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by Tanya Flink and Sarah McLaughlin

A chill is in the air (in certain parts of the country), the leaves are slowly starting to change colors, and Starbucks still refuses to offer a vegan version of its iconic pumpkin spice latte. It’s official. Pumpkin season is here. And our favorite vegan-friendly, one-stop grocery store knows this. With everything from pumpkin sandwich cookies to spiced almond beverages, Trader Joe’s has become our go-to whenever we’re in the mood for some Jack-O-Lantern-inspired autumnal foods. Unlike the PSL, Trader Joe’s pumpkin items don’t stay on shelves from late August through January. These goods are hyper-seasonal, and when they’re gone, we have to say goodbye until next fall. Here are 14 vegan pumpkin products to hoard now.

Between the baked goods, smoothies, soups, and morning bowls of oatmeal, we can’t even fathom how many cans of pumpkin purée we go through during the fall season. From September to November, our cupboard is never without at least one can of this smooth squash. 

Miraculously, most ready-to-bake cinnamon rolls are accidentally vegan, including Trader Joe’s pumpkin-flavored rolls. Here’s a pro tip to make every bite taste like the center: douse each roll with a few tablespoons of vegan cream (like Silk’s heavy whipping cream) before baking, making sure it runs down the sides. The dough will soak up the liquid without getting soggy, so each fluffy, tender layer tastes like that wonderfully gooey center. 

Pumpkin flour and pumpkin pie spice pack these seasonal bagels with an overload of flavor. We’re topping ours with dairy-free cream cheese and pumpkin butter for a decadent morning meal. Note: stay clear of the gluten-free pumpkin bagels, as they contain egg. 

Sweetened with date paste, these nourishing oats provide that pumpkin flavor you crave without a sugar bomb. They can be enjoyed chilled or warm, straight from the container, or topped with a dollop of crunchy almond butter. We’ve been known to pack these for lunches as well as breakfasts on the go.

These cookies sell out fast. We’re thinking of you when we say go now and get yourself enough Pumpkin Joe-Joe’s to last you the season, because they will not last through November. The same logic applies to the Jack-o-Lantern Joe-Joe’s. These chocolate cookie-based treats don’t taste like pumpkin, but the fun shape and limited time availability make them impossible to resist. 

Whether you need a sweet treat on the quick or prefer to keep your baking as simple as possible, this pumpkin bread and muffin mix makes baking manageable. The instructions do call for a chicken egg, but that can easily be swapped with a vegan egg replacer. 

Trader Joe’s List/Instagram

This product makes crafting your own vegan PSL simple. Pour one and a half ounces of espresso into eight ounces of Non-Dairy Pumpkin Oat Beverage and serve over ice for a chilled pumpkin spice latte. When lightly steamed, this works as a hot drink, too. Garnish with a cinnamon stick or freshly grated nutmeg to layer on the cozy.

This homey dry mix is vegan-as-is and can be prepared with a simple flax egg or applesauce to substitute for the called-for chicken egg. Pro tip: try baking the dough in an 8x8 square pan for thick, chocolaty, pumpkin pie oatmeal bars. 

This savory ready-made meal isn’t outwardly pumpkin, but red pumpkin is the third ingredient, listed only after water, pearl millet, and split mung beans. In our eyes, it deserves recognition within the pumpkin hype. Kitchari is a comforting, Indian dish with countless iterations depending on the region and even the individual family cooking it, but most kitchari meals are comprised of mixed grains, vegetables, and warming spices. Truly, this product is everything you need in one convenient pouch. 

Trader Joe’s List/Instagram

For just a hint of pumpkin spice flavor without the added syrups, give this homebrew a try. The medium-dark roast is infused with orange peel, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, vanilla beans, and natural pumpkin flavor. Pair it with a splash of steamed oat or soy milk for a smooth cuppa that doesn’t aggressively taste like pumpkin.

Don’t get this twisted for a savory hummus—TJ’s pumpkin spice hummus definitely lands in the dessert hummus category. You bet it’s a thing, and it’s delightful. This seasonal spread is the perfect pairing for Pumpkin Joe-Joe’s and crisp fall apples. 

Trader Joe’s List/Instagram

Thick, creamy, and packed with probiotics, this cozy cup of dairy-free yogurt serves as breakfast, snack, and dessert all in one. Top it with TJ’s Grainless Granola for some delicious textural variation. 

Besides its tender, pillowy bite, we love gnocchi for its super quick cooking time. After you get the water boiling, you’re two minutes away from a hot plate of pasta. We’d coat these pumpkin pillows with a decadent vegan browned butter and fresh sage sauce.  

Yes, actual pumpkins! Unlike the massive gourds used for Jack-o-Lantern carving, these petite pumpkins are sweeter and far more manageable when it comes to de-gutting, cutting, and baking. Roast up a whole one and use the flesh for a truly scratch-made vegan pumpkin pie.

Tanya Flink is a Digital Editor at VegNews as well as a writer and runner living in Orange County, CA.

Sarah McLaughlin (@sarahmclaughlin) is the New Products Editor at VegNews and is always on the search for the newest innovations in plant-based food. 

Love vegan weddings? So do we! Introducing VeganWeddings.com, from the editors of VegNews.

Love vegan weddings? So do we! Introducing VeganWeddings.com, from the editors of VegNews.

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