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This Pumpkin Spice Latte recipe hits all the cozy vibe notes! Flavored with brown sugar and autumn spices, it’s perfect topped with a generous serving of whipped cream and a sprinkle of ground cinnamon.
If you’re craving a Starbucks pumpkin spice latte but don’t want to trek to the nearest location, this homemade version is here to give you your fix. I created this recipe back in 2006 when I was still in graduate school and Starbucks was a constant, if expensive, companion. Many years later this is still one of my favorite Autumn beverages.
Flavored with fresh nutmeg, ground cloves, and brown sugar, this easy coffee recipe is cozy, and perfect in a big mug topped with a tall swath of whipped cream. I like to sprinkle extra ground cinnamon or nutmeg on top and maybe add a cinnamon stick for garnish and extra flavor. It makes a handy stirring stick too!
Why You’ll Love This Pumpkin Spice Latte Recipe
- Easy. You won’t need fancy equipment or hard-to-find ingredients to make this latte at home. Just your regular method of brewing coffee and a few basic ingredients. Plus you can make the pumpkin milk in advance for super quick pumpkin spice lattes in the morning!
- Fancy. Despite being super simple, the end result is a latte that 100% looks like a barista made it.
- Satisfying. If what you’re craving is cozy fall vibes in a cup, this is your drink.
This is not a “true latte” in that I don’t use espresso. I couldn’t afford an espresso machine in grad school and I still don’t have one to this day. So, if you’re looking for a drink that is “technically” a latte this is not the recipe for you. But if you’re just looking for a tasty homemade pumpkin spice latte, give this drink a try!
How to Make a Pumpkin Spice Latte
Making a pumpkin spice latte at home requires a few steps, but is still incredibly easy. Here’s how to do it:
- Brew your coffee. Brew 2 cups of your favorite coffee. If you want to get it closer to espresso flavor you can make it a bit stronger than normal, but I usually don’t.
- Make the pumpkin spice milk mixture. For this step, we are going to blend the pumpkin puree with milk and spices. You do need a stand mixer for this step because it’s the best way to get an incredibly smooth spiced pumpkin liquid. I’ve tried mixing this by hand before, but it doesn’t get as smooth as you need it to be for a drink.
- Make your drinks. To assemble your pumpkin spice lattes, pour some of the pumpkin milk into two large coffee mugs. Add half-and-half, then warm it in the microwave for about 20-30 seconds. Pour in your coffee and top it off with a bit more pumpkin milk. Add whipped cream and a sprinkle of ground cinnamon or nutmeg.
Making the Pumpkin Milk in Advance
It doesn’t take long to make this pumpkin spice latte from start to finish, but you can make things even easier by making the pumpkin milk in advance. To do this, make the milk as directed, then let it cool. Pour into a large mason jar with a lid and store in the fridge for up to 1 week.
Then you can assemble your pumpkin spice latte as follows:
- Brew your coffee
- Pour your desired amount of pumpkin milk into a big mug or glass. Add the half and half.
- Warm in the microwave, stirring halfway through.
- Pour in your coffee. Top off with extra pumpkin milk if desired.
- Give everything a good stir.
- Finish your drink with whipped cream + a sprinkle of cinnamon.
More Starbucks Copycat Recipes
Pumpkin Spice Latte
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon canned pumpkin puree
- 1 cup milk
- ½ tablespoon light brown sugar, packed and leveled
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- ⅛ teaspoon nutmeg
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
- ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 cups coffee, brewed using 2 tbs per 1 cup of water
- 4 tablespoons half-and-half
- Sugar, to taste
- Whipped cream
Instructions
- Begin brewing coffee. Brew two cups of your favorite coffee.
- Make the pumpkin spice milk mixture. In a blender puree the milk, pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, brown sugar and vanilla. Pour into a small saucepan and cook over low heat until the milk is warm and begins to froth slightly. (About 4-5 minutes.) Remove from heat.
- For each serving: Pour 1/2 cup of the pumpkin mixture into your coffee mug. Add 2 generous tablespoons of half-and-half. Heat in the microwave for 30 seconds, then add 1 cup of brewed coffee. Top it off with a touch more 'pumpkin milk,' add sugar to taste, then cover with whipped cream and sprinkle with freshly grated nutmeg or ground cinnamon.