Fall food guide: Unique desserts, dishes and drinks to try around Charlotte this season
For some, it’s the most wonderful time of the year in Charlotte: fall. The season of cooler temperatures, cozy clothes and of course — pumpkin spice everything.
Some call the PSL the drink of the season, but several local restaurants and bakeries step up their seasonal menus this time of year, too.
So if you’re looking to really get in the fall spirit by indulging in fall flavors, here’s a list of dishes, desserts and drinks to try at local spots around Charlotte:
Apple dump cake from Salted Melon Market & Eatery
Location: 100 W Worthington Ave Suite 107, Charlotte, NC 28203
Satisfy your sweet tooth this fall with the apple dump cake from Salted Melon Market & Eatery. The newly released dessert is made with several fall flavors, including spiced apple pie filling, yellow cake and pecans topped with vanilla ice cream and mint leaves.
Autumn gold bowl from Green Brothers Juice & Smoothie Co.
Location: Multiple
Green Brothers Juice & Smoothie Co. is bringing back its autumn gold bowl this season. The acai bowl has a base made of pumpkin, banana, almond milk and pumpkin spice, all topped with the shop’s custom house-made granola, banana slices, dates and pumpkin seeds, and drizzled with hazelnut spread and honey.
Butter candle from Billy Sunday
Location: Optimist Hall, 1115 N Brevard St UNIT 1, Charlotte, NC 28206
What better way to warm up this season than over a butter candle? The appetizer is offered year round, but right now you can enjoy an herbed focaccia dipped in a lit sun-dried tomato and garlic butter candle at the cocktail bar.
Duck fat apple pie from The Bottle Tree
Location: 102 Davis St, Belmont, NC 28012
You say duck fat, and we say we’ll be right over. The Bottle Tree’s new Duck Fat Apple Pie is a savory selection with apples, duck fat and Ashe County sharp cheddar cheese, accented with fresh herbs.
French onion bacon melt from Sunflour Baking Company
Location: Multiple
Treat yourself to one of the newest seasonal menu items at Sunflour Baking Company: The French onion bacon melt. The panini is made with caramelized onions, gruyere and provolone cheese, bacon, spinach and herbed garlic butter.
Frozen apple cider from Sugar + Ice
Location: 16940 Birkdale Commons Pkwy Suite B, Huntersville, NC 28078
Craving apple cider? Enjoy it as a slushie from Sugar + Ice. Pair it with the newly released apple pie specialty doughnut and you’ll get $1 off your purchase.
[READ NEXT: 11 places to go apple picking this fall near Charlotte.]
Harvest salad from Old Town Kitchen & Cocktails
Location: 300 Technology Center Way Suite #203, Rock Hill, SC 29730
Enjoy a bowl full of fall flavors with the new harvest salad from Old Town Kitchen & Cocktails. The restaurant’s new menu item includes mixed lettuce, roasted pumpkin and butternut squash, smoked pecans, pumpkin seeds and balsamic pecan vinaigrette.
Loaded fries bowl from Que Fresa Taqueria & Bar
Location: 1500 W Morehead St A, Charlotte, NC 28208
Que Fresa just rolled out new comfort foods and fall-flavored cocktails, including the loaded fries bowl. Voted the best taco spot in Charlotte and named one of the best new Latinx-restaurants in the country, the restaurant offers a bowl of french fries topped with steak, chorizo, pico de gallo, queso, poblano crema, a fried egg and pickled chiles.
The Lorelai from Undercurrent Coffee
Location: 2012 Commonwealth Ave, Charlotte, NC 28205
Location: Optimist Hall, 1115 N Brevard St Stall #7, Charlotte, NC 28206
Take yourself to the fictional land of Stars Hollow with Undercurrent Coffee’s new drink, named in honor of the beloved television series ”Gilmore Girls.” The Lorelai, which can be served hot or cold, is made with spiced hazelnut and coffee spice.
Oatmeal créme pie doughnut from Milkbread
Location: 1431 Central Ave, Charlotte, NC 28205
Location: 624 Jetton St #110, Davidson, NC 28036
Milkbread is always introducing seasonal sweet treats, and this fall you can enjoy the new oatmeal créme pie doughnut. The old-fashioned doughnut is glazed with cream cheese icing and topped with candied oats.
Panthers Tracks ice cream from Two Scoops Creamery
Location: Multiple
Cheer on the Panthers over a scoop of Panthers tracks ice cream from Two Scoops Creamery. The new flavor, which hit the menu just in time for football season, is made with vanilla ice cream, blue sprinkles, mini peanut butter cups and fudge.
Pumpkin cheesecake milkshake from Ninety’s Dessert Bar
Location: 9009 J M Keynes Dr #4, Charlotte, NC 28262
Location: 502 Cherry Rd Suite 105, Rock Hill, SC 29730
If you’ve got a sweet tooth for a pumpkin-flavored dessert, sip on a pumpkin cheesecake milkshake from Ninety’s Dessert Bar. The new seasonal drink is made of pumpkin and vanilla ice cream blended with the shop’s homemade layered pumpkin cheesecake, pumpkin cookies and caramel cookies, then topped with caramel drizzle and a mini layered pumpkin cheesecake.
Pumpkin pizza from Inizio Pizza Napoletana
Location: 2230 Park Rd #101, Charlotte, NC 28203
Location: 10620 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC 28277
Location: 16627 Birkdale Commons Pkwy, Huntersville, NC 28078
Location: 816 Brayden Pkwy, Fort Mill, SC 29708
Nothing says fall like a pumpkin-flavored food, so why not try it as a pizza? Inizio Pizza is bringing back its iconic pumpkin pizza, made with a pumpkin base, buffalo mozzarella, fior di latte, ricctta, basil and pecorino.
Spiked pistachio latte from Rosie’s Coffee & Wine Garden
Location: 940 N Davidson St, Charlotte, NC 28206
Want to skip a pumpkin spice latte and try something new? How about a spiked pistachio latte from Rosie’s Coffee & Wine Garden, made with two shots of espresso, pistachio syrup and Maloney’s Irish Cream? Cozy up in the garden and sip on the new latte or one of the other seasonal drinks, such as an apple pie shaken espresso or maple pecan latte.
Heidi Finley contributed to this article.
This story was originally published September 21, 2023 at 5:00 AM.
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