It’s no secret thatI love coffee, and nothing says fall like a warm pumpkin spice latte! Seeing Starbucks pumpkin spice lattes on their signs every fall makes my mouth water. But I can’t justify consuming that much sugar (50 grams in a grande size) plus all the junky additives.
Not to mention it costs about $6+ per cup to consume said sugar! I wanted to find a way to get that pumpkin flavor without the barista. With my love for pumpkin coffee, I knew I had to find a way to make it at home for less.
A Pumpkin Spice Latte Recipe, with Real Pumpkin
I’ve fine-tuned this easy pumpkin spice latte recipe over the years and now I can’t drink anything else! It’s easy to make for yourself or for a crowd with just a blender and a stovetop (or Crock-Pot).
This pumpkin spice latte tastes very similar to the coffee shop psl versions without artificial colors, flavors, and sweeteners. Oh, and it actually contains pumpkin puree… because it’s not a REAL pumpkin spice latte without it!
If you’re using store-bought canned pumpkin and won’t use the whole can, freeze the rest in ice cube trays and keep them in a bag for future batches. Or use it up in something like this warm pumpkin bread recipe. Check out the end of this post for more pumpkin recipe ideas.
Ingredients For a Real Food Pumpkin Spice Latte
I like using raw, grass-fed milk, but not everyone can have dairy. This coffee recipe is naturally gluten-free, but you can also make it dairy-free. Sub coconut milk, almond milk, oat milk, or macadamia milk. (Macadamia is my favorite!) These are easy to find in the store, but homemade nut milk is cheaper and less watered down.
I use a half-teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice, but you can use your own blend of cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg if you don’t have pie spice on hand. It tastes similar to chai, but without the cardamom or black pepper. The pure vanilla extract rounds out the warming spices in this coffee drink.
Topping it Off
A dollop of whipped heavy cream or coconut cream finishes off this recipe and makes it extra decadent. Try a whipped cream dispenser for homemade (and low sugar) whipped cream on demand.
If you want to avoid sugar, then feel free to omit it. I use these pumpkin spice stevia drops, and don’t miss the sugar one bit!
Pumpkin Spice Latte Recipe
A simple and delicious pumpkin spice latte made with real pumpkin and dairy-optional ingredients!
Prep Time 4 minutes mins
Cook Time 5 minutes mins
Total Time 9 minutes mins
Calories 199kcal
Author Katie Wells
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Servings
1 serving
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup milk (any kind)
- 1 TBSP pumpkin (canned or fresh, pureed)
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp pumpkin pie spice (or ½ tsp cinnamon and a sprinkle each of cloves and nutmeg)
- ¼ cup strong coffee (or espresso)
- 1 tsp honey (or maple syrup)
- whipped cream (or whipped coconut cream, optional)
Instructions
In a blender, combine all the ingredients except the whipped cream.
Blend until smooth. Or, if you have an immersion blender, pour all ingredients into a medium saucepan and blend with an immersion blender.
Pour the contents of the blender into a small saucepan.
Heat the milk mixture over medium heat on the stove for about 5 minutes or until hot, stirring frequently.
Top with whipped cream, garnish with a dash of cinnamon, and enjoy!
Nutrition
Nutrition Facts
Pumpkin Spice Latte Recipe
Amount Per Serving (1.5 cups)
Calories 199Calories from Fat 72
% Daily Value*
Fat 8g12%
Saturated Fat 5g31%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.3g
Monounsaturated Fat 2g
Cholesterol 29mg10%
Sodium 96mg4%
Potassium 467mg13%
Carbohydrates 20g7%
Fiber 0.2g1%
Sugar 19g21%
Protein 8g16%
Vitamin A 1657IU33%
Vitamin C 2mg2%
Calcium 313mg31%
Iron 0.4mg2%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Notes
The nutritional info for this recipe uses 1 cup of whole milk and omits the whipped cream topping. Nutrient profile, particularly the fat and protein content, will vary if nut milk or coconut milk is used.
Tips and Variations
- Want More? – Double, triple, or quadruple the recipe to make for extra people. Serving for a party? Multiply the ingredients by 10 and keep warm on low in a slow cooker or in a carafe.
- Iced Version – You can also make an iced pumpkin spice latte version with a strong cold brew instead of hot coffee if you prefer. Or cool the coffee first and blend all ingredients in a blender with 1/2 cup of ice.
- Protein Boost – Sometimes I’ll also add a teaspoon of grass-fed collagen or a scoop of healthy protein powder for more protein.
More Pumpkin Recipes
I have quite a few pumpkin recipes on my site. Here are a few if you want to check them out. Some of them are a great way to use up the rest of your pumpkin puree after making your pumpkin spice latte.
- Pumpkin pie (family favorite)
- Pumpkin cheesecake
- Homemade pumpkin soup
- Pumpkin bread and muffins
- Pumpkin spice meltaways
Like this recipe? Check out my new cookbook, or get all my recipes (over 500!) in a personalized weekly meal planner here!
Do you like pumpkin spice season? What’s your favorite fall drink? Share below!