Indulge in these pumpkin treats before November ends

From pies to lattes, pumpkin is an undeniable highlight of autumn, and a number of local businesses are making the most of this seasonal ingredient giving it their own twist and putting a true Salemite stamp on things. Here are a few of our recommendations —

This may be your last chance to dive into Our Vegan Cocina’s Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice Tamales. Orders are taken every month through the business Facebook page or Instagram profile…and they close for this month on Friday, November 19 (with delivery or pick-up on Nov. 24.) Be sure to check out their other offerings, which include (but are not limited to) Jackfruit Rojo tamales, Pozole Rojo with all the fixin’s and scratch-made salsa, too. Place your order through DM then try to contain your excitement until pickup or delivery — https://www.facebook.com/our.vegan.cocina/

Grab yourself a Pumpkin Pie Donut, which features a rich cream pie filling topped with vanilla glaze and pie crumbles, from Dough Hook Bake Shop, 1970 Lancaster Dr NE. The bakery’s Thanksgiving Menu actually features five pie donuts: Apple Pie filled donut, Lemon Meringue pie donut, Pumpkin Pie donut, Oregon Marionberry Pie filled donut and Arroz Con Leche Pie Donut (and we won’t judge if you want them all — we sure do!) The donuts are $3.50 each; $18 for a half dozen or $34 for a dozen. And the menu is available for preorder now and will be available for pickup between 9 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Nov. 25. Call the shop at 503-990-6251 to place your order. Check out their Facebook page for more details.

Get your fix of Pumpkin Spice Drinking Chocolate at Chomp! Chocolate. Warm factory fresh chocolate (white, milk or dark) is combined with steamed oat milk and pumpkin spice then topped with vegan whip and chocolate shavings to create a hug in a cup. Indulge in a sip at 2195 Hyacinth St NE Ste 134…and while you are there, you may want to pick up some nutpucks or one of their limited edition specialty bars, too. For more info, visit https://chompchocolate.com/

An annual favorite returns to Venti’s Cafe. Their Pumpkin Curry features roasted pumpkin and sweet potatoes, garbanzo beans, snow peas, scallions, carrots, yellow curry and coconut milk, topped with craisins and served with a side salad. It’s vegan and there is the option of adding a protein. Two locations to get your fix: 325 Court St NE and 2840 Commercial St SE.

Pop in to Issac’s Downtown, 201 Commercial St NE, for a Pumpkin Spice Dirty Chai. It’s flavorful warm goodness with a caffeine kick. If you want to tone it down, they can also make a Pumpkin Spice chai or latte if you prefer. Really, you can’t go wrong with any of the drinks on Issac’s fall seasonal menu, which also includes the Brown Sugar Bourbon Latte, Golden Milk Latte (turmeric, ginger, cinnamon and steamed milk) and London Fog (Earl Grey tea, vanilla and steamed milk).

For those 21 and older, the Pumpkin Pie Martini from Lively Station, 3635 River Road S, is a sight — and taste — to behold. It should come as no surprise to find such a beverage from this local eatery and market as their seasonal cocktail menu features a variety of unique flavor combinations and they are a visual delight, too.

Talk about a seasonal delicacy…the Pumpkin Mousse Parfait at Ankeny Vineyard, 2565 Riverside Dr. S, features layers of sweet caramel, candied pecans and smooth pumpkin mousse topped with a pumpkin spice cookie…and it’s only available through the end of November. The tasting room is open 12 to 7 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday; 12 to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and 12 to 6 p.m. Sunday. (And while we are all for dessert first, Ankeny offers a delicious menu of other treats, too.) Learn more at https://ankenyvineyard.com/

Other notables —

Pumpkin donuts from EZ Orchards, 5504 Hazelgreen Rd NE.
Pumpkin chocolate chip muffins and Pumpkin Swirl Bread (only available on Saturday) from Great Harvest. Find your nearest Salem location at http://greatharvestsalem.com/
Curry, Ginger & Pumpkin Scones with a brown butter glaze from Urban Grange Coffee & Bakery, 1594 Edgewater Street NW.