow pumpkin spice lovers, we’ve put together “Pumpkin Spice” guide to Downtown Cary, so you don’t miss a single mouthful of pumpkin, apple, cinnamon, nutmeg, or cider. Even better, all of these Autumn goodies are within walking distance of each other! So on any given crisp October day, you can walk around Downtown Cary in your best cozy sweater and taste all the wonders of Pumpkin Spice Season.
Pumpkin Apple Bread at Once in a Blue Moon Bakery
Want to taste nostalgia? Once in a Blue Moon Bakery’s Pumpkin Apple Bread has been a Cary staple for 30 years. Known by locals as “PAB,” the sweetly spiced aroma fills the parking lot in Ashworth’s Village every October, as the bakery turns out double or triple batches to keep up with the demand.
The sugary top provides texture as you crunch through the sweet glaze into soft mouthfuls of autumn flavors — pumpkin, apple, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves. I consider myself a pumpkin-spice connoisseur of sorts, and I’ve honestly never had pumpkin-apple bread this flavorful. I bought two loaves to take home, never having to ask why the bakery sometimes produces over 100 loaves per day.
Owner Lily Reed explains, “Many people buy them for Halloween parties or events, as well as easy, inexpensive Christmas gifts for co-workers or teachers.”
“Even as owners have rotated over the past 30 years, we’ve kept the same recipes as the original bakery, known as Rebecca’s,” she shares. “It’s so meaningful when a new generation of Cary comes in here to taste the pumpkin-apple bread their grandmother or mother always loved.”
Pumpkin Spice Macarons from Little Blue Macaron
Little Blue Macaron specializes in creating unique flavors, including Goat Cheese & Fig, with sweet goat cheese infused buttercream and fig jam, or Chocolate + Peanut Butter with sweet peanut butter buttercream and a dot of rich chocolate in the center. Her Instagram page is a rainbow of sugar and artfully crafted sweets, such as shimmering, marbled Lavender-Honey or soft green and pink Matcha-Raspberry. It comes as no surprise, then, that her autumn flavors are creative and distinct.
Her Pumpkin Spice (and Salted Caramel) can be found at BREW Coffee Bar in Cary. She also attends the Cary Downtown Farmer’s Market on weekends at the Ivey-Ellington House near Ashworth’s Village. The rich pumpkin-spice buttercream is the perfect blend of sugar and spice, smooth and creamy between two delicate, orange cookies. A shimmer of gold painted across the top indicates the artful flare of The Blue Macaron.
They sell out quickly, so it’s best to call ahead to ensure a successful trip!
Pumpkin Ice Cream from FRESH Local Ice Cream
FRESH Local Ice Cream re-defines freshness. Not only do they only use free range cows fresh from local dairy farms, they actually make the ice cream right in their store. Offering a wide variety of unique flavors and toppings, FRESH goes out of its way to include dairy-free, vegan, and dog-friendly options — so everyone can enjoy!
Their pumpkin ice cream is like a mouthful of frozen pumpkin pie, sweet, creamy, and refreshing. The beauty of the pumpkin ice cream is you can create a whole host of other autumn flavors using it as a base. For example, if you’re hoping for the full pumpkin pie experience, add toppings like crumbly graham crackers and whipped cream to create a more complex texture and flavor. Or, try adding a little caramel drizzle and nuts create a salted caramel masterpiece.
Pumpkin Pie Porter at Pharmacy Bottle + Beverage
Pharmacy Bottle + Beverage has geared up for Autumn with a shelf full of fall flavors.
Their Pumpkin Pie Porter by Deep River tastes exactly like a slice of pumpkin pie. With over seven pounds of pumpkin packed into each barrel, it’s brewed along with sweet spices, giving it an enormous amount of flavor.
Likewise, the Farmhouse Pumpkin by Hardywood offers a taste of fall straight from the heart of Virginia. This Wallonian style farmhouse ale is brewed with classic saison yeast; Virginia-grown sugar pumpkins from Grandma’s Pumpkins, whole nutmeg, clove, and allspice from C.F. Sauer in Richmond; and fresh ginger root from Casselmonte Farms in Powhatan, VA. Its soft mouthfeel is balanced with rustic fall flavors and aroma.
Fall Latte and Brown Sugar Maple Cortada at BREW Coffee Bar
BREW Coffee Bar is the best place to grab an autumn-flavored espresso or cider to wash down those pumpkin spice goodies. Their rustic Brown Sugar Maple Cortada captures the complex flavor and aroma of a nostalgic Autumn memory. Warm, sweet, and energizing, it pairs well with the super sweet Pumpkin Spice Macarons.
With just espresso, honey, cinnamon, and syrup, their Fall Latte is sweetness and simplicity. The mild flavor pairs nicely with the more complicated flavors, like the Pumpkin Apple Bread from Once in a Blue Moon Bakery.
While it may not be pumpkin-flavored, the Spiced Cider is a seasonal classic, with mulled spices steeped in apple juice–perfect for sipping while reading a good book on a leisurely autumn afternoon.
Enjoy the Fall Flavors & Festivals of Downtown Cary
Downtown Cary is bursting with fall fun, including wagon rides, festivals, and farmer’s markets. Keep an eye out for pumpkin-carving events, haunted ghost walks, and zombie movie marathons towards the end of October. Meanwhile, enjoy the Cary Downtown Farmer’s Market Fall Festival this Saturday, September 28.
Wear that cozy sweater and enjoy your pumpkin spice proudly! The warm weather will end soon enough. It’s time for fall!