One of my favorite coffee drinks always has been and always will be a pumpkin spice latte, especially in the fall. It’s an amazing mix of coffee, milk, and the mouth-watering flavor of pumpkin pie. Yum!
Move over Starbucks! The best homemade version of my dearest coffee is here! Latte is an incredible combination of espresso and milk.
It’s much creamier than a cappuccino, and you can drink it hot, cold, or iced, making it perfect for any time of year.
This super easy, hot, and steamy drink is the perfect accompaniment for the beautiful and chilly days of fall. And if the day isn’t so chilly, you can make it cold.
What is a Pumpkin Spice Latte?
This is the fun part. Make your espresso the way you like. While that is going on, heat the spices and pumpkin puree, then you add sugar if you want it sweeter, warm and froth the milk, and mix it all for a drool-worthy and warming coffee that will get you through the rest of the day on high.
What’s in a Pumpkin Spice Latte?
- Pumpkin Puree – Just to clarify, this is NOT pumpkin pie filling. It’s the unadulterated goodness of pureed pumpkin. You can roast your own pumpkin and puree it for an even better drink.
- Pumpkin Pie Spice – The wonderful flavor of fall in a spice mix. If you want to make your own and have it in stock, check out my homemade pumpkin spice mix.
- Black Pepper – A basic household must-have. It offers the right amount of heat without burning your taste buds.
- Granulated Sugar – adds the perfect amount of sweetness. Adjust to your tastes.
- Whole Milk – Adds creamy richness to any coffee drink. If you’re worried about fat, you can use low-fat milk, but it won’t have the same creaminess.
- Vanilla Extract -Adds a smoothness like no other. It’s even better when you make your own Homemade Vanilla Extract.
- Espresso – If you are a die-hard coffee lover, this is coffee plus some. Being much stronger than regular coffee makes it the ideal combination with milk-based coffee drinks. Who wants weak coffee, right?
- Sweetened Whipped Cream – Make everything better with Homemade Whipped Cream.
Ingredient Substitutes
- Pumpkin Puree – the most common replacement is butternut squash or sweet potato. Make a puree and replace it with the same amount of either.
- Pumpkin Pie Spice – It’s so easy to make your own (go check my Pumpkin Spice Recipe here), or you could replace it with the same amount of apple pie spice.
- Sugar – if you prefer less sugar in your life, you can leave it out. Or you can use stevia.
- Whole Milk – if you just have to, you can use low-fat milk, though I don’t recommend it. Dairy-free? Replacing whole milk with the same amount of coconut milk or almond milk will work just fine (you can mix and match any non-dairy milk).
- Espresso – not crazy about too much caffeine? No one will notice if you use decaf. Honestly, it’s also really good with black or green tea. Another option is unsweetened cocoa powder. If you only have sweetened cocoa powder, just increase it by a tablespoon or two and eliminate the sugar. A delicious coffee substitute would work, like one made with chicory or dandelion root.
Recipe Variations
- Turmeric – If you’re into healthy food, adding a little ground turmeric will kick it up a notch on the nutritional scale. Have you ever heard of Golden Milk? How about Golden Coffee? I like the sound of that.
- Chai Latte – Not into coffee? This Chai Latte is awesome.
- Almond or Coconut Milk – Homemade coconut milk is incredible with this recipe.
- Apple Sauce – You could use applesauce for a completely different twist, coupled with apple pie spices. That would be really good!
- Iced Coffee – Thai Iced Coffee is the perfect solution for not-so-chilly days.
Different Ways of Serving
Not all beautiful autumn days are chilly; some of them can be downright hot. What better way to enjoy the flavors of fall than with a cold or frozen latte!
Instead of heating the milk, mix it cold with the pumpkin spices, chill the coffee, mix it, and pour it over some ice cubes.
Pairing Suggestions
I absolutely love Brownies with coffee but it’s not the only thing that pairs well with pumpkin spice latte. Unless you are really a pumpkin fanatic, it’s best to balance it with something like Lemon Blueberry Scones or a Peach Cobbler Pound Cake topped with Homemade Whipped Cream.
More Fall-Perfect Recipes
How to Make Easy Pumpkin Spice Latte at Home
Making the Flavor
- Heat the Spices – Place the pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice, and the black pepper in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook for a minute or two, constantly stirring, until hot and fragrant. (Photos 1 & 2)
- Sweeten It Up – Add the sugar and stir until the mixture combines into a syrup consistency. (Photos 3 & 4)
Putting It All Together
- Add the Milk and Vanilla – Whisk in the milk and vanilla and cook until warmed, stirring often. (Photo 5)
- Froth It All – Remove the saucepan from the heat and transfer it to a blender, mixing until combined and frothy. (Photo 6)
- The Final Touch – Divide the coffee between 2 mugs. Add the frothed pumpkin mixture, then top with whipped cream and a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice. (Photos 7 & 8)
Watch How To Make It
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Pumpkin Spice Latte
Ingredients
Pumpkin Flavor
- 3 tablespoons (42 g) pumpkin purée
- ½ teaspoon (1 g) pumpkin pie spice plus more for garnish
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons (25 g) granulated sugar
The Beverage
- 2 cups (480 ml) whole milk
- 1 tablespoon (14 ml) vanilla extract
- ½ cup espresso or strong coffee
- sweetened whipped cream for serving
Instructions
Pumpkin Flavor
- Place the pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice, and a pinch of black pepper in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook for 1-2 minutes, constantly stirring, until hot and fragrant.
- Add the sugar and stir until the mixture combines into a syrup consistency.
The Beverage
- Whisk in the milk and vanilla and cook until warmed, stirring often.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat and transfer the mixture to a blender, mixing until combined and frothy.
- Divide the coffee between 2 mugs. Add the frothed pumpkin mixture, then top with whipped cream and a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice.
Tips & Notes:
- You can triple or quadruple the pumpkin puree, spice, and black pepper mix and freeze 1 1/2 tablespoons in each well of an ice cube tray. Then, when you crave the steamy goodness of pumpkin spice latte, heat one cube of spice mix per cup of milk in a saucepan, and proceed with the recipe.
- Please keep in mind that nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary significantly based on the products used in the recipe.
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