Pumpkin spice season is officially here, and if you think that just means lattes… think again. Columbus restaurants and bakeries are going all out with creative pumpkin treats this fall. We’re talking cheesecakes, cream puffs, whoopie pies, donuts, and even vegan pop tarts that could fool the most devoted egg.
Here are 5 (and a bonus) pumpkin dishes in Columbus, Ohio that you absolutely need to try before the season ends.
1. Pumpkin Whoopie Pie at Pattycake Bakery
📍 3870 N High St, Columbus, OH 43214
Not quite a cookie, not quite a cake, and definitely not your average dessert… whoopie pies are a fall staple. Pattycake’s version is made with soft pumpkin cake and a sweet creamy filling that will make you instantly want another. While you’re there, grab a Pumpkin Walnut Muffin to really double down on autumn vibes.
2. Pumpkin Cheesecake Chunk Ice Cream at Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream
📍 5665 Feder Rd, Columbus, OH 43228
📍 399 W Olentangy St, Powell, OH 43065
Handel’s has been scooping happiness in Columbus for decades, and their fall flavors are legendary. The Pumpkin Cheesecake Chunk is creamy, rich, and basically a frozen slice of autumn. Fun fact: they make their ice cream fresh in-house every single day. Pro tip… pair it with their milkshake (which might just be the best in the world).
3. Pumpkin Vanilla Swirl Cheesecake at The Bearded Baker
📍 2918 E Main St, Columbus, OH 43209
The Bearded Baker went from pop-up to full brick-and-mortar bakery, and their cheesecakes have built a cult following. Their Pumpkin Vanilla Swirl Cheesecake is a fall dream, mixing classic vanilla with pumpkin spice perfection. And if you’re lucky, you might catch their Pumpkin Caramel Cheesecake too.
4. Pumpkin Cream Puff at Schmidt’s Sausage Haus
📍 240 E Kossuth St, Columbus, OH 43206
Everyone in Columbus knows about Schmidt’s cream puffs… but here’s the truth: they’re still underrated. Each one is the size of your head, stuffed with rich filling, and during October you can get their seasonal Pumpkin Cream Puff. Trust me, it’s worth the hype (and the food coma).
5. Pumpkin Pop Tarts at Happy Little Treats Bakery
📍 1043 W 3rd Avenue, Columbus, OH 43212
Vegan skeptics, listen up. Happy Little Treats is proof that animal-free can still be insanely delicious. Their Pumpkin Pop Tarts are perfectly flaky, warmly spiced, and honestly better than anything Kellogg’s ever made. They’ve also been known to drop pumpkin cinnamon rolls and sticky buns, so keep an eye on their menu.
Honorable Mention: Pumpkin Donuts
🍩 Buckeye Donuts | 1998 N High St, Columbus, OH 43201)
🍩 Crispie Creme| 47 N Bridge St, Chillicothe, OH 45601
🍩 Resch’s Bakery | 4061 E Livingston Ave, Columbus, OH 43227
🍩 Schneider’s Bakery | 6 S State St, Westerville, OH 43081
🍩 DK Diner | 1715 W 3rd Ave, Grandview Heights, OH 43212
Pumpkin donuts are a fall classic, and Central Ohio has no shortage of spots frying up the goods. Whether you like them glazed, powdered, or cake-style, you’ll find a pumpkin donut that hits the spot. Pro tip: grab a dozen and share them with friends (or don’t… we won’t judge).
Fall Guides
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