Fall is finally here and we are all living for it! Leggings, cute boots, big, comfy sweaters, cardigans, and the changing of the leaves... What more could we ask for? Fall is, by far, the best season of the year, no doubt, but clothes and colorful trees aren't the only great thing about Fall that has everyone buzzing.
When it comes to Autumn, lately a recurring theme is pumpkin spice everything. Pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin spice cake, cookies, candles, frappuccinos... Even Frosted Flakes and Twinkies have been overrun by pumpkin spice. Is nothing sacred??
But one gift from above that has been overshadowed by the pumpkin spice wave for far too long is anything apple cider cinnamon. Apple cider, apple cider candles, cinnamon apple anything, and, my personal favorite, apple cider donuts! Hardly anyone can resist the smell of cinnamon, pair it up with some apples and sugar and you've got just about the entire United States of America in the palm of your hand. I can't think of a single (sane) person who could walk into an establishment or home, smell apples and cinnamon baking away, and crinkle their nose in discontent.
So, here we are, apple cider taking a stand against pumpkin spice. Who will come out on top? We'll have to see. Let's have a look...
The best of Apple Cider Cinnamon: donuts, apple cider, adult apple cider, apple pie, apple crisp, apple cinnamon muffins, apple cinnamon butter, apple fritters, cinnamon apple chips, cinnamon apple oatmeal, apple cinnamon pancakes, cinnamon apple french toast, applejacks cereal (?), cinnamon apple tart, mulled apple cider, cinnamon apple bread... the list could go on for days, but I'll give pumpkin spice a fighting chance.
The best of Pumpkin Spice: pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin spice bread, muffins, pie, yogurt? donuts, chips, whoopie pies, cupcakes, ice cream, candles, twinkies, Frosted Flakes...
Okay, that's about enough of that, some of these are getting a bit out of hand, let's get down to business. Apple cider and anything cinnamon apple flavored has been around for as long as anyone can remember. Go ahead, ask your grandparents if they remember having warm apple cider after playing outside all day when the weather got colder. Pumpkin spice, on the other hand, didn't become relevant until the early 2000's when Starbucks started throwing artificial pumpkin flavoring into some of their lattes.
So, with cinnamon apple and apple cider dominating throughout the decades and withstanding the test of time, does pumpkin spice really stand a chance? Hardly anyone can resist the smell, let alone the taste of cinnamon and apples, but we all know someone who can't be near a PSL to save their lives because of that plastic pumpkin scent that emanates from it.
When it comes down to it, apple cider and pumpkin spice are a lot like the tortoise and the hare. PSL's may be running the show for now, but apple cider cinnamon is taking this race slow and steady with its loyal followers in tow.
Next time you're looking for a Fall pick-me-up, take an extra minute to explore all of the Fall flavors because nothing beats a warm glass of apple cider and an apple cider donut to match.
