As the weather gets cooler and the school work picks up, many students could use some fun and tasty seasonal cuisine to help them persevere through the academic year. It is easy to fall in love with fall: the trees of fiery colors and the subtle chill in the air; however, certain autumn foods can make the season so much more enjoyable.

One company well known for its classic seasonal drinks is Starbucks. Just a year ago, Starbucks came out with a new drink perfect for the season: the Apple Crisp Oat Milk Macchiato. Even a classic like the controversial Pumpkin Spice Latte pales in comparison. Prior to drinking the macchiato, the nostalgic smell of a caramel apple wafts from the drink. Surprisingly, the macchiato is not overly sweet and has a bold apple flavor to cut through the bitterness of the coffee. For coffee lovers, the drink is a comforting nudge to help get through the day, especially with its ability to evoke warm emotions even when it is iced. Despite the somewhat unusual pairing of apple and coffee, the Apple Crisp Macchiato makes all its components work together to create the perfect, subtle fall drink that anyone can grow to love.

Another autumn dish that has recently become more popular is pumpkin alfredo pasta. The combination of pumpkin, something usually seen in sweet fall treats, with pasta may result in immediate rejection for some. However, skeptics should give this dish a chance before dismissing it. The creamy, smoky, undertones of the roasted pumpkin cutting through the dense alfredo sauce are impossible to replicate with any other dish. Along with the nutmeg and other spices in the sauce, the taste is reminiscent of butternut squash soup, but taken up a notch. There is no doubt that a steamy bowl of pumpkin alfredo pasta on a chilly autumn afternoon could brighten up anyone’s day.

In accordance with this fairly unusual food, another enjoyable seasonal snack would be a pumpkin chocolate chip muffin. Despite the combination of pumpkin with chocolate chips being a bit unnerving to some, when these muffins are freshly baked, right out of the oven, with the chocolate still melted, they are nothing short of delectable. They are perfect for soaking up a caffeinated drink, such as the Apple Crisp Macchiato, and are the perfect addition to any study session. The addition of pumpkin to muffins, gives them a more earthy taste, as they are pleasant to eat even when not considerably sweetened.

Lastly, a snack that many may be familiar with, Pumpkin Spice Oreos. The seasonal spin on the classic Oreos makes a place for themselves in anyone’s fall diet. The Pumpkin Spice Oreos consist of two vanilla sandwich cookies filled with a pumpkin spice flavored cream. Though a bit basic, these cookies definitely add a seasonal twist to Oreos. The notes of cinnamon and nutmeg are not overwhelming, but certainly give an enjoyable twist to these cookies. Spin-offs of the Pumpkin Spice Oreo are just as pleasant. For instance, Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Joe Joe’s even have a bit more enjoyable of a flavor than the Pumpkin Spice Oreos.

These four foods can really make the fall season much more cheerful. For those who are not fans of pumpkin or pumpkin spice, this list might seem a bit pointless; however, there is not a food listed that would not be worth trying. Food is not something that should only be eaten to survive, but something that can bring joy and motivation. As students, the school year can be grueling. But hopefully sipping on an Apple Crisp Oat Milk Macchiato, with a fresh pumpkin chocolate chip muffin to follow, after eating a delicious dinner of pumpkin alfredo pasta is enough to motivate students and help them survive the season of AP tests, SATs and college applications.