Unboxed: 13 better-for-you treats with fall flavors—and not just pumpkin spice

The leaves are turning golden.

You reach for a sweater for the first time in months.

Taylor Swift’s “Red” seems to blast from every car.

Fall is coming. And for the natural products industry, that means one thing: Autumnal flavors are here!

Pumpkin spice is still a seasonal standout. (Indeed, you can’t have #PumpkinSpiceSeason without the eponymous flavor.) But this year, brands are also experimenting with cozy, limited-edition flavors that feature elevated ingredients such as maple, orange, cranberry, apple, ginger and more.

While crafting a memorable Halloween for children drives seasonal snack sales, research shows that adults are also keen to join the October fun. A new report by Mars and the market intelligence firm Ipsos found clear generational differences over who—and how—adults celebrate the spookiest holiday.

While baby boomers and Gen X shoppers are more likely to purchase treats for handing out to trick-or-treaters, Millennials and Gen Z consumers use seasonal candy and snacks to treat themselves at home and fill bowls for parties.

Additionally, younger generations report striving to “go bigger” this Halloween. That means more treats, more costumes and spookier decorations. They need more time to plan and more frequent trips to the store. Gen Z and Millennials tend to plan for Halloween 6.8 weeks before the holiday compared with 5.2 weeks for all who celebrate.

Here, you’ll find a selection of natural fall-inspired products perfect for enjoying at home, passing out at a party or gifting to the little ghosts and ghouls that appear at your door in October.

Correction: The wrong product was pictured with Lenny and Larry’s Dip’d Wafer Maple French Toast when this gallery was posted. It was corrected on Sept. 15, 2024.