The spooky season is upon us, which means it is a great time to be a fan of all things pumpkin spice-flavoured.
Having already looked at Greggs’ latest seasonal menu, we now look at the autumn offerings from Pret, Costa Coffee, and Ole & Steen this year, including Danish favourite the cardamom bun, a range of hot breakfast ciabattas, and maple treats.
Ole & Steen
Did we mention pumpkin spice already? The Danish bakery brand’s seasonal line-up features a Pumpkin Spice Latte Cheesecake that comprises a biscuit base topped with pumpkin spice cheesecake, coffee cream and gold coffee beans.
Ole & Steen has also launched the Cardamom Bun, which is describes as a Danish favourite. The cardamom bun base is crisp and caramelised, where sugar and butter have crystallised while baking.
“Cardamom Buns are often sold alongside Cinnamon Buns, and they are usually shaped differently so you can tell them apart. The main difference is that freshly ground cardamom has a slight peppery taste with a beautiful floral aroma,” explained Ole & Steen, which has been named a finalist for the Bakery Retailer of the Year category at the upcoming 2024 Baking Industry Awards.
To mark the launch, the Cardamom Bun is on offer for £2 (instead of standard £3.95) for the next two weeks.
Other autumn menu items include:
- Blackberry & Strawberry Tart – a sweet shortcrust almond base, covered in chocolate topped with vanilla custard, fresh blackberries, strawberries and flaked almonds
- Bacon & Brie Croissant – a croissant filled with streaky bacon, Brie, caramelised onion chutney and rocket
- Avocado & Egg Open Rye – carrot rye topped with smashed avocado, peas, jammy egg, mixed seeds and pea shoots.
“We welcome the change of season with the new autumn menu featuring delicious pumpkin inspired treats,” said an Ole & Steen spokesperson. “We want to share some ‘hygge’ (Danish for relax and enjoy life) with our devoted pastry lovers and invite you all to come in and try this delicious new bake.”
Pret
Pret’s autumn spread includes a new range of hot breakfast ciabattas, lunchtime flatbreads, and an indulgent Cinnamon Crown.
Described by Pret as ‘a truly innovative addition that brings a fresh twist to the classic pastry experience’, the crown features a crisp, buttery caramelised pastry filled with cinnamon and dusted with icing sugar.
Rolling out alongside the Cinnamon Crown are two other sweet treats: a Stem Ginger Cookie with spices and caramelised pieces of stem ginger, and a Spiced Apple & Pecan Muffin featuring spiced apple and pecan sponge with pieces of apple, topped with toasted pecans and demerara sugar.
Four new breakfast ciabattas are launching (all served in a crusty ciabatta roll): Triple Sausage with three British outdoor-bred pork sausages; Triple Bacon with three beechwood smoked British back bacon rashers: Veggie Breakfast containing mushroom & roasted tomato omelette with feta and chives; and Ultimate Breakfast with British pork sausage, beechwood smoked British back bacon, and roasted tomato omelette with chives.
Pret is also extending its lunchtime menu with five new products:
- Falafel, Avo & Chipotle Flatbread – sweet potato falafel and sliced avocado with chipotle ketchup. Topped with pickled onions, red peppers, fresh coriander and charred corn salsa, wrapped in Lebanese-style flatbread
- Shawarma Spiced Chicken Flatbread – British chicken breast mixed with a shawarma spiced sauce. Topped with humous, pickled cabbage & carrot, red onion, cucumber slices and spinach, wrapped in Lebanese-style flatbread
- Mediterranean Style Tuna Flatbread – pole & line-caught tuna mayo with spring onions, chopped capers and lemon juice. Topped with Kalamata olives, sliced tomatoes, fresh basil leaves, red peppers and spinach, wrapped in Lebanese-style flatbread
- Mushroom Florentine Toastie – roasted chestnut mushrooms with soft cheese, Italian cheese and chives and finished baby spinach and spring onions on seeded bloomer bread
- Chicken & Feta Toastie – chicken breast, red pepper tapenade, chipotle ketchup, red pepper, and feta cheese on seeded bloomer bread.
“We are incredibly proud to offer a menu that not only celebrates the comforting flavours of autumn but also highlights Pret’s dedication to quality,” said Pret UK food & coffee director Katherine Bagshawe, adding that a second tranche of autumn products would be revealed later this month.
Costa Coffee
Mapel flavours are again a focus for Costa this year, with the brand bringing back a trio of Mapel Hazel latte, frappé, and hot chocolate drinks.
The coffee chain says a perfect pairing with these is its new Nuts about Maple Slice, which features an all-butter shortbread base topped with a moist filling flavoured with maple syrup, caramel, and a blend of pecans and hazelnuts.
Continuing the nut theme, Costa is also rolling out its new Pecan Mini Loaf that has a black sticky toffee sauce centre and is topped with caramel icing and caramelised pecans. This is joined on shelf by a new Iced Ghost Gingerbread Biscuit decorated with a smiley ghost design.
Three new savoury products are being added the Costa line-up:
- Brie, Bacon, and Chilli Jam Panini – creamy brie, beechwood smoked streaky bacon and smoky chilli jam in a seed-topped panini
- Chicken and Chorizo Panini – British roast chicken and Spanish chorizo, with a paprika and red pepper chutney and fresh spinach, served in a seed-topped panini
- Chilli Beef and Cheddar Toastie – British pulled beef in a Korean-inspired BBQ sauce and mature Cheddar cheese, encased in a chilli crumb and cheese-topped toastie.
Costa has also unveiled a new breakfast deal that offers customers a small or medium drink, a croissant or toast, and an Innocent orange or apple juice for £5.99, with an option to upgrade the croissant or toast to a breakfast bap for £1. A new lunch deal offers a toastie and a small or medium drink for £5.99.
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