October is the month that I really zero into my pumpkin mania. Throughout the month, I typically consume or use at least one pumpkin flavored/scented item DAILY. Is it a little excessive? Absolutely. However, it brings me joy, and that’s all that matters. Every year, I take pleasure in trying new pumpkin items and reporting my ratings so that you can decide which items are worth trying (check out last year’s ratings here).
Here are the pumpkin items that I tried this October and how I would rate them on a scale of 0 to 5 stars.
Pumpkin Spice Coffee Syrup
I was a little apprehensive to try a homemade coffee syrup after last year’s failed pumpkin coffee sauce attempt. However, after I ran out of my Good&Gather Pumpkin Spice Coffee Syrup (which was delicious btw) and was unable to purchase it again, I was tempted to try the homemade route once again. I headed to Pinterest and tried a 4 Ingredient Pumpkin Spice Syrup from It Doesn’t Taste Like Chicken.
Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ out of 5 stars
Thoughts: Honestly preferred the store-bought version more. This recipe had a good consistency (better than previous attempts) but I found that I had to use a lot more to reach my desired coffee sweetness. Click here for my 30-second first impression video.
Spicy Pumpkin Curry
When it comes to curry, Trader Joe’s has some pretty solid options. Their frozen Indian meals are delicious and I have enjoyed their stand-alone sauces as well. I was definitely intrigued when I came across their Spicy Pumpkin Curry Simmer sauce and promptly added it to my basket.
Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ out of 5 stars
Thoughts: Not spicy, but delicious. Super creamy and flavorful. I tried it with chickpeas but it seemed like it would be great with other protein options as well. Click here for my 30-second first impression video.
Baked Pumpkin Cream Cheese French Toast
Pumpkin and cream cheese are quite possibly my favorite flavors to exist. When I saw it combined into a french toast recipe, I knew that I had to try it out. It helped that I have followed Damn Delicious recipes in the past and that I haven’t been disappointed so far.
Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ out of 5 stars
Thoughts: SO GOOD. Perfect amount of sweetness and combines my love for cream cheese with the pumpkin. Just don’t forget to prepare it ahead of time. You’ll be disappointed if you forget and have to delay the recipe another day (speaking from experience here haha). Click here to watch my 30-second first impression video!
Spicy Pumpkin Samosas
Another Trader Joe’s find, the Spicy Pumpkin Samosas combine pumpkin, paneer, spices, and other veggie goodness into a crispy pastry.
Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ out of 5 stars
Thoughts: Another great TJ Indian food product. There is actually a little kick of spice, but the complexity of the flavor profile is what really makes it shine. Loved this one! Click here to watch my 30-second first impression video!
Native Pumpkin Spice Latte Natural Deodorant
My friend Megan surprised me with Native Pumpkin Spice Latte Natural Deodorant as a gift because she knew that it combined things that I love—natural ingredients, plastic-free packaging, and PSL scent. Though it’s been well over a year since making the switch to natural deodorant, I’m still trying to find the brand and scents that work best for me.
Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ out of 5 stars
Thoughts: Smells amazing but not overpowering when applied. Lasts pretty well with normal activity. Bonus points for being natural and plastic-free. Holds decently to sweat—did not notice extreme wetness as I have with other natural deodorants—but I do think that you may have to reapply in some scenarios. Click here to watch my 30-second first impression video.
Pumpkin Empanadas
A pastry filled with pumpkin pie-like filling from Trader Joe’s. Empanadas are one of my favorite foods, so I was eager to try this one out!
Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ out of 5 stars
Thoughts: Tastes generally ok…but also tasted like disappointment. I honestly wouldn’t buy it again, but if you are a pumpkin pie fan, then you may enjoy it. I did receive a comment on my first impressions video that it tastes amazing if you dress them up by adding melted butter and cinnamon sugar over them before baking. Click here to watch my 30-second first impression video.
Pumpkin & Spice Face Mask
This item was actually gifted to me from the team at Pumpkin & Spice skincare and I was so excited to try it out. The mask is vegan, cruelty-free, and packed with the antioxidant power of pumpkin seed oil. If you would like to try out some Pumpkin & Spice products for yourself, use the code CIERRA15 for 15% off!
Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ out of 5 stars
Thoughts: Really liked it–wish that the scent was a little more pumpkin (though that probably speaks to the quality of the ingredients). I was amazed that it wasn’t irritating to my extremely sensitive skin and it really made me want to check out more items in the line! Check out my 30-second first impression video here.
If you want to check out some pumpkin ratings from peeps who are not as pumpkin crazed as me, highly recommend that you check out this video on Janea’s YouTube Channel. Super entertaining and lots of products reviewed.
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