Thursday, September 19, 2019

Best Homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte Recipe (Better Than Starbucks)

Craving a pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks? No need to leave the house! Save yourself time & money by making an even better homemade version in about 10 minutes on your stovetop. It's super easy. No espresso machine needed & it's simple to make swaps or substitutions. This is my favorite hot drink to make during the autumn months because it's cozy, creamy, slightly sweet & chock full of fragrant warm spices.

Best Homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte Recipe (Better Than Starbucks)


This has been my go-to homemade pumpkin spice latte recipe for SEVEN years now so I can tell you with confidence that it really is the best.

(You can also check out the review comments on one of my older pumpkin spice latte pins here to see what folks have said.)

There are sooooo many copycat versions out there and to be honest...many of them suck. I know from experience because I tried several back in 2012 and ended up dumping them down the sink.

The secret to a good pumpkin spice latte is not in pumpkin spice seasoning alone. It's in the vanilla extract. The vanilla accentuates the warm spices and creates the most amazing flavor. You need them both for a good drink!

This is the main reason why I'm updating & resharing this post. I love sharing homemade versions of popular recipes so us foodies can save moolah and control the ingredients (like adding way less sugar).

And pumpkin spice is just as popular today as it was back in the early 2010s.

In fact, Starbucks just released a new cold brew pumpkin spice drink so it seems they're doubling down on the PSL craze.

(Note to self: try replicating this at home with homemade cold brew coffee & whipped cream mixed with pumpkin spice + vanilla extract.)

In a rush? Click here to save this to your fall recipes board on Pinterest so you can check it out later.

Easy & Healthy Homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte Recipe

Ingredients For Making The Best Pumpkin Spice Lattes At Home

Here's what you'll need for my version:
  • your favorite milk (dairy or dairy-free - my favorite is unsweetened vanilla almond milk)
  • canned pumpkin puree (plain pumpkin, not pumpkin pie filling)
  • your favorite sweetener (I prefer real maple syrup but vanilla-infused sugar, coconut sugar, or brown sugar would be awesome)
  • vanilla extract (this is important so don't skip it & make sure to use the real stuff, not imitation. If you can't have the alcohol that's in extracts, use vanilla bean paste instead.)
  • pumpkin pie spice (you can buy a little bottle at the store or mix up your own using warm spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, ginger & clove - see recipe link below)
  • extra strong coffee or espresso (strong coffee is perfectly fine & probably the cheapest and easiest option unless you happen to have an espresso maker.)

TIP: A cheap way to get good espresso is to use a Moka pot a.k.a. stovetop espresso maker. They're usually only $15-20 for a small one, which is super affordable compared to fancy espresso makers.

Low Carb & Keto Option: Omit the canned pumpkin and use your favorite low-carb sweetener, to taste + homemade whipped cream that is also sweetened with stevia, monk fruit, swerve, etc.

How to Save Money On This Homemade Version

You can grab all the necessary ingredients ready-made from the store and quickly brew up some strong coffee then you're ready to go. Or...

If you want to make pumpkin spice lattes on the regular or in multiple batches throughout the autumn season, you can fix some of the core ingredients at home to save money.

Try these homemade versions to keep on hand:
Easy & Healthy Homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte Recipe

Ideas For Using Up Leftover Pumpkin Puree

If you bought a 15 ounce can of pumpkin puree for this latte recipe and you're just fixing the drink for yourself, you'll likely have most of the can leftover. You can freeze any remaining puree for making more pumpkin spice lattes later on or use the rest in yummy fall recipes like these:
And if you bought several cans of pumpkin puree and are wondering how to use up a whole can (15-ounce), give this Cheesecake Factory pumpkin cheesecake a try. I'm hungry just thinking about it!

Watch The Recipe Video

Are you a visual learner? Watch my short recipe video showing you how easy it is to make this pumpkin spice latte recipe at home on your stovetop.

More Fall Recipes You'll Love:



best, diy, at home, recipe, how to make, vegan, low carb
drink
American
Yield: 1-2 servings
Author:

Best Homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte Recipe (Better Than Starbucks)

Best Homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte

prep time: 5 Mcook time: 5 Mtotal time: 10 M
Craving a pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks? No need to leave the house! Save yourself time & money by making an even better homemade version in about 10 minutes on your stovetop. It's super easy! No espresso machine needed & it's simple to make swaps or substitutions.

ingredients:

Toppings (Optional):

instructions:

How to cook Best Homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte

  1. In a small pan set over medium heat, add the pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice, and sweetener, then slowly whisk in the milk.
  2. Cook for 3-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until the mixture is steaming and everything is dissolved. (Do not let it boil.) Remove from the burner and stir in the vanilla extract.
  3. Pour strong, hot coffee (or 2 shots of espresso) into two medium mugs (or one large mug if it's just for you) and fill the mugs the rest of the way with the pumpkin spice milk mixture. Take a sip & stir in a bit more coffee or sweetener if needed.
  4. Garnish with whipped cream and a few sprinkles of cinnamon powder or vanilla sugar, then drink immediately while hot.

NOTES:

SWEETENER: If your milk has added sugar (like a store-bought vanilla almond milk), you may want to reduce the amount of sweetener to 1 tablespoon. If you're used to the Starbucks version (their drinks are generally very sweet) you may want to add another tablespoon of sweetener to your mug before garnishing with whipped cream. CREAMIER OPTION: To make this extra creamy & decadent, use whole milk, half & half, or heavy whipping cream. DAIRY-FREE OPTION: Use your favorite nut milk & homemade coconut milk whipped cream. LOW-CARB & KETO OPTION: Omit the pumpkin puree & use your favorite low-carb sweetener (stevia, monk fruit, swerve, etc.) in the pumpkin milk and any homemade whipped cream, if using. PUREE: If you let the drink sit for a while, or you have leftovers, the pumpkin puree will naturally settle to the bottom of the mug/container. If this bothers you, just give it a good stir to recombine.
Created using The Recipes Generator
Adapted from The Kitchn's Autumn DIY Recipe: Pumpkin Spice Latte

UPDATE (Septbember 2019): This recipe was originally published in October 2012, but I've recently re-written the post so it's more current + updated the recipe card to include more helpful information & tips. 

Did You Make This Recipe?

I'd love to hear your thoughts on how it went! Please leave a comment here on the blog, on Pinterest via the "tried it" feature, or use the hashtag #therisingspoon & tag @therisingspoon when you share pics to Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter. It helps me to get feedback on my creations and it totally makes my day. :)

Click Here to Pin This To Your Fall Recipes Board on Pinterest!

Learn how to make a cozy homemade pumpkin spice latte on the stovetop in minutes using a blend of canned pumpkin puree, extra strong coffee, your favorite sweetener & milk, pumpkin pie spice, and vanilla extract. This easy recipe tastes decadent but is secretly healthy since it has half the sugar of the Starbucks version. {gluten-free, paleo & vegan}


PAID ENDORSEMENT DISCLOSURE: In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog. However, I ONLY recommend helpful products that I myself would use.

MEDICAL DISCLOSURE: The information included on this website is intended for educational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. None of the opinions expressed here are meant to diagnose or treat any disease or illness. You should always consult your healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for your own situation or if you have any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment plan.

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