At Blue Jay Bistro, a female-led restaurant in Littleton, North Carolina, chef Ashleigh Fleming leads the charge, crafting the menu as an ode to her past experience and childhood, while celebrating North Carolina through locally and regionally sourced ingredients and surrounding Southern influence.

The restaurant’s pastry chef, Brittany Elmore, recently created and introduced the Pumpkin Churro to the menu – a fun, seasonal spin on the classic Spanish pastry.

In Elmore’s version, the basic churro is dressed up with pumpkin puree and pumpkin spice in the batter, fried to order and dusted with pumpkin spice and sugar. The final presentation includes candied pumpkin seeds, a cream cheese frosting drizzle and espresso gel (all inspired by the pumpkin spice latte).

Creating the pastry program at Blue Jay Bistro, Elmore finds inspiration within the hometown she grew up in, taking classically southern desserts she was raised with and recreating them utilizing simple and delicious ingredients in an elevated, fun new way.