Pumpkin may be the standard spice of the season, but Panera Bread’s new fall menu items showcase spice in formats beyond the seasonal staple.

Spicy sopressa and a peppery giardiniera lend spice to Panera’s new sandwich: The Italian. The hot harvest handheld, served on a hoagie roll, also features smoked, lean ham, Chianti wine salami, provolone, basil mayo and arugula.

Panera’s new Chipotle Chicken Avocado Melt is spiced up with Peppadew peppers, chipotle mayo and black pepper focaccia bread. The sandwich also includes smoked, pulled chicken, smoked Gouda, avocado and cilantro.

For those who like to sip their spice, the new Carrot Pineapple Power Smoothie from Panera features a base of spiced carrot, apple, orange and banana purees and juice concentrates blended with fresh pineapple and ice.

Cinnamon is the starring spice in Panera’s new sweet autumn offering, the Cinnamon Crunch Snickerdoodle Cookie. The treat is a thin, traditional sugar cookie topped with cinnamon sugar.

The chain's new autumn menu items join nine returning fall favorites.

For more on these items, go to Food Business News.