This Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew Coffee is a copycat of the Starbucks recipe and is perfect for fall. Plus, it’s made with real pumpkin!

Call me a basic bitch but I looooove my pumpkin cream cold brews and pumpkin spice lattes. There's nothing like that first cinnamony sip that gets you in the mood for fall.
But let's be real: I can't afford to get a $7 drink from Starbucks every time and I don't always wanna leave my house to go get one. The solution? Have unlimited pumpkin cream cold brews at home!!!
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Starbucks copycat: Make your fave fall Starbucks drink at home, without the extra calories or price tag.
- Don't have to leave your house: Ever craved a coffee but didn't want to go get one?
- Fall flavors: This drink is made with real pumpkin and tastes like fall in a glass.
Ingredients and substitutions
- Filtered water – you can use tap water or bottled water, I just find filtered water tastes best.
- Ground coffee – use your favourite ground coffee variety.
Vanilla syrup
- Sugar – use any cup-for-cup sugar substitute of your choice.
- Vanilla – almond extract will work but will have a different flavour.
Pumpkin spice mix
- Cinnamon – double up on the nutmeg if you don’t have any cinnamon.
- Nutmeg – use more cinnamon or even mace.
- Ginger – add in some more allspice instead.
- Allspice – cloves are the best substitute here.
Pumpkin cream
- Milk – feel free to use any dairy or dairy-free milk of your choice.
- Whipping cream – pureed tofu or coconut cream are great vegan options.
- Pumpkin puree – this is pretty essential to the recipe. You can try swapping for mashed banana but it will have a very different flavour.
- Pumpkin spice mix – see ingredients above.
- Vanilla syrup – see ingredients above.

How to make pumpkin cream cold brew

Step 1: Make the vanilla syrup.
Add the vanilla syrup ingredients to a mason jar and let it cool.
Step 2: Make the pumpkin spice mix.
Mix the spices together.

Step 3: Assemble your ingredients.
Prep all your ingredients and make the cold brew coffee.
Step 4: Make the pumpkin cream cold foam.
Blend the pumpkin cream cold foam ingredients in an immersion blender or using beaters.

Step 5: Pour the cold brew into a glass.
Add the vanilla syrup and cold brew to a large glass of ice.
Step 6: Top with pumpkin cream.
Add the pumpkin cream cold foam to the glass, then sprinkle with pumpkin spice mix.

Making it dairy free/vegan
With just a few small changes, this drink easily fits into your vegan or dairy-free diet:
- Swap out the milk for coconut milk.
- Swap out the whipping cream for pureed tofu or coconut cream.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you make this drink ahead of time?
You can't make the entire drink ahead of time, but you can prep different ingredients. The cold brew will last in the fridge for 48 hours, the vanilla syrup for 2 months and the pumpkin cream cold foam for a week (but it'll need to be re-frothed). The pumpkin spice mix can be stored in the pantry for 3 months.
Can you make it with hot coffee?
This recipe will only work for cold brew coffee, but if you're looking for a hot drink option, I suggest trying out my Pumpkin Spice Latte recipe! It tastes just like the Starbucks version.
How long will the pumpkin cream cold foam last in the fridge?
The pumpkin cream cold foam will last in the fridge for about a week. It will likely lose it's frothiness, so I'd recommend re-frothing it before using.
How many calories are in this recipe vs. the Starbucks version?
There are 230 calories and 31 grams of sugar in the Starbucks pumpkin cream cold brew whereas mine has just 137 calories including 15 grams of sugar. By making your own cream and syrup, you are saving a lot of those calories.

Tips for making pumpkin cold brew
- Make pumpkin spice mix: Store the pumpkin spice mix in your pantry for up to 3 months and use it for other pumpkin recipes.
- Use real pumpkin puree: It's way better (and healthier) than pumpkin pie filling.
- Shake in a mason jar: If you don't have an immersion blender or beaters, add the drink to a mason jar and shake well to get it nice and frothy.
- Re-froth before using: If you store the cold foam in the fridge, give it a good shake or re-blend before using.
More Starbucks copycat recipes
Meal prep tools
- Get some cheesecloth to strain the coffee.
- I use smaller 4oz jars for storing homemade spice mixes (and just regular spices) such as the pumpkin spice blend.

Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew Coffee {Starbucks Copycat}
Ingredients
- 8 cups filtered water
- 2 cups ground coffee
- 1/4 cup vanilla syrup (see below)
- 1/2 cup pumpkin cream (see below)
- Pumpkin spice, for garnishing (see below)
Vanilla syrup
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 tbsp vanilla
Pumpkin spice mix
- 1 tbsp cinnamon
- 2 tsp nutmeg
- 2 tsp ginger
- 1 tsp allspice or cloves
Pumpkin cream
- 1/2 cup milk (can use skim, 2% or whole)
- 1/2 cup whipping cream
- 1/4 cup pumpkin puree
- 1 tsp pumpkin spice mix
- 1 tsp vanilla syrup
Instructions
Cold brew coffee
- Make the cold brew coffee by mixing water and coffee grinds together in a large pitcher. Let sit overnight in the fridge for at least 12 hours (or up to 48 hours if desired).
- When ready to serve, slowly pour coffee through cheesecloth that is sitting in a fine mesh sieve into another large pitcher. Make sure you pour slowly and with precision to ensure there are no coffee grounds in the cold brew.
Vanilla syrup
- Add one cup boiling water and 1 cup sugar to a mason jar, stirring well. Stir in vanilla, then let cool to room temperature. Store in the fridge up to 2 months.
Pumpkin spice mix
- Mix all ingredients together for spice mix and store in an airtight container until ready to use. Will last for 3 months.
Pumpkin cream
- Mix all ingredients under the pumpkin cream heading together using an immersion blender or beaters in a large mixing cup.
Pumpkin cream cold brew drink
- Add a handful of ice to a large glass or mason jar, then mix in 1 tbsp of vanilla syrup. Top with 2 cups of coffee, then add 2 tbsp of pumpkin cream on top (you can do more of each to serve if desired). Before mixing, sprinkle with pumpkin spice mix. Serve and enjoy!
Comments & Reviews
Sam says
Hi! In the notes you say that the cream not frothed lasts a week, how long will it last once it is frothed? Thanks!
Taylor Stinson says
It will last the same time, you may just need to re-froth it!
Morgan says
Thank you very much for sharing these recipes! The pumpkin cream is delicious- just what I was looking for. I’ve used it to make delicious coffee, but I also used it to make French toast after adding an egg to it. A new fall favorite!
Taylor Stinson says
I’m so happy you enjoyed! And thank you for the tip on the French toast, such a great idea!