Skip the coffee shop lines and make your own pumpkin spice latte at home in minutes. Full of the flavors of fall, this will be your new favorite coffee recipe!
One of my favorite things about fall is definitely all of the pumpkin spice recipes. It’s so warming with just the right amount of sweet. A pumpkin spice latte is one of my top indulgences.
This year, I decided to make my own Starbucks copycat, and let me tell you, it tastes just as it should! I love to enjoy this on chilly mornings for breakfast and it’s great for an afternoon caffeine fix!
If coffee is your jam, be sure to check out my Iced Honey Almond milk Flat White and Iced Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso!
Why you will love this pumpkin spice latte!
- Easy: It’s easier than you think to make a latte at home, you don’t need any special equipment!
- Quick: You can make this coffee recipe in less than 15 minutes.
- Delicious! This tastes exactly like your usual order from your favorite coffee shop. It’s so comforting and warming!
If you absolutely love pumpkin flavored everything, be sure to try this Homemade Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew, or this pumpkin cold foam that you can add on top of any cold brew or iced coffee.
How to make a homemade pumpkin spice latte
Be sure to see the recipe card below for full ingredients & instructions!
- Make your espresso.
- Combine the sauce ingredients in a pot and simmer.
- Shake your milk in a jar to make it frothy and then warm in the microwave.
- Add the sauce to your mug, top with expresso and top with milk and stir to combine.
- Top with whipped topping and grated nutmeg to serve.
Can you make it ahead of time?
This is best served as soon as you’ve made it, but the pumpkin sauce can be made ahead of tie so that you can whip up a cup in no time at all. Refrigerate the cooled pumpkin sauce in an airtight container for up to a week.
What’s the best milk to use?
I like to use a 2% milk in this latte, but you can use 1% if you prefer. You can make this latte with a plant based milk if you prefer They generally don’t froth up quite as well as dairy milk, but oat milk, almond and soy milk make good alternatives.
Latte Toppings
You can of course serve this latte with just the pumpkin sauce, coffee and milk, but the fun is in the toppings! I like to finish mine with lashings of whipped topping and a grate of nutmeg or pumpkin spice.
If you like, drizzle some caramel or chocolate sauce on top to go full out! And if you want an extra decadent drink, top it off with this Pumpkin Whipped Cream!
Tips!
- I like to use freshly brewed espresso for the best flavor, but you can you instant coffee if you are in a pinch.
- When heating the milk in the microwave, be careful to watch it to make sure it doesn’t overflow. You can also heat it up on the stovetop.
- Use a homemade pumpkin puree OR buy canned pure pumpkin.
Homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte
Ingredients
- 1 cup pumpkin puree
- ½ cup cane sugar
- ½ cup water
- 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla
- 1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 cup 1% or 2% milk
- ½ cup espresso or very strong coffee
Optional toppings:
- Whipped topping
- Ground cinnamon
- Ground nutmeg
Instructions
- Make your espresso according to the directions on the package.
- Prepare your sauce by combining pumpkin puree, sugar, water, pumpkin pie spice, vanilla and ginger in a small sauce pan. Simmer over medium heat for 10 minutes.
- For the milk you can pour ½ cup cold milk into microwavable jar, screw lid on tight and shake shake shake! In about 30 seconds your milk will be frothy and doubled in size. Remove lid and place in microwave for 30 seconds to warm the milk and set the froth. Keep an eye out for over flow while heating.
- Add one tablespoon pumpkin sauce and espresso to your favorite mug. Add frothed milk and gently swirl.
- Top with whipped topping and a sprinkle of nutmeg.
- Refrigerate unused pumpkin sauce in an airtight container for your next Copycat Pumpkin Spice Latte.
Last step! Don’t forget to show me a pic of what you made! Upload an image or tag me @thecookierookie on Instagram!
Becky’s tips
- I like to use freshly brewed espresso for the best flavor, but you can you instant coffee if you are in a pinch.
- When heating the milk in the microwave, be careful to watch it to make sure it doesn’t overflow. You can also heat it up on the stovetop.
Nutrition Information
Not quite “copycat” since coffee places don’t typically put pumpkin in their drinks, just pumpkin pie spices. But it is interesting.
Not an identical recipe, but the same goal!
Yummy! I likes those recipes!
Enjoy, Paula!