Autumn means plaid shirts, trips to the pumpkin patch, falling temperatures, and colored foliage. But the best part of fall is definitely the food. And this year, Baltimore restaurants are going above and beyond pumpkin spice. From cozy casseroles and savory sweet potatoes to pumpkin pastries and roasted apples, these seasonal specials have us wishing it was October and November all year round.

Pumpkin Spice Latte-Inspired Pastries

Dooby’s: With blueberry-almond breads, pumpkin cream cheese muffins, and cranberry sage pop-tarts, Dooby’s’ new dishes incorporate some of our favorite fall flavors. The pastries are made in house every morning, so grab one while they’re hot (and before they’re gone.) 802 N. Charles St., 410-609-3162

Miss Shirley’s Cafe: Miss Shirley’s pumpkin-spice chocolate chip pancakes are one of a kind. They arrive garnished with cream cheese icing and spiced pumpkin seeds, and dusted with a cloud of powdered sugar for good measure. Various locations including 750 E. Pratt St., 410-528-5373

Stone Mill Bakery: This Green Spring Station bakery’s homemade goods and breads make it a local favorite, especially when the temperature starts to drop. This fall, check out the pumpkin cream cheese swirl bars for a sweet snack. 10751 Falls Rd., 410-821-1358

Iron Rooster: Southern classics meet fall-inspired flavors on Iron Rooster’s seasonal menu. Iron Rooster’s ooey-gooey pumpkin-filled ‘Roostarts’—aka homemade pop tarts—are the perfect snack for any fall-harvest fanatic. Various locations including 3721 Boston St., 410-762-2100

The Corner Pantry: The buckwheat pumpkin pancakes, topped with a hefty dollop of apple butter, at this Mt. Washington staple are the ultimate November brunch entree. Pair the tasty hotcakes with The Corner Pantry’s autumn sunrise juice, a mix of carrot, orange, and apple, for a truly satisfying spread. 6080 Falls Rd., 667-308-2331

Autumn Aperitifs

Johnny’s Restaurant: One sip of Johnny’s smoked fig Manhattan will make you say, “pumpkin-spice-who?” The drink is created with house-made brown sugar, fig, and black-tea syrup, and then garnished with a bacon-wrapped cherry. 4800 Roland Ave., 410-773-0777

Baby’s on Fire Cafe: For a morning pick-me-up, order a glass of this cafe’s house-made mulled apple cider. From vintage-loving hipsters to apple orchard admirers, everyone can find something they love at the Mt. Vernon hangout that offers bins of vinyl and fresh pastries. 1010 Morton St., 443-885-9892

Order & Chaos Coffee: If you can’t say sayonara to Pumpkin Spice Lattes just yet, try this cafe’s upgraded version. The next-level PSL includes touches of turmeric and pairs perfectly with a buttery cranberry scone. 1410 Key Highway, 410-244-1111

Comfort-Food Cravings

The Turn House: The Turn House takes fall flavor seriously. The apple and prosciutto toast includes apple butter, Honeycrisp apple slices, prosciutto, and Grafton cheddar. The dish pairs perfectly with a slice of the blueberry cornbread. 11130 Willow Bottom Dr., 410-740-2096

Water for Chocolate: This Fells Point eatery serves up options for savory snackers and sweet tooth nibblers alike. Try the sweet potato bread pudding with moonshine-crème anglaise or the sweet potato polenta. Warning: you might have to unbutton your jeans. 1841 E Lombard St., 410-891-2595

Birroteca: Birroteca’s fall menu marries the taste of Italian delicacies with the warmth of comfort food. The pumpkin gnocchi, topped with pancetta, caramelized onions, and duck liver fig sauce, will definitely satisfy those home-cooked hankerings. 1520 Clipper Rd., 443-708-1934

Atwater’s: Atwater’s is known to bring their A-game when it comes to seasonal treats. Both the apple-cranberry crisp and the Num Pang Salad, made with roasted cauliflower, peanut red cabbage slaw, and ginger eggplant, serve up some serious flavor. 2905 Whittington Ave., 410-644-3435

Sweater-Weather Sweets

The Charmery: Despite the dropping temperature, we can’t deny our excitement for The Charmery’s fall lineup. This year, the menu features flavors like spiced pumpkin, apple butter, butternut squash and cloves, and apple cider sorbet. Various locations including 1700 W 41st St., 443-759-4905

