Pumpkin everything

How to make the most of seasonal favorites around the city of Lynchburg

AUTUMN — When this colorful season comes around, pumpkin products pop up throughout grocery stores and local restaurants, and markets indulge in the fall flavors as well. Photo credit: Leah Seavers

For lovers of colorful leaves, sweaters and everything pumpkin, there are more than enough hot spots in Lynchburg to indulge in your seasonal favorites. Hopefully this will help you in your search for some local fall flavor.

The Muse Coffee Company, a local hangout, is the ideal place to try a pumpkin chai. The ultimate mixture of classic autumn spices, this drink is soothing, warm and perfect for tea lovers. Enjoy it with a muffin on a fall afternoon and watch your worries melt away.

Drop by Layman Family Farms to enjoy fall activities and a square of homemade pumpkin pie fudge. Made with farm-grown pumpkins and spiced cinnamon, this creamy treat will leave you craving just one more piece.

Looking for a festive, yet wholesome snack? Grab a can of Blue Diamond pumpkin spice almonds, available for a limited time during the fall season. These toasted California almonds are drizzled in honey, sprinkled with spices and make an irresistible snack.

Indulge in an unforgettable chocolate experience at Cao Artisan Chocolates with a signature pumpkin spice truffle. Handcrafted with fresh, pureed pumpkin, the truffle is blended with vibrant autumn spices. Encased in dark chocolate and garnished with a sprinkle of nutmeg, this decadent treat is the perfect ending to an evening in downtown Lynchburg.

This autumn, Cold Stone offers a limited-time pumpkin pie-flavored ice cream. Pumpkin is mixed with crumbled graham cracker, ribbons of caramel and swirls of whipped cream. This cold treat will give you a new appreciation for pumpkin’s flavor.

The next time you enjoy a breakfast at Panera Bread, swap out your usual pastry for the new pumpkin pie bagel. Baked to perfection, it is topped with crunchy cinnamon streusel and dusted with powdered sugar.

Take your scone or muffin to the next level with Dickinson’s Country Pumpkin Butter. Creamy and lightly sweetened, it is the perfect way to spice up any baked good.

Craving pancakes, but tired of the same old flavors? Try a fragrant stack of IHOP’S new pumpkin pancakes. Two fluffy, golden pumpkin pancakes are cooked to perfection, drizzled in maple syrup and served with a dollop of whipped cream.

Instead of grabbing your usual mint gum at the grocery checkout line, try Wrigley’s Extra Pumpkin Spice gum. Bursting with the flavors of pumpkin and cinnamon, it will give you a long-lasting autumn experience.

Rekindle your love of pumpkin pie at Magnolia Foods, one of Lynchburg’s hidden gems. Baked with a spiced graham cracker crust, it is filled with velvety pumpkin and topped with a swirl of freshly made whipped cream. Just one taste, and you will be wishing the season lasted forever.

Rutt is a feature reporter.