I’m all for pumpkin, but the truth must be told: without spice, good ol’ pumpkin just wouldn’t be a star. There are plenty of other flavorful fall treats to get excited about if we’re basing our culinary decisions on taste alone: figs, apples, pears, grapes, just to name a few. Why do pumpkins take the stage and claim the popular prize each year? That answer is simple: pumpkin pie spice.