No need to pay for pricey coffee-shop pumpkin spice lattes with this easy, homemade version that uses real pumpkin puree (no fake, sugary syrups) and can be made quickly and inexpensively at home. And now you can enjoy pumpkin spice lattes year-round from home.
Every year around this time the world seems to go crazy for Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Lattes
The Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Lattes are lovely…
But you can make them at home
And I’d like to think my make-at-home version wins
Why?
Because you can make them vegan at home, if you so choose.
And the ones you purchase are generally made with fake, sugary, pumpkin-flavored syrups, not real pumpkin puree.
It should be noted that this is a natural latte, made with real pumpkin puree and real pumpkin pie spice. It does not all fully dissolve and there will be some settling at the bottom of the mug. If you don’t want settling, the way to avoid that is to use synthetic syrups made from chemicals rather than real pumpkin and real spices. Your choice.
Since some people enjoy a daily dose of HFCS, you make lattes at home and can control what goes into your latte.
Another reason the at-home version wins is because you could go into the poorhouse if you like your coffee as much as I like mine buying these specialty drinks.
I bet the cost per cup of the homemade latte is less than a quarter and probably even less.
Far less than the $4 coffee shop lattes and the cheapskate in me wants to make things at home whenever possible.
And I actually prefer the taste of my version to the Starbucks version but I could be biased.
For the recipe, there are many ways to make these and many recipes I’ve seen on the internet, but here’s what I do because I like these ratios the best.
And oh yes, it’s easy.
A Visual Guide
Brew your coffee
I was lucky enough to receive this Godiva Pumpkin Coffee from Godiva in conjunction with being a FoodBuzz Featured Publisher
The coffee is delicious and being that it’s pumpkin-flavored it just enhances the recipe but it’s not required to use pumpkin coffee
Any ole coffee will do if you don’t have any of these just laying around your cupboards
After you’ve made your coffee, make the pumpkin milk
Everything in
Blend
This stuff is so good!
You don’t even need to pour it into coffee. You can just drink this as is. Mmmm, good. Just ask Skylar.
And when you’re chugging this straight taste-testing this before you pour it into the brewed coffee just remember the old saying: “Pumpkin Milk: It does a body good!”
I recommend heating the pumpkin milk mixture up in the micro (or stovetop) before you add it to the brewed coffee (or Vita users, just let ‘er rip and let the machine do the work for you)
But I truly despise lukewarm coffee drinks so I always heat it up as to not cool off my coffee too much
Pour the coffee into your mug, top with half the pumpkin milk mixture
Garnish and Drink Up
And be glad you don’t have to rely on buying pumpkin spice lattes anymore!
As I said in the recipe section, you know you will want a refill
Every bit as good as Starbucks Star Who?
And easy and cheap!
And for the rest of the can of pumpkin puree you have on your hands, I have a great recipe coming up for how to use it…
Tip: I actually mix up about 2 cups+ worth of pumpkin milk at a time and store that in the fridge and heat it up as needed and then add that to coffee as I see fit over the next couple days
I figure as long as I am dirtying dishes and have everything out, I always make a little extra for refills or future use
Or, you can also freeze the extra pumpkin puree in a small container and make something else that tickles your pumpkin fancy because you never know when a pumpkin craving is going to hit.
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Pumpkin Spice Latte
Ingredients
- At least 2 cups coffee, strong and freshly brewed
- 1 cup milk, I used unsweetened vanilla almond milk but use any kind you wish from whole to soy to rice milk
- ¼ heaping cup pumpkin puree, more if you really love pumpkin
- 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice blend, or to taste
- 1 teaspoons cinnamon, or to taste
- 1 teaspoons vanilla extract
- sweetener of choice, to taste (I suggest 2 tablespoons agave or 2 tablespoons brown sugar, or a pinch of stevia to taste; or try honey, maple syrup, etc. to taste)
- Optional: pinch of ground nutmeg, ginger, garam masala, cardamom, or other warming spices to taste
Instructions
- Make coffee (a pot, single-serving cup, in whatever fashion and however you prefer making your coffee. The stronger the better)
- Make Pumpkin Milk by combining all ingredients in a small bowl and whisk well by hand or blend using a Vita-MIx or blender Optional: Warm the finished pumpkin milk mixture in the microwave or on the stovetop (I do a quick nuke of about 1 minute)
- Pour 1 cup of brewed coffee into a mug and pour half the pumpkin milk mixture over the top of the coffee and enjoy. (The other half of the pumpkin milk mixture is for the refill you know you will want. If you truly don’t want a refill, refrigerate it for up to a few days and use for your next latte, in a smoothie, or drink it as is. As long as you’re dirtying dishes, I always make a little extra for refills or for later)
- Optional: Finish by garnishing with real whipped cream/whipped topping such and a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice/cinnamon on top
- Notes: The spices will not “blend” or entirely dissolve. This is to be expected and normal. If this bothers you, this may not the recipe for you and you may want to experiment with other recipes or techniques.All spices and seasonings are to taste; in this case, mine. If you want to reduce the spices (or increase them), obviously adjust everything according to your own taste preferences. Some people may find the amounts I used a bit strong, but I like robust flavors.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Here’s a Roundup of my Favorite Pumpkin Recipes
Do you like Pumpkin Spice Lattes? Are you one of those people who has been over-paying for your seasonal pumpkin spice lattes (or come Christmastime the gingerbread lattes)?
