Move over pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin spice cheese is here!
Cheesemakers are getting creative and putting their own spin on the pumpkin spice craze. We scoured the internet to come up with a list of eight pumpkin-themed cheeses that are perfect for your Halloween cheeseboard or fall recipes. Some of them include actual pumpkin, others incorporate warm fall spices, and a few lean on annatto to create a spooky pumpkin effect, but they’ll all put you in the mood for a festive and spooky Halloween celebration!
Most of these are only here for a limited time, so grab them while you can!
1. Murray’s Cave Aged Limited Buttered Pumpkin
It’s back! All hail the return of Murray’s dreamy pumpkin spice extravaganza. To make Buttered Pumpkin, the artisans at Murray’s start with St. Stephen, a decadent triple crème cheese from Four Fat Foul, and blend some of the un-aged cheese with fall spices and annatto to create a pumpkin-inspired orange center stripe. The result is a warm and salty cheese bursting with autumnal color and aroma. Murray’s suggests pairing Buttered Pumpkin with Effie’s Oatcakes and spiced pecans.
2. Beemster Pumpkin Spice
Beemster has taken its classic gouda and given it the pumpkin spice treatment. Young gouda is blended with cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, and ginger to infuse it with aromatic, fragrant fall flavor. Beemster recommends pairing this limited edition cheese with apples and salami, or try this recipe for Beemster Pumpkin Spice Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese. Are you drooling yet?
3. Fromager d’Affinois with Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
Fromager d’Affinois is known for its supremely creamy double and triple cream cheeses. Made in the heart of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, this pumpkin version incorporates actual roasted pumpkin seeds to give the cheese a unique, crunchy texture. Plus, the orange-tinted rind makes for a striking presentation.
4. Rubbed Fontal Pumpkin Spice Wedge
Rather than incorporating pumpkin flavors into the cheese, this smooth, creamy, and mild cheese gets its pumpkin spice flavor from the outside. During the 60-day aging process, Cello rubs its signature fontal with cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, and a touch of honey to create this sweet and indulgent cheese. Cello suggests pairing this cheese with chocolate and a crisp sauvignon blanc.
5. LaClare Pumpkin Goat Cheese Log
Newly released, just in time for fall! LaClare Creamery has blended its classic chèvre with pumpkin spice puree and a hint of cinnamon to create a classic fall flavor perfect for a Halloween cheese plate or incorporating into your fall recipes. Think brownies with a tangy pumpkin spice goat cheese swirl or pumpkin spice pound cake. The combinations are nearly endless for how you can pumpkin-ify your fall baked goods with this autumnal cheese.
6. Jasper Hill Moses Reaper
Okay, so this cheese may not actually include any pumpkin or pumpkin spice, but does anything scream Halloween more than orange and black?! The cheesemakers at Jasper Hill added annatto to the paste of the cult-favorite Moses Sleeper, then covered it in ash to create the spooky look. This cheese is mild, creamy, and perfect for all your scarry events!
7. Marin French Petit Boo Ash Coated Cheese
Marin French’s iconic Petite Ash had a Halloween makeover thanks to the inclusion of all-natural annatto. The thin layer of black vegetable ash and a striking orange paste make this decadent triple creme a crowd-pleasing (and scarring) cheese.
8. Hennings Pumpkin Spice Cheddar Cheese
Hennings has created a pumpkin spice cheddar cheese for your Halloween cheese needs. Pumpkin spices are blended into creamy cheddar for a true taste of fall. Hennings recommends grating this cheese on top of sweet potatoes or incorporating it into ginger snap cookies.
Josie Krogh
Josie Krogh is culture's Digital Strategy Lead. She earned her master's degree in Agricultural and Applied Economics from The University of Georgia. Josie developed a love of food while working at farmstands in the D.C. area as a young adult, and discovered her love of cheese while living and working on a dairy farm on Martha's Vineyard. Josie currently lives in Catskill, NY.
