Top Pumpkin Dishes In St. Louis

Once upon a time, pumpkins were mostly used for making jack-o-lanterns and pies. In recent years, however, fall has been bursting with the rich, sweet taste of our favorite squash. Every year, local businesses come up with new ways to infuse their dishes with the signature flavor of fall. Here are some St. Louis classics (and don't miss last year's list).

Pumpkin Caramel Pecan Gooey Butter Cake
Park Avenue Coffee
1919 Park Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63104
(314) 621-4020
www.parkavenuecoffee.com

Besides the Cardinals, gooey butter cake might just be the thing St. Louisans are most proud of. The rich, heavy treat is almost unheard of outside our city, and that fact alone keeps us from moving far away. Park Avenue Coffee in Lafayette Square is known for its upscale, relaxed atmosphere, its zen-like patio and its gooey butter cakes. Customers wait all year for the return of autumn's version, a pumpkin-caramel-pecan confection. It made last year's list, and we just couldn't overlook it this year, either.

Great Pumpkin Concrete
Ted Drewe's Frozen Custard
6726 Chippewa St.
St. Louis, MO 63109
(314) 481-2652
www.teddrewes.com

In the fall, St. Louisans line up at Ted Drewe's to enjoy the last concretes of the season before the iconic custard stand turns into a Christmas tree lot. The flavor of the end of summer is pumpkin pie, and Ted and his "guys and gals" lovingly blend an entire slice of pumpkin pie — crust and all — into a cup of that rich, creamy custard. What a way to say goodbye.

Pumpkin Spice Latte
Foundation Grounds Coffee House
7298 Manchester Road
Maplewood, MO 63143
(314) 601-3588
www.foundationgrounds.com

Foundation Grounds, in the heart of Maplewood, is known for its quality ingredients and its wide range of organic, gluten-free, vegan and other special-diet options. The pumpkin spice latte is rich, creamy and satisfying, and can easily be made with soy or almond milk for vegans or the lactose-intolerant. Sip your latte on the outdoor patio if it's a warm fall day, or enjoy live music and other special events inside throughout the week.

Related: Top Sandwiches In St. Louis

Schlafly Pumpkin Ale
Schlafly Tap Room
2100 Locust St.
St. Louis, MO 63103
(314) 241-2337
www.schlafly.comSchlafly's Pumpkin Ale repeatedly draws the highest accolades from beer lovers nationwide, and locally it's considered a treasure. The intense pumpkin pie flavor is rich with spices and leans toward the sweeter side. Enjoy it on draft at the downtown Tap Room with a full meal or with some pretzels and cheese, or at the Maplewood Bottleworks location.

Pumpkin Pie Oh My! Cupcakes
Jilly's Cupcake Bar
8509 Delmar Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63124
(314) 993-5455
www.jillyscupcakebar.com

The cupcake trend of recent years has taken St. Louis by storm, and we are nowhere near finished riding that wave. Jilly's on Delmar does cupcakes right. They're always adorably decorated and intensely satisfying. The Pumpkin Pie Oh My! cupcake features pumpkin cake, pumpkin pie filling and a cinnamon-nutmeg buttercream frosting. A tiny slice of pumpkin pie is pressed into a dollop of vanilla buttercream to finish the mouthwatering treat. Call ahead as there's a good chance you may need to special order.

Related: Top Gelato In St. Louis

Lauren Haas was the founder and publisher of The St. Louis Area Family Gazette magazine, and editor-in-chief of Marketplace Magazine. Now, Lauren is a full-time freelance writer who travels the world, using St. Louis as her base. Contact her at Lauren@LaurenHaas.com