Quick And Easy Homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte Recipe

It’s pumpkin season. Fall is usually characterized by changing leaves, crisp air, and pumpkins. You’ll enjoy sipping on a pumpkin spice latte, or PSL if you love hot and cozy drinks in the fall and winter. And although the original Starbucks pumpkin spice latte is fun, it may be too sweet for most people.

You can make a Pumpkin Spice Latte in your kitchen with a few simple ingredients, including pumpkin puree and pumpkin spice. Also, consider using maple syrup as a natural sweetener for your caffeinated treat. You can also swap out certain ingredients if needed.

Skip the long lines or the drive-thru at Starbucks and try this delicious and nutritious pumpkin spice recipe. A homemade PSL is simple to prepare and more affordable than the shop version. So if you love pumpkin spice lattes, tap into your inner barrister and make a PSL at home.

What You’ll Need for a Homemade PSL

Glasses with tasty pumpkin spice latte on wooden table

Pumpkin enthusiasts eager to embrace the taste of fall love the pumpkin spice latte. The spices in the pumpkin spice evoke a feeling of nostalgia and coziness. Blended with vanilla extract, this flavor triggers memories of holiday seasons for most average Americans.

Making a homemade PSL is an easy way to manage the ingredients that go into your favorite caffeinated beverage. When you choose the DIY route, you can customize your pumpkin spice latte to match your taste and nutrient preference.

Below are the ingredients you will need to make a healthy homemade PSL:

You can personalize your pumpkin spice latte with unsweetened milk or a non-dairy option. Use 2% milk to create a creamy drink or almond milk to reduce the creaminess. For a creamy non-dairy PSL, consider using coconut or soy milk.

How Healthy is the Pumpkin Spice Latte?

A medium-sized Starbucks pumpkin spice latte contains 50g of sugar.

Although indulging once in a while is okay, the homemade PSL version is naturally sweetened and has a distinct pumpkin flavor.

According to the American Heart Association, men should limit their sugar intake to a maximum of 36 grams daily, while women should consume no more than 25 grams a day.

But full of vitamin A, potassium, and fiber, pumpkin is very nutritious and good for your heart health.

How to Make a Pumpkin Spice Latte at Home

If you love your coffee first thing in the morning, you can make a PSL in just a few minutes from the comfort of your home. Making a pumpkin spice latte usually involves blending espresso or strong coffee with real pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice, and a dash of maple syrup to create a creamy latte.

Below are the two primary methods of making a homemade pumpkin spice latte:

The Stove Top Method

You can easily make a pumpkin spice latte on a stovetop by following the steps below:

  1. First, make espresso or double-brew coffee to achieve a robust coffee taste.
  1. Pour the espresso or coffee into a large mug and set aside.
  1. Place the milk, pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice, maple syrup, and vanilla extract into a saucepan.
  1. Turn on your stovetop on the low setting and whisk the mixture together.
  1. Heat the milk-pumpkin puree mixture until hot but not boiling.
  1. Ensure to keep stirring to prevent scalding.
  1. Use a milk frother or whisk to froth the milk and pumpkin syrup mixture.
  1. Pour the mixture over the coffee or espresso.
  1. Top with some whipped cream or frothed milk.
  1. Sprinkle some pumpkin spice.
  1. Enjoy!

The Microwave Method

If you are in a rush, use the following steps to make a PSL using the microwave:

  1. First, make espresso or double-brew coffee.
  1. Pour the espresso or coffee into a large mug and set aside.
  1. Add the milk, pumpkin puree, pumpkin spice, maple syrup, and vanilla in a glass measuring cup or large mug.
  1. Whisk the ingredients together until smooth and heat in the microwave in 30-second intervals.
  1. Froth the milk and pumpkin mixture using a whisk or milk frother.
  1. Pour the mixture over your coffee or espresso.
  1. Top the drink with some whipped cream or frothed milk.
  1. Sprinkle pumpkin spice and enjoy.

Froth Milk or Skip the Step

Frothing the milk helps you achieve the latte texture you’d find in a Starbucks pumpkin spice latte. In addition, it adds an airy and creamy mouthfeel to your PSL, so it goes down much smoother.

Foam is essential for sine drinks like lattes and cappuccinos. You can easily froth your milk using a frother like the Nespresso Aeroccino (on Amazon) or following the steps below for frothing milk using a whisk:

  1. First, heat the milk to 140°F. Ensure that milk doesn’t boil.
  1. Next, pour the milk into a mug and leave enough space for it to double in volume.
  1. Place the hand-held whisk (on Amazon) into the mug and begin whisking milk close to the base.
  1. Whisk in a circular motion for about 20 seconds.
  1. As the milk thickens, raise the whisk to just beneath the foam.
  1. Carefully pull the frother from the milk.

Don’t Have All the Ingredients? Here are Some Easy Swaps

Making a homemade pumpkin spice latte requires only a few easy-to-find ingredients. Are you out of a few ingredients? Here are some recommended substitutes that work:

Pumpkin Spice

If you don’t have some pumpkin spice in your pantry, you can make your own by mixing:   

  • 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
  • 1/8 tsp. nutmeg
  • 1/8 tsp. ginger
  • 1/8 tsp. of ground cloves or allspice

Espresso

If you lack espresso-making equipment in your kitchen, use freshly brewed coffee. Ensure to double-brew the coffee by adding twice the amount of coffee grounds you usually use. The best roast for brewing coffee is a medium or dark roast.

Medium and dark roast coffee beans (on Amazon)have a full-bodied flavor and strong undertones, making them the best for espressos and lattes. Use freshly roasted and ground coffee beans for the best results.

Sweetener

Since it adds to the cozy fall flavor, use pure maple syrup as a natural sweetener for your pumpkin spice latte. If you have no maple syrup, consider swapping it with honey or brown sugar.

Milk

A pumpkin spice latte is usually made using cow milk, but you can use any plain-flavored milk for the PSL recipe based on your preference. Starbucks often use 2% milk in their lattes. Consider incorporating barista-style oat milk in your PSL if you are out of cow milk.

First, Create a Creamy Pumpkin Mixture

Pumpkin puree and ingredients for preparation pumpkin spice latte

Consider making a large batch of pumpkin syrup for added convenience. You can do this by combining the following:

  • 1/3 cup of pumpkin puree
  • 1/4 cup of maple syrup
  • 1 Tbsp. of vanilla extract
  • 1-1/2 tsp. of pumpkin pie spice
  • 3/4 tsp of sea salt

Place the mixture in a jar, then mix using a whisk until thoroughly combined. Seal and refrigerate the jar for up to a week.

You can use two level tablespoons of this mixture for every latte. First, mix the pumpkin spice syrup with milk; then add it to your espresso or coffee as per the directions above.

This recipe will make enough pumpkin spice syrup for six servings.

Pour Over Espresso or Coffee, and Enjoy!

Once you blend the pumpkin mixture with milk, you should heat the milk and pour the hot mixture into the strong coffee or espresso. However, take extra caution not to boil the milk for the best results.

Serve the pumpkin spice latte immediately and top it with whipped cream and a pinch of pumpkin sauce for added flavor.

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