Examining the treats and baked goods at this autumn’s regional cider mills and pumpkin patches

Yay for autumn. While summer is great for vacations and lounging, there’s just something magical about the fall, particularly the Toledo region’s cider mills, orchards, and pumpkin patches. Kids and grandkids (and their grandparents) alike adore the family fun activities at every cider mill or pumpkin patch, many of which offer hay rides, playground equipment, and the like. But the best thing? The snacks and treats. Whether you have a hankering for hot apple cider, freshly baked doughnuts, or apple slush, there are many delicious options awaiting you and your family at the local cider mills.

Apple slush

Ice cold, tart, and deliciously sweet, apple slush is a fun treat offered by a few local orchards.  MacQueen Orchard, located at 7605 Garden Rd in Holland, serves a delicious variant on the cold classic, as does Erie Orchards & Cider Mill, located just over the state line at 1235 Erie Road in Erie. Fleitz Pumpkin Farm, located in Oregon at 7133 Seaman Road, also serve a great apple slush, but their versions are available with ice cream. Yum! Kreps Apple Barn and Cider Mill also serves a great apple slush.

Doughnuts & doughnut sundaes

Fact: Almost all local mills and pumpkin patches serve tasty doughnuts, particularly the apple fritters. But a few places go above and beyond in the baked goods department. Fleitz Pumpkin Farm arguably wins the local crown for their fine selection of doughnut sundaes. Freshy baked doughnuts topped with ice cream, whipped cream, and other fixings keep everyone of all ages happy. Fleitz also offers Donut Dogs, corn dogs dipped in doughnut batter, a variety of doughnut sundaes (including the Cinnamon Cider Donut Sundae, the Pumpkin Pecan Donut Sundae,) and the Hot Fudge Donut Sundae, all guaranteed to hit the spot. For those who aren’t against a road trip, take a journey up north to Rochester Hills, Michigan to Historic Yates Cider Mill, located at 1950 E. Avon Road. Yates is famous in the Midwest for its massive doughnut sundae.

Hayrides

So you’ve got your hot cider, maybe a doughnut, so now what? Many of the local cider mills offer great fall fun, including hayrides. Fleitz Pumpkin Farm offers a great, bouncy hayride, as do Gust Brother’s Pumpkin Farm, Johnston Fruit Farms, MacQueen Apple Orchard and Cider Mill and Erie Orchards and Cider Mill.

Cider Mill Directory

Bennett Orchard
5647 Consear Road,Ottawa Lake, MI
bennettsorchard.com

MacQueen’s Orchard
7605 Garden Road, Holland
Macqueensorchards.com

Fleitz Pumpkin Farm
7133 Seaman Road, Oregon
fleitzpumpkinfarm.com

Trabbic Pumpkin Farm
1560 Sterns Road, Erie, MI
trabbicpumpkinfarm.com

Kreps Apple Barn & Cider Mill
12500 Minx Road La Salle, MI
krepsapplebarn.com

Gust Brother’s Pumpkin Farm
13639 Mulberry Road, Ottawa Lake, MI
gustbrothers.com

Erie Orchards and Cider Mill
1235 Erie Road, Erie, MI
erieorchards.com

Johnston Fruit Farms
2790 US Hwy 20A, Swanton
Johnstonfruitfarms.com

Historic Yates Cider Mill
1950 E. Avon Road, Rochester Hills, MI
yatescidermill.com