Saturday Sweets: Best Pumpkin Desserts in Miami

It’s officially fall and even though it doesn’t feel like it (although, those two 75 degree days we had this week were heavenly) my mind is filled with all things pumpkin.  I’m a big fan of pumpkin treats, so made it my duty to set out to find some of the best spiced fall flavored deliciousness in Miami.

Here’s where you can get the best pumpkin desserts around town:

6.  The Elegant One

Pumpkin Cheesecake, The Forge

Pumpkin Cheesecake with spiced crust, white chocolate and sour cranberries.  Could anything possibly scream, “Hey Fall is here!” better than this combination of ingredients?  Keeping it classy and elegantly plated, this is definitely one worth splurging on a night out for. The Forge, 432 W 41st St, Miami Beach, FL 33140

5.  The Miami Twist

            Pumpkin Tres Leche, Sweetness Bakeshop

Miami is all about their culture and more importantly their tres leche, you can find it on almost every corner.   However, it’s not every day that you hear about Pumpkin Tres Leche.  That’s where Sweetness Bakeshop comes in to save the day.  The family owned bakery never lets us down when it comes to keeping to our roots but providing just enough twist to stand out and have everyone coming back for more! Sweetness Bakeshop, 9549 SW 72nd St, Miami, FL 33173

4. The Refreshing Bite

            Drunken Pumpkin Ice Cream, Sweet Melody Ice Cream

Pumpkin Spice Lattes may be all the rage in places where it actually feels like fall, but here in Miami we are better off with an iced latte, or better yet – ICE CREAM! Mike at Sweet Melody is a big fan of everything pumpkin so when he set out to make a fall favorite ice cream, he made sure he got it right.  This ice cream has – are you ready – organic pumpkin ice cream, Jack Daniels bourbon, pumpkin liqueur, and tons of homemade snickerdoodle blondie brownies.  Let’s just say, my pint of ice cream didn’t last long and I definitely didn’t share.  Sweet Melody Ice Cream, Various Locations @sweetmelodyicecream

3.  The Liquid Dessert

            The Great Pumpkin Punch, AFROHEAD Rum at Repour Bar

Sometimes people prefer to drink their dessert and I’m not one to judge.  I’m quite the fan of dessert cocktails myself.  If that’s the way you want to go, Repour Bar on South Beach has you covered with their Great Pumpkin Punch made with AFROHEAD Rum.  The best part about this cocktail – it’s served IN a pumpkin!  Now that’s the kind of pumpkin carving I can get behind.  This punch consists of AFROHEAD Briland 07, fresh lemon juice, pumpkin syrup, fresh grapefruit juice and orange juice, then it’s poured into a pumpkin and served to you with a ladle.  Even those without a sweet tooth can enjoy this refreshing pumpkin treat! Repour Bar, 1650 James Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139

2. The Freestyle Dessert

Pumpkin Semifreddo with Flair, Pinch Kitchen

Whoa!  When I set my eyes on this dessert there was so much to take in.  I almost didn’t know where to start but when Chef Rene Reyes said, “Just dig in, all the flavors should be mixed!” I knew I was ready for this pumpkin adventure.   This isn’t your regular semifreddo.  This is a semifreddo experiencing a major flavor explosion.  Here we have a pumpkin semifreddo topped with roasted spiced pumpkin seeds creating the perfect crunch, a toasted marshmallow merengue, balsamic vinegar reduced down with the help of fall spices, fried zucchini flowers (like a funnel cake), and a cialde (which is almost like a very thin biscotti) served with an fun fall almond and praline milkshake and just the right amount of Cuban coffee adding that much needed after dinner kick.  This is a pumpkin lover’s dream.  Everything is made in house right down to the pumpkin liqueur used in the semifreddo itself.  Pinch Kitchen, 8601 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33138

1.  The Classic

            Traditional Pumpkin Pie, Fireman Derek’s World Famous Pies

It’s impossible to talk about pumpkin desserts without talking about Pumpkin Pie.  It’s a true classic, it’s perfectly simple, and an instant reminder of the coming holiday season.  When you’re talking about pies in Miami, you almost always have Fireman Derek and his world famous pies come to mind.  Of course, there’s the Crack Pie and Mudpie and all of his other insanely delicious flavors, but this time of year we just want to go back to basics and enjoy a humble piece of Pumpkin Pie.  Luckily, Fireman Derek gets that and makes sure there is plenty of pie to go around.  Fireman Derek’s World Famous Pies, 2818 N Miami Ave, Miami, FL 33137