Ice cream season may end when summer does (although, who doesn’t love ice cream year-round?), but that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of sweet treats to indulge in this fall. Below, find five local places serving Halloween-inspired desserts, pumpkin spice latte drinks and more.
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Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken
Forget the strawberry and lemon cream doughnuts, it’s time for fall flavors. Astro Doughnuts might know just what you’re looking for in terms of fall comfort food (aside from its savory fried chicken, of course). Chocolate Blackout, Candy Apple, Oreo Cheesecake and Pumpkin Spice are all on the lineup for fall 2019. No matter what your favorite Halloween candy is, one of these has got to satisfy your sweet tooth and give you that trick-or-treating rush all month long. // 7511 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church; $2.60-$3.60 per doughnut, $36 assorted dozen
Sidekick Bakery
You may know this Ballston Quarter location best for its frostee and fries croissant, or its summer-worthy treats such as the Ted’s Tarts or Snowdays frozen drinks. But heading into the fall season, it’s all about pumpkins. Big and small espresso chiffon cakes are now available, filled with pumpkin spice mousse and topped with brown sugar crisps. Step aside PSLs, this is how to get a slice of the fall season. // 4238 Wilson Blvd., Suite 1130, Arlington; $10 small cake, $35 large cake
Snocream Company
Earlier this year, our dining editor, Stefanie Gans, named Snocream’s chelo chelo dessert as one that won summer. Of course, the Vietnamese coffee version or the go-to “sno” flavors such as green tea and cookies and cream, never go out of style. But, it’s time for the fall flavors to step in. Snocream’s version of the sensational Starbucks drink is now available for a limited time, alongside the pumpkin spice latte milk tea, and pumpkin coffee. With how fast the summer flew by, you’ll want to grab one of these before fall is gone. // 4221 John Marr Drive, Annandale; prices vary
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The Dairy Godmother
The frozen custard flavor forecast (try to say that three-times fast) is showing one thing this weekend: pumpkin! If you’re on the hunt for sweet soft-serve that will get you in the fall spirit, this is it. Grab your pumpkin-flavored twist on a cone or in a cup before it’s gone. Plus, look out for the upcoming maple candied bacon and caramel apple flavors on various days throughout October. // 2310 Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria; prices vary
Village Sweet Bakery
Sometimes you just need a made-from-scratch dessert, and you don’t want to make it yourself. Luckily for all dessert fans (and Halloween fans), Village Sweet Bakery has sweet sugar cookies with seasonal designs to devour throughout the month of October. Find a funky Frankenstein, smiling candy corn and a skull-and-bone Mickey Mouse alongside the bakery’s other sweet treats, and you can even grab one on a stick for a kid-friendly cookie or on-the-go dessert. // 5872 Washington Blvd., Arlington; prices vary