Seeking pumpkin baked goods in Metro Detroit in 2024

As ads for national brands with pumpkin-flavored offerings inundate our feeds, we can't help but wonder what our local options are for enjoying baked goods made with the now-classic combination of pumpkin pureé, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and ginger.

The big picture: The modern pumpkin spice craze began around 2003 with the launch of Starbucks' famous (or infamous, depending on your opinion) pumpkin spice latte. Since then, seasonal favorites have consistently boosted sales.

• Starbucks launched its PSL on Aug. 22 this year, earlier than ever, and Dunkin' also embraced pumpkin in August.

The intrigue: Axios Detroit recently embarked on its annual pumpkin baked goods search but did not find many new and innovative options at local cafés.

• We're unsure whether we haven't looked in the right places, or if our area isn't ripe for the picking.

Yes, but: While there were fewer options than we expected, we did find some confections that will sate your autumnal cravings for sugary, spiced squash. Here they are:

Detroit Cookie Co.: This shop in Ferndale and St. Clair Shores is known for innovative flavor combos — the "Big 3" cookie has Better Made chips, dried cherries and chocolate — so it's no surprise they have a pumpkin-flavored cookie.

• The Pumpkin Cider Donut cookie ($2.50 each) boasts cinnamon sugar doughnuts and pumpkin pie flavors. Expect pumpkin pie cheesecake cookies starting next month.
• "We decided to do the pumpkin spice doughnut cookie last year because going into this season, this is when the cider mills start to open and people are really excited about getting their apple cider and doughnuts and all the pumpkin flavors coming out," founder Lauren Roumayah tells Axios.
• Roumaya says the shop keeps pumpkin flavors through the winter holidays because it's "such a staple."

💭 Joe's thought bubble: The pumpkin doughnut cookie was soft, chewy and deliciously cinnamon-y, but I expected a stronger pumpkin flavor. I'd buy it again, but my favorite option at Detroit Cookie Co. is still Banana Pudding.

Cannelle: This downtown Detroit patisserie, which started in Birmingham, offers some of the city's best croissants. But it's always serving unique dessert pastries, too. New this year is a pumpkin cream sandwich ($7.28) pastry.

💭 Annalise's thought bubble: The pumpkin cream sandwiched between two thin chocolate cookies is worthy of any pumpkin connoisseur. The cream is thick with an almost marshmallow-y texture, and the dessert isn't cloyingly sweet — though she'd advise eating it later than 7:45am (which she did, unfortunately).

New Palace Bakery: This Hamtramck bakery aptly dubs itself "paczki headquarters," but for those seeking a more traditional pumpkin moment, New Palace also serves square pumpkin pie bars and mini pumpkin pies.

Go deeper: Try out some spots we've previously featured.

📬 Any pumpkin spice gems we've overlooked? Email [email protected] to let us know!