24 Classic Fall Flavors Better Than Pumpkin Spice

Pumpkin spice has easily been the most publicized fall flavor over the last decade. But is it really the reigning flavor of the season?

With fall on the horizon, diving into the best fall flavors only makes sense. It’ll help you craft your seasonal latte order and maybe inspire you to do a little fall baking.

Now, although pumpkin spice has dominated the fall season in the past, there are so many other flavors waiting for their chance in the spotlight. From some obvious front-runners like apple spice to some lesser-known winners such as cardamom, these flavors truly vibe with everything fall has to offer.

Apple Spice

The long-time debate about the front-running flavor of the fall will never be settled. However, we have to admit that apple spice and pumpkin spice are the two top-tier flavor profiles of autumn. Chances are if you’re a true friend of fall, you’ve tried both and have an opinion on what flavor trumps.

From lattes to pies to cakes to limited-time candies, apple spice and pumpkin spice go head-to-head from September to December. Although pumpkin spice has its own set of groupies and the acronym “PSL” under its belt, you can’t deny the cozy mid-afternoon apple-picking vibes of an apple-spiced treat.

Brown Sugar

Somehow, brown sugar gives more fall vibes than white sugar. Maybe it’s the earthy look or maybe it’s the rich flavor of toffee and caramel that pairs perfectly with a long walk in the brisk fall air. Either way, brown sugar lattes are all the rage when the leaves start turning colors.

Alongside lattes, brown sugar desserts add a fun flair to any fall gathering. The flavor of brown sugar also pairs well with other fall flavors such as maple or bourbon.

Pecan

The classic Southern treat, pecan pie, has been a longtime Thanksgiving favorite. But, pecans are for more than just pie!

Pecans start popping up everywhere when temperatures start to dip, from fall cereals such as the popular Maple Pecan Clusters Cereal by Trader Joe’s to Williams Sonoma’s Pecan Pumpkin Butter, a hybrid of two fabulous fall flavors.

Maple

Pancakes with maple syrup are good year-round, but the harvesting of sap to make syrup from maple trees traditionally happens in the fall, which is why maple has become a fall staple. Some states take maple syrup pretty seriously. Maine has a Maple Sunday every year and Vermont has its own Maple Festival.

However, maple is good for more than slathering pancakes. It’s a great addition to any recipe for some extra sweetness and some people choose to use it as a substitute for sugar because pure maple syrup has more nutrients.

Bourbon

Bourbon may seem like more of an adult flavor, but people of all ages can enjoy the complex yet sweet taste. Flavor notes that are often found in bourbon include vanilla, butterscotch, custard, maple, and honey, all of which could fall under the fall flavor umbrella.

When using bourbon to flavor lattes and treats, it’s often paired with another fall favorite such as vanilla or apple. Bourbon Apple Brownies are an easy dessert that’ll knock the socks off your guests at any fall event.

Chai

Chai lattes are popular all year round, but there is nothing like sipping on one of these bad boys when the fall weather hits. This sweet and spicy flavor contains hints of warm vanilla and a bite of black pepper, which mirrors the contrast of the cozy fall clothes you’ll wear when going outside in the raw fall air.

Chai originates from India and has been around for over 5,000 years. It’s crazy how this flavor has stuck around for so long, but fall lovers everywhere are happy it did!

Salted Caramel

Everyone loves a sweet and salty treat. Alongside chocolate-covered pretzels, salted caramel is a top-runner for curing a salty/sweet craving. This flavor screams fall and comes in a variety of forms from devilish chocolates to, of course, the classic latte. Really, what fall flavor isn’t thrown into a latte?

My favorite salted caramel goodie is Sanders Chocolates, which has a handful of fall flavors mixed with their sea salt caramels, from pumpkin to bourbon. I admit, I always grab a bag when I see them at T.J. Maxx. Be careful if you try them though, they’re addicting!

