If you need a break from pumpkin flavored everything but you still want to embrace the flavors of the season, try these six fall treats from NoVA-area bakeries and restaurants. With warm flavors like maple and chai, they imbue the same cozy, autumnal vibes you’d find with a PSL.
Maple Doughnuts at Good Company Doughnuts & Cafe
Maple is a key flavor of the season, and Good Co. — which was named the best doughnut shop in Northern Virginia Magazine’s Best of NoVA — has doughnuts that will satisfy any craving for the sweet syrup. There’s a classic maple frosted, a version with maple and bacon, and even a vegan maple with pecans for those who eat plant-based foods. Mulitple area locations
Witch’s Brew at Nathan’s Dairy Bar
It’s never too late in the season for ice cream. Nathan’s offers a rotating slate of flavors, including seasonal treats like the Witch’s Brew. This housemade ice cream is “like a caramel cold brew coffee,” according to its description. Try it in a sundae with hot cinnamon apples to really elevate the experience. 8948 Mathis Ave., Manassas
Applejack Butter Pecan Bundt Cake at Red Truck Bakery
The Red Truck Bakery is a classic stop for baked goods, and this caramel pecan cake is a decadent choice for fall. The bundt cake, sized to feed eight to 10 people, is filled with pecans and slathered in housemade caramel. Try it in this version, which includes apple brandy from Catoctin Creek Distillery in Purcellville. 368 W. Main St., Marshall; 22 Waterloo St., Warrenton
Rachel’s Chocolate Cake at Ellie Bird
Nothing says fall like a warm cup of chai. Ellie Bird takes that flavor and incorporates it into a creamy buttercream frosting for its signature chocolate cake, named for the restaurant’s pastry chef. Caramel ganache adds to the experience, as does a scoop of vanilla ice cream. 125 Founders Ave., Falls Church
Créme Caramel at Neutral Ground Bar + Kitchen
Head to this new spot from chef David Guas, known for Bayou Bakery, to try a sweet fall treat. The créme caramel incorporates caramelized figs, an often-overlooked piece of fall produce. The treat also has a cinnamon-almond crisp for even warmer, cozy flavors. 6641 Old Dominion Dr., McLean
Dessert Drinks at OCha Thai Kitchen & Cafe
OCha Thai is known for its sweet blended dessert drinks, and it has a few special versions for fall. Try the caramel apple dessert drink, with apple puree, cinnamon, caramel, and apple compote. Or, go for the Purple Potion, a purple sweet potato drink topped with whipped cream and chocolate sauce. 5037 Westfields Blvd., Centreville
Feature image of Rachel’s Chocolate Cake at Ellie Bird by Albert Ting
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