This homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte is the perfect fall drink that tastes just like the Starbucks version. It's made with real pumpkin puree!
Ingredients and substitutions
- Espresso shots – use any espresso blend of your choice. You can leave out the caffeine, but it will change the flavour.
- Pumpkin puree – make sure to use real pumpkin puree for this latte! Pumpkin pie filling can technically be used, it just won’t have the same amazing flavour.
- Milk – I prefer 2% or whole milk but you can try making this drink with another milk (dairy or non-dairy) of your choice.
- Whipped cream – leave this off to cut down on calories or use dairy-free whipped cream.
Pumpkin spice mix
- Cinnamon – double up on the nutmeg if you don’t have any cinnamon on hand.
- Nutmeg – use a bit more cinnamon or mace instead.
- Ginger – you can swap this out for allspice in a pinch.
Simple syrup
- Sugar – or any cup-for-cup sugar substitute of your choice.
- Vanilla – you can leave this out for less of a vanilla flavour.
How to make a pumpkin spice latte
- Brew the espresso.
- Blend the coffee ingredients.
- Froth the milk.
- Pour the milk over the coffee mixture.
- Top with whipped cream and serve!
How does this drink compare to Starbucks?
If you take a look at the Starbucks pumpkin spice latte, you'll see that it uses pumpkin spice, 2 shots of espresso, 2% milk and pumpkin sauce, which is a blend of vanilla syrup, pumpkin puree, sugar, salt and condensed milk. You could try to replicate the pumpkin sauce at home, but it would require a host of complicated ingredients and extra time to boil everything in a saucepan on the stove.
In this homemade pumpkin spice latte, you’ll need to blend together pumpkin puree, vanilla syrup, pumpkin spice, milk and espresso to get an uncomplicated copycat recipe, and you can barely tell the difference. Say hello to your own pumpkin spice latte in the comfort of your own home, and you don't need to spend $6 on a single drink!
Frequently Asked Questions
This pumpkin spice latte is made with espresso, real pumpkin puree, homemade pumpkin spice blend, simple syrup, milk and whipped cream. The key to getting the perfect pumpkin spice taste is to use pure pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling!) and the right blend of spices. Some may recommend using a blend of nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice and cardamom, but I substituted the allspice for a bit of dried ginger. It adds a bit of a kick and saves money in the end.
Yes! Each latte has two shots of espresso. Using espresso is key here – not to mention the fact that true lattes use espresso. That's not to say you can't use regular brewed coffee, but the drink will taste a little bit watered down unless you use espresso. If you're looking for a great tasting espresso blend, I prefer Lavazza. Otherwise, just use the espresso disks or pods that come with whatever machine you have on hand at home.
My pumpkin spice latte has just 156 calories per drink as opposed to the 380 calorie drink that Starbucks serves.
Storing components of this recipe for later
I usually make the simple syrup and pumpkin spice blend far in advance so that it's easy to add some when the time comes to make your pumpkin spice latte. You can store both components in your pantry for 2 to 3 months, so you can enjoy your homemade PSL for the whole fall season!
You can also store leftover pumpkin puree in a glass container. It will last up to 2 weeks in the fridge, so no need to worry about wasting it!
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More festive coffee recipes
Meal prep tools for this recipe
- Order a milk frother for authentic latte foam.
- I use 16oz mason jars as storage containers for the simple syrup, and to froth the milk.
- I use smaller 4oz jars for storing homemade spice mixes (and just regular spices) such as the pumpkin spice blend.
Pumpkin Spice Latte {Starbucks Copycat}
Ingredients
- 2 espresso shots
- 1 tbsp pumpkin puree
- 1 tsp pumpkin spice recipe as follows
- 1 tbsp simple syrup recipe as follows
- 3/4 cup 2% or whole milk
- Whipped cream to taste optional
Pumpkin Spice Mix
- 2 tbsp cinnamon
- 1 tbsp nutmeg
- 1 tbsp dried ginger
Simple syrup
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 tbsp vanilla
Instructions
- Brew espresso shots in whatever coffee maker you have on hand.
- While coffee is hot, mix in simple syrup, pumpkin puree and pumpkin spice mix.
- In a mason jar or beverage container with waterproof lid, shake milk until frothy. You can also use a milk frother. Remove lid and microwave for 30 seconds. Pour milk into coffee mixture.
- Enjoy with whipped cream (optional) and a sprinkle of Pumpkin Spice Mix on top!
Simple 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 for future drinks.
Pumpkin spice mix
- Mix all ingredients together in a small mason jar or Ziploc bag. Store up to 3 months in your pantry.
Comments & Reviews
Tam says
Made this as an iced latte with almond milk and it was incredible. Thanks!
Taylor Stinson says
Ooooh good to know it can be done iced! So glad you enjoyed 🙂
Jane says
Can’t wait to try it. One of my favorites.
diy says
I bought the ingrediants and will make this ASAP! Looks delish!