Culver’s has decided that pumpkin spice and s’mores―two flavors that have no business being in the same cup―should, in fact, be in the same cup.
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The Midwestern custard chain is bringing back its fall pumpkin lineup, and this year it’s added an unexpected new item: the Pumpkin S’mores Concrete Mixer. It’s exactly what it sounds like, which is to say it’s two separate seasonal cravings crammed into one frozen dessert. The pumpkin lineup rolls out September 8th.
By fast-food standards, Culver’s is actually running a little late here. The Pumpkin Spice Latte, Dunkin’s fall menu, and Wendy’s fall Frosty all beat it to the punch weeks ago. But arriving late with a pumpkin-s’mores hybrid is a reasonable way to make an entrance.
The New One: Pumpkin S’mores Concrete Mixer
Culver’s has taken its famous Concrete Mixer (frozen custard blended with mix-ins until it’s thick enough to require a spoon) and combined pumpkin with s’mores-themed mix-ins. So you’re getting sweet, earthy pumpkin and the toasty, campfire flavor of s’mores in the same treat.
On paper, it’s a slightly chaotic pairing. Pumpkin spice says “cozy autumn afternoon,” while s’mores says “summer, sitting around a fire.” Culver’s has decided the seasons can coexist and both flavors are sweet, warm, and vaguely nostalgic.
If nothing else, it’s a more interesting swing than another straightforward pumpkin shake.
The Returning Favorites
The new mixer joins the two pumpkin treats Culver’s brings back every fall, making three pumpkin custard options total this year.
The Pumpkin Spice Shake is the classic: real pumpkin purée swirled into the chain’s famous vanilla custard. It’s the one people actually get sentimental about―one fan called it “literally something I look forward to every year,” and another described the pumpkin flavor as “like melted pumpkin pie.”
The Salted Caramel Pumpkin Concrete Mixer is the other returnee. It’s essentially the Pumpkin Spice Shake with a salted caramel mix-in added, for anyone who wants their pumpkin leaning sweet-and-salty.
And because this is Culver’s, none of these have to stay as-is. You can add other mix-ins to your custard (brownie bits, cheesecake chunks, whatever happily escalates the situation) if the standard versions aren’t quite enough for you.
When You Can Get It
The pumpkin lineup rolls out at Culver’s locations starting Sept. 8th. Until then, Culver’s is holding things over with its new pickle-themed menu items and a couple of new Flavor of the Day custard cups.
Like every year, these are seasonal treats, so they’ll eventually disappear until next time.
So if you’ve been wanting to find out what happens when pumpkin spice and s’mores collide, this is your window. And if you’re still firmly in the “it’s too early for pumpkin” camp, I regret to inform you that it is already September.
Thoughts? Questions? Complete disagreement? Leave a comment!