Gunther & Co.: This spice cake from Gunther & Co. practically screams Thanksgiving. Accompanied by pumpkin mousse, roasted butternut squash, cardamom creme anglaise, crispy sage, and maple ice cream, this decadent dessert is a must-order. 3650 Toone St., 443-869-6874

The Food Market: The loaded baked sweet potatoes at this Hampden hotspot arrive bursting with torched marshmallow, chipotle honey, pecans, bacon, and cinnamon sugar. And if you’re still itching for more, order the hand-whipped pumpkin cheesecake topped with cream, graham cracker crumble, and candy corn. Need we say more? 1017 W 36th St., 410-366-0606

Ground & Griddled: We are fall-ing in love with this cafe’s sweet potato casserole. The crispy crust is best served warm, and the inside is loaded with organic sweet potatoes, dusted with spices, and topped with brown sugar pecan butter. 301 W 29th St., 443-681-1901

“How do I love thee?” Let us count the ways—a dozen doughnuts, a
handful of chocolates, two almond croissants, and three scoops of ice
cream. 

Okay, maybe that’s not exactly what Elizabeth Barrett Browning
had in mind. But sonnets aside, sweets and love are a natural pair any
time of year, especially in February when a gift of candy means more
than calories on Valentine’s Day. In fact, it’s the fourth biggest
holiday for confectionery purchases (after Halloween, Easter, and
Christmas), according to candyusa.com. With that in mind, we went in search of the best sweets that Baltimore has to offer.

A heart-shaped box might be nice, but there are lots of other ways to
woo your lover’s sweet tooth. Here are 50 of our favorite treats.

Bonaparte Breads

903 S. Ann St, 410-342-4000.

The
display case at the Fells Point cafe is stocked with delectable
pastries, from almond croissants and elephant ear-shaped palmiers
stuffed with raspberries to apricot-and-pear tarts.

Editor’s pick:
The Paris-Brest, named for a bicycle race between the two French
cities—a sandwich of éclair dough filled with hazelnut cream and dusted
with sugar and almonds.

Au Bon Pain

Several locations including 10 N. Calvert St., 410-727-9827.

Since
the chain launched in Boston in 1978, the bakery has brought French
pastries to airports, shopping malls, and even hospitals all over the
world. Selections include brownies, cookies, croissants, strudels, and
cheese Danish. The website (aubonpain.com) even includes caloric info, if you dare.

Editor’s pick: The chocolate crème torsade pastry: 230 calories. Woot.

Bonjour Bakery

6070 Falls Rd., 410-372-0238.

The
shelves are filled with croissants—plain, almond, and
chocolate—palmiers, brioches, muffins, and more. All are baked by Gerard
Billebault, a native of France, who opened the cute cafe with his wife,
Gayle Brier, 15 years ago. The shop is also known for its colorful
macaroons, which need to be special ordered.

Editor’s pick: Pain au raisin, glazed with sugar and studded with sweet raisins.

Daniela Pasta & Pastries

900 W. 36th St., 443-759-9320.

This
tiny storefront on The Avenue in Hampden may have some of the best
Italian delicacies in town. Sure, the savory edibles are delicious, but
the house-made dolci are worth a visit. The dilemma will be which one to
pick from the display case, from tiramisu and fruit tarts to cannoli
and strudels.

Editor’s pick: The bite-sized elephant ears sandwiching a lemon curd or chocolate-hazelnut-cream middle.

Pariser’s Bakery

6711 Reisterstown Rd., 410-764-1700.

This
Pikesville kosher bakery has at least 10 varieties of
hamantaschen—small triangular pastries with fillings like prune, poppy
seed, and chocolate. But the shop also has classic pastries like buttery
Danish packed with cherry, lemon, and blueberry, éclairs, and
Napoleans.

Editor’s pick: The chocolate “cigar,” which is covered in chocolate icing and powdered sugar.

Pastry Ingredients

Flour, Butter & Water

The same three ingredients are used to make some of the most-loved pastries in the world.

Croissant Controversy Fun Fact

Some
believe that Marie Antoinette introduced this buttery pastry to France
from her native Austria. Though its origins are in dispute, its
yumminess is not.