Butterscotch

Did anyone else obsess over the butterscotch Lifesavers or Dum Dums as a kid? I used to seek those out because of the sweet and warm buttery toffee flavor. It has the same kind of taste effect as butter pecan ice cream on the palate.

Maybe I’m just a butterscotch superfan, but I know I’m not the only one who’s happy that autumn has officially adopted this flavor. Anyone who’s had a slice of a butterscotch cheesecake, or a bite of an apple butterscotch blondie understands how underrated this fall flavor really is.

Nutmeg

It only makes sense that nutmeg has been targeted by fall because it’s a key ingredient in so many fall treats such as apple crisp, gingerbread, rice pudding, and eggnog. But what is nutmeg other than a spice?

Nutmeg actually comes from a seed that grows on a nutmeg tree. Before the berries of a nutmeg tree are ripened, the seeds are picked and then ground into nutmeg spice. So even though it’s called NUTmeg, it’s, in fact, not from a nut. It’s from a seed.

Hazelnut

Hazelnuts are the fruit of the hazelnut tree. This flavor is super popular in coffee and has been a staple for every Dunkin’ and Starbucks worldwide for a very long time.

Personally, I think hazelnut pairs best with chocolate whether it’s a hazelnut iced coffee with a mocha swirl or a hazelnut chocolate bar. But, others could argue that hazelnut is the perfect addition to fruit flavors such as apples, pears, or berries. I guess you’ll have to be the judge!

Praline

If you’ve ordered a Chestnut Praline Latte from Starbucks before without knowing what a praline is, I guarantee you’re not the only one. Praline is known in French baking as a paste for candy-filling made of sugar, nuts, and vanilla. It can also be used as a sugar-coating, which is what the American South is referring to when they use the word “praline.”

In the South, the sugar-coating is tossed onto pecans or coconut to create a yummy treat. In regards to the popular Starbucks drink, the taste you love is a combination of sugar, chestnuts, and vanilla.

Cranberry

Cranberry may not be on the top of your list for a fall flavor, especially if your immediate thought is cranberry juice. However, cranberries are actually harvested in the fall between the months of September and November.

Obviously, cranberry juice doesn’t cut it for a fall treat, but cranberry orange muffins and cranberry pie certainly do! Cranberries are great in sweets because they pair well with baking spices such as cardamom, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

Orange Clove

Orange clove is a fall flavor that is not talked about enough. This flavor in teas and bread turns orange from a summer flavor to a fall flavor. That’s the magic of the warm spicy flavor of clove!

Along with being a great fall flavor, it’s also a great scent. I often boil water on the top of my woodstove with slices of oranges and whole cloves for an all-natural room fragrance. If you don’t have a wood stove, you can also use your kitchen stove to create this welcoming warm scent.

Cinnamon

Cinnamon is another spice that works well as both a flavor and a scent, and it’s more widely used than pumpkin ever will be! This spice is used in most fall baking favorites such as apple crisp, snickerdoodles, cinnamon rolls, coffee cake, and, yes, even pumpkin pie.

The great thing about cinnamon is that it’s so easy to detect by scent and taste. Maybe that’s why people love the warm familiarity of a vanilla cinnamon latte in the fall season.

Sage

Sage is not a spice that you’ll typically find in your Starbucks latte. However, that doesn’t exclude it from battling it out with pumpkin spice for the title of “Best Fall Flavor.” Sage is traditionally used in stuffing, which of course, is everyone’s favorite Thanksgiving side dish. Who doesn’t love bread on top of more bread?

Sage isn’t just used for cooking though, it can also be used for baking, although the recipes are a little different than the typical apple crisp or pecan pie. Think more avant-garde, like this Pumpkin and Sage Cake with Thyme and Feta Frosting.

Cardamom

If you have Finnish heritage, like me, then you’ve hopefully been introduced to pulla (or nisu), a cardamom-spiced bread made in Finland. This bread is amazing at any time and will fill your house with the warmest sweetest smell imaginable when you bake it. However, it’s especially popular during the holiday season.

