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The Kitchn’s September grocery report documents a retail shift from pumpkin spice to richer pumpkin pie-flavored products, including syrups, snacks and creamers. Retailers like Costco, Publix, Trader Joe’s and Aldi have also moved full pumpkin pies to shelves earlier than the traditional November window.
A new grocery trend report from The Kitchn documents a shift this fall season: pumpkin pie is emerging as a flavor trend across supermarket shelves and café menus, competing with the long-dominant pumpkin spice category in coffee syrups, snacks and baked goods. The report, written by Associate Editor of Groceries Ali Domrongchai, also notes that full-sized pumpkin pies arrived at major retailers as early as late August, well ahead of the traditional November holiday window.
The report identifies pumpkin pie as a twist on the familiar fall flavor profile. According to Domrongchai, pumpkin pie flavoring carries the same spices shoppers expect — cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg — but adds a richer, sweeter, more buttery profile, and in some products includes actual pumpkin, an ingredient that pumpkin spice seasoning itself does not contain.
The trend appears across several categories. In coffee, Domrongchai highlighted the Pumpkin Pie Latte Syrup from Sonoma Syrup Co., described as containing buttery caramel notes and real pumpkin. She also reported spotting a pumpkin pie latte on the menu at a Luckin’ Coffee location in Manhattan, describing its flavor as vanilla- and pumpkin-forward with cinnamon, allspice and whipped cream.
In snacks, the report lists pumpkin pie-flavored Pop-Tarts, Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Pie Spice Bark (a returning item with gingersnap and pretzel pieces), a Pumpkin Protein Bar from Perfect Snacks containing real pumpkin, and a seasonal Pumpkin Pie Dessert Hummus from Boar’s Head. Domrongchai also observed full-sized, roughly $6 pumpkin pies at Costco in late August, with similar pies at Publix, Trader Joe’s and Aldi that same week.
What the Pumpkin Pie Push Signals
The report’s core argument is that pumpkin spice fatigue is opening space for adjacent flavors. After years of pumpkin spice appearing in nearly every product category, Domrongchai writes that shoppers naturally want something new to get excited about, and pumpkin pie offers the same seasonal spices with a more decadent positioning.
For shoppers, the practical difference is ingredient-based: products labeled pumpkin pie are more likely to contain actual pumpkin and butter or caramel notes, whereas pumpkin spice is a spice blend only. For retailers and food brands, the trend signals continued demand for fall flavors but a preference for novelty within the category — a pattern that has driven seasonal product launches earlier each year, as evidenced by pies appearing in late August.
How Fall Flavor Trends Have Evolved
Pumpkin spice has anchored fall grocery merchandising for more than a decade, spawning an annual wave of limited-time products across coffee, snacks and baked goods. The Kitchn’s report frames pumpkin pie as the next iteration of that cycle rather than a replacement.
Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Pie Spice Bark, cited in the report, launched the previous year and was brought back due to popularity — a sign, the report suggests, that pie-forward flavors had already gained traction before this season’s broader rollout. The report is part of The Kitchn’s regular grocery-spotting coverage, which tracks new and seasonal products at national chains.
“Pumpkin spice is still alive and well, but you may see a twist on this traditional fall favorite emerging in stores: pumpkin pie.”
— Ali Domrongchai, Associate Editor, Groceries, The Kitchn
Claims That Rest on One Reporter’s Palate
The report is based on one editor’s store visits and tastings in the New York City area, not on sales data or retailer statements. It is not yet clear whether pumpkin pie products are selling at scale nationally or whether the trend extends beyond the specific items listed.
Several observations are subjective assessments — the author’s descriptions of the Luckin’ Coffee latte, the Pop-Tarts and the Sonoma syrup are personal taste opinions. The Boar’s Head Pumpkin Pie Dessert Hummus is mentioned as untried by the reporter. The prediction that pumpkin pie will be the dessert of the season is speculation. Trader Joe’s bark, despite its name, contains no actual pumpkin, which the report itself flags as an inconsistency in how the label is being applied.
Where the Trend Goes From Here
The report anticipates continued expansion of pumpkin pie-flavored products through the fall season, with the author asking what a clever baker will do with it next. Shoppers can expect more seasonal launches across the coffee, snack and bakery categories in the coming weeks as retailers push holiday items earlier.
Whether pumpkin pie establishes itself as a lasting category alongside pumpkin spice — or proves to be a one-season variation — will become clearer as retailers report seasonal sales figures and as additional product cycles arrive next year.
Key Questions
What is the difference between pumpkin spice and pumpkin pie flavor?
According to The Kitchn’s report, pumpkin spice is a blend of spices such as cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg and contains no actual pumpkin. Pumpkin pie flavor typically includes those same spices plus real pumpkin in some products and richer butter or caramel notes.
Which pumpkin pie products were spotted this season?
The report lists Sonoma Syrup Co.’s Pumpkin Pie Latte Syrup, a pumpkin pie latte at Luckin’ Coffee, pumpkin pie-flavored Pop-Tarts, Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Pie Spice Bark, Perfect Snacks’ Pumpkin Protein Bar, and Boar’s Head Pumpkin Pie Dessert Hummus, along with full pies at Costco, Publix, Trader Joe’s and Aldi.
When did pumpkin pies start appearing in stores?
The Kitchn reporter observed full-sized pumpkin pies at Costco in late August 2026, with pies at Publix, Trader Joe’s and Aldi the same week — months ahead of the traditional November holiday baking window.
Is pumpkin spice being replaced by pumpkin pie?
No. The report states pumpkin spice is still widely available; pumpkin pie is described as an emerging twist within the same seasonal flavor family, driven by shopper demand for something new.
How reliable is this trend report?
It reflects one food editor’s store visits and tastings in the New York City area rather than national sales data. Individual taste judgments are the author’s opinions, and it is not yet confirmed whether the trend is widespread beyond the products described.
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