Maybe you’ll make these at home because as I said here, if I relied on Starbucks for my coffee or specialty drink fix, I’d be broke!
Plus I truly prefer the taste of the make-at-home.
My only comment would be that a traditional latte (that they make at Starbucks) is with espresso instead of coffee. Your version is more of a “misto” which is fine (I actually prefer it), but just saying for PC’s sake. :) Sounds great!
OMGOSH – I’m so excited to share this with my GF!! She just moved to Chicago and is drinking flavored pumpkin pie coffee but I think this will give an extra kick!! Thanks for the recipe :)
Thanks for the latte recipe! My dad loooves Pumpkin spice lattes, but will rarely indulge in spending the money on himself–I’m excited to try the recipe for him at home!
Tried this today and it wasn’t good at all, IMO but it might have just been because almond milk never goes well with almond milk. Tastes too pumpkin-y – like that I’d eat on a plate. Glad it worked so well for you though! Think I’ll still have to stick to the Starbucks gospel – all the recipes on the Internet are just icky looking ‘cept this one…
You could always reduce the amount of pumpkin puree used in the recipe or change the type of milk you’re using.
Not sure I understand your sentence “because almond milk never goes well with almond milk.”
LOVE this! I’ve sworn off Starbucks – better for my health and my wallet – so this will come greatly in handy! :)
I have pulled up this post three times today! I’m still at work, but I can’t wait to get home and try it out. THANK YOU!
Holy shut the front door – look at those photos, Averie! You are killing it. Love, Love, Love!
This looks wonderful, awesome job! It’s been ages since I’ve been to Starbucks because it’s way too pricey. So true about the blogospere being obsessed with pumpkin, hope I get time to work with the fresh ones from my garden.
1. Yes, but I need to make my own since I’m too cheap for Starbucks.
2. Not really at the moment.
Seriously, this latte is soooo much better than anything we could get at Starbucks. Thanks for adding it to my happy post :)
Awesome seeing you yesterday. At Starbucks ;)
i’m sold! definitely going to being doing the DIY p-spice lattes!
OMG~! Thank you for the pumpkin latte recipe Averie!!! (my wallet thanks you too!) I have some pumpkin puree in the freezer that I can use to make some pumpkin milk tonight. Looks like i’ll be having a homemade pumpkin spice latte tomorrow for breakfast =) I’m looking forward to more of your latte recipes.
I love your excitement about this :)
I think your version sounds WAY better than Starbucks. I really don’t like theirs because it just tastes SO fake!
I love everything about this! Including your gorgeous photos! It’s still so warm here on the east coast, so I’m easing into the fall season…somehow I can have my pumpkin spice coffee (I make my own syrup!) unless its 70 degrees or below!
OMG this looks awesome. A short decaf soy PSL has become my Starbucks daily treat so I will have to try this! I was so excited when I was in Monterey and they sold them a week early, before Labor Day. I am def going to make this! And I have been meaning to tell you that when I made your raw choc chip cookie dough balls for my brother and his wife they ate up a triple batch. They are now hooked on them as well as the Trader Joe’s choc chips too.
thanks for LMK they’re hooked on the raw choc chip cookie dough balls AND tj’s choc chips!
This looks GREAT Averie! I am a freak for pumpkin spiced lattes, and this is a great alternative to the pricey Starbuck’s version.