For A Fall-Inspired Scoop, Drizzle This Over Ice Cream

If you crave the flavors of fall while digging into a bowl of ice cream, either because of the time of year or because you simply miss the season's signature flavors, one way to give it an autumnal boost is to drizzle pumpkin seed oil on top.

Savory pumpkin seed oil on ice cream may not initially sound as appealing as, say, melted chocolate or caramel syrup, but it has a lot to offer when it comes to flavor. The oil isn't mild, as you might expect from other oils. Instead, it's known for a prominent nuttiness and slight earthiness, with toasty notes. That the oil comes from pumpkins, fall's dominant flavor, naturally gives it an autumnal association. But fall is also known for rich, warming, toasted flavors, and this oil offers exactly that, transforming your scoop into a treat that tastes like the essence of the season.

Pumpkin seed oil isn't as readily available as olive oil, but it's not impossible to find. You can get it from Amazon and some grocery stores — La Tourangelle's version comes highly recommended. For some of the best pumpkin seed oil, look for Austrian brands, as the country's Styria region is known for sourcing the specialty oil. You can also make it yourself, though it's not a simple process, starting with collecting seeds from specific Styrian pumpkins to dry, roast, press (using an oil press), and finally strain.

Pumpkin seed oil works best over sweet and simple ice cream flavors like vanilla or maybe chocolate, as the plainness will allow the oil's flavor to shine. But that doesn't mean you can't experiment. To maximize the nuttiness, try using nut-based ice creams or flavors like butter pecan or pistachio. Or, if it does happen to be fall, grab pumpkin ice cream to create the ultimate autumnal sweet-and-savory dessert.

Many recipes recommend sprinkling salt on top of your pumpkin seed oil-topped ice cream, as salt brings out flavor, but consider adding other toppings alongside or instead of the oil, like homemade roasted pumpkin seeds, pumpkin seed butter, pumpkin spice syrup, various spices, or candied pecans for a pecan pie-esque flavor (and more nuttiness).

If you pick up pumpkin seed oil for your ice cream, you'll likely have some left over, so make the most of it by adding it to other foods. Try drizzling it on top of a fresh salad or warm soup, or using it as a finishing oil on granola or a dip. The only thing you shouldn't do with the oil is cook it — doing so will turn it unpleasantly bitter. And, if you end up enjoying pumpkin seed oil on ice cream, it may be worth trying another oil known for being a great ice cream topping.