PSLs are so popular this time of year, and I feel like Starbucks starts bringing back their pumpkin spice lattes earlier and earlier every year. I love pumpkin so I’m ok with it! And even though people call PSLs basic, sometimes things are basic for a reason—they’re just so good. Whenever fall comes around, you can definitely catch me with a pumpkin spice latte in hand. The season isn’t complete without some pumpkin spice coffee!
Not to be a major buzzkill, but a grande pumpkin spice latte at Starbucks has 380 calories and 50 grams of sugar—that’s more than 4 Krispy Kreme donuts! And while there’s no way I’m giving up my delicious seasonal drink, the classic pumpkin spice latte could stand to be lightened up a little bit.
Here is a super easy and slightly healthier recipe for making your own homemade pumpkin spice latte. This recipe will take little time and has no scary additives! And it’s just as good, if not better than the Starbucks version (I actually think Starbucks PSLs are way too sweet and order them half as sweet anyways). On top of that, you’ll be saving money by making your own latte instead of spending around $5 a day! You can pair your latte with this copycat ginger molasses cookie recipe to bring even more Starbucks vibes to your house.
So invite your girlfriends over and put on your cozy clothes to make your own homemade pumpkin spice lattes. You’re never going to want to buy a latte again!
Pumpkin Spice Coffee: A Latte Recipe
YIELDS: 2 LATTES
INGREDIENTS:
1 ½ cups milk (or dairy-free alternative)
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1 teaspoon of vanilla
1 teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice
1/3 cup pumpkin puree
1 – 1/2 cups hot black coffee
STEPS:
Warm the milk in a small pot.
Add the maple syrup, vanilla, and pumpkin pie spice. Whisk together in the pot.
Add the pumpkin puree and whisk together in the pot.
Pour the pumpkin mixture into two mugs, then fill mugs to the top with hot coffee.
Top the mugs with a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice or ground cinnamon.
A FEW RECIPE NOTES:
You can buy canned pumpkin and puree it yourself—just be sure it’s not “pumpkin pie” filling mix.
If you don’t like drinking coffee or you’re not a fan of the caffeine, try chai tea as a substitute. Psst, find the best chai tea recipe over here.
You can make the pumpkin mix in advance, which will last around 4 – 5 days, then reheat the mix and add to hot black coffee.
Recipe by guest contributor Lindsay Kinder, of Food La La, your go-to for the hows, whats, and whys of cooking healthy, but delicious food!
Photography by Erica Garlieb.
Like this recipe? Find more quick, easy, and delicious recipes here!
FAQs
Pumpkin pie spice is a blend of grounded cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger cloves, and allspice.
A traditional pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks will contain lots of added sugar making it very high in calories. A pumpkin spice latte in moderation will not greatly impact your health.
Adding more sweetener like sugar, honey, flavored creamer, and even chocolate.
There is not any pumpkin in pumpkin spice seasoning. Pumpkin spice season will typically taste like a combination of cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and allspice.
Elise Armitage is an entrepreneur and founder of What The Fab, a travel + lifestyle blog based in California. At the beginning of 2019, Elise left her corporate job at Google to chase her dreams: being an entrepreneur and helping women find fabulous in the everyday. Since then, she’s launched her SEO course Six-Figure SEO, where she teaches bloggers how to create a passive revenue stream from their website using SEO. Featured in publications like Forbes, Elle, HerMoney, and Real Simple, Elise is a firm believer that you can be of both substance and style.