Cardamom, like cinnamon, has a comforting flavor that pairs well with other fall flavors such as clove, nutmeg, vanilla, and apples. It can also be used in fall stews and curry.

Pomegranate

Like apples, cranberries, and oranges, pomegranates are another fruit that fit right into fall. Pomegranates are harvested between the months of September and November, so it’s no surprise that people are ready to pop this fruit into a holiday dish during the fall and winter seasons.

Being a sweet fruit, pomegranates can easily be put into a dessert, but some people choose to add these vibrant bite-size pieces to salads or roasted vegetables for a little added flair. No matter how you decide to use pomegranates, they surely will impress you and your guests with their small size and big flavor.

Gingerbread

If you’re waiting until Christmas to make gingerbread men, you’re doing it all wrong. Gingerbread is a flavor that should be spread out from the start of fall until the snow melts!

The classic gingerbread flavor is not just good for cookies and bread. Seriously, have you ever had a gingerbread latte? It’s like the holidays in a cup! Even Greenies has gingerbread-flavored dog treats.

Sugar Cookie

Sugar cookie is another holiday flavor that has as much authority as pumpkin spice when the weather turns cold. The sweet taste brings back childhood memories of baking sugar cookies for Santa and snow days home from school.

This kid-friendly flavor is top-notch to sweeten up every adult’s favorite pick-me-up, coffee. Not only does it give you the much-needed caffeine boost you’re craving, but it doubles as a treat. No need to order a donut on the side. A sugar cookie latte has it all!

Brown Butter

You’ve probably never ordered a brown butter latte, but that’s only because Starbucks hasn’t trekked into the brown butter territory yet. Chances are in the next few years, it’ll hit their menu. You can quote me on that.

Brown butter is butter that has essentially been caramelized, creating a buttery (obviously), nutty, warm, and toffee-like flavor. Not only would this flavor be amazing in a latte, but it’s super yummy in cookies and candies too.

Pear

Pear season falls between late summer and early winter, placing pears with the other fall-favorite fruits. Not so much a buddy with coffee flavors, pear is enjoyed solely in desserts and other recipes. From pear cobbler to pear crisp, pears are often the star of the show in fall baking.

However, pears can also be used as an addition to a dish, such as Sausage Pear Stuffing or Balsamic Chicken with Pears. Either of these would be perfect for a fall get-together.

Butter Pecan

Dunkin’s Butter Pecan flavoring has been a fan favorite for years. It started as a summer flavor, lasting only throughout the season. However, in April 2023, Dunkin’ made butter pecan flavoring a permanent menu item.

Although Dunkin’ coined butter pecan as a summer flavor because of its collaboration with Baskin Robbin’s ice cream, fall is truly a more appropriate spot for this flavor. The warm and buttery toffee taste resonates with the coziness of fall and perfectly fits into any and all fall goodies.

Allspice

Allspice is exactly what it sounds like. Allspice is a spice that’s used in a ton of fall and winter baking, such as apple pies, pumpkin cakes, spice cakes, and gingerbread. It is made from the berry of the myrtle pepper tree, but tastes like nutmeg, clove, ginger, cinnamon, and black pepper, all in one cozy spice.

Allspice can also be used in fall soups and stews to give it a warm, spicy, flavor. It also pairs really well with vanilla.

Vanilla

Speaking of vanilla, vanilla is a fall staple. Of course, vanilla rides solo 365 days a year, but in the fall and winter, vanilla is often paired with other fall flavors for a smooth, warm, comforting, and familiar taste.

From vanilla cinnamon to caramel vanilla, coffee menus are packed with vanilla combinations. In fall recipes, vanilla is a key ingredient in many baked goods, usually acting in the background. However, in recipes like these Vanilla Bean Cookies, the vanilla is made to shine.