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A Pumpkin Spice Latte is the drink that makes fall feel official, and this copycat version is creamy, cozy, and made with real pumpkin for a fraction of the coffee-shop price. I started making them at home the first chilly weekend of the year, and now Maddie asks for one the second the leaves start to turn. Serve it next to a plate of pumpkin chocolate chip cookies for the coziest afternoon.
No espresso machine needed, just a glass, a little instant coffee, and a few pantry staples for a homemade pumpkin spice latte.
Pumpkin Spice Latte Quick Look
- 🕒 Prep Time: 5 minutes
- 🌡️ Cook Time: 0 minutes
- ⏳ Total Time: 5 minutes
- 🍽️ Serving: 1 latte
- ⚡ Calories: 208kcal
- 🌶️ Flavor Profile: Cozy, creamy, and spiced with real pumpkin and warm fall spice
- ✋ Difficulty: Easy, like our no-fuss baked cake donuts
Quick Answer
Stir pumpkin puree, brown sugar, pumpkin spice, and instant coffee together in a tall glass with a splash of milk, then whisk until frothy. Fill the glass with ice, pour in the rest of the cold milk, and stir to combine. Top with whipped cream and a sprinkle of ground cinnamon, and your homemade pumpkin spice latte is ready in about five minutes.
Jump to:
- Pumpkin Spice Latte Quick Look
- Quick Answer
- Why This Recipe Works
- Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Key Ingredients
- Variations and Substitutions
- How to Make Pumpkin Spice Latte
- Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Serving Ideas and Suggestions
- Pumpkin Spice Latte FAQs
- Other Recommended Fall Pumpkin Recipes
- Copycat Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte
Why This Recipe Works
Click to see the technique science
- Real pumpkin, real flavor. A spoonful of actual pumpkin puree gives this latte a genuine, cozy squash flavor that pumpkin-flavored syrups just cannot match.
- No espresso machine required. Quality instant coffee dissolves into a rich coffee base right in the glass, so anyone can make a cafe-style latte at home.
- Cheaper than the coffee shop. You get the same fall drink you love for a fraction of the price, using ingredients you likely already have.
- Frothing makes it creamy. Whisking the base until frothy gives the latte that light, foamy texture before you even add the milk.
- Totally customizable. Make it iced or hot, dairy or plant based, sweeter or stronger, all in the same five minutes.
- Ready in five minutes. No special equipment and no waiting, just stir, froth, pour, and top.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It tastes just like your favorite coffee-shop pumpkin spice latte, made with real pumpkin at home.
- It comes together in five minutes with no espresso machine and only a handful of pantry staples.
- It is the coziest fall treat, perfect with a slice of caramel pumpkin sheet cake on a crisp afternoon.
Key Ingredients
Here is what goes into a creamy homemade pumpkin spice latte. Just a few simple ingredients.
- Pumpkin Puree: use pure pumpkin, not pumpkin pie filling, for real squash flavor without extra sweetness.
- Instant Coffee: a high-quality instant coffee dissolves smoothly into the base; use more for a stronger latte.
- Pumpkin Spice: the warm blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and clove that makes it taste like fall.
- Brown Sugar: sweetens the latte and adds a hint of caramel-like depth; adjust to taste.
- Milk: any milk works, from whole to oat to almond, so make it as creamy or light as you like.
- Whipped Cream and Cinnamon: the finishing touch on top, just like the version from our favorite coffee-shop treats.
See recipe card for exact quantities.
Variations and Substitutions
This latte is easy to make exactly how you like it.
- Make it hot: warm the milk instead of using ice for a steaming pumpkin spice latte.
- Keep it dairy free: use oat, almond, or coconut milk and dairy-free whipped topping.
- Add a vanilla note: stir in a splash of vanilla extract or a pump of vanilla syrup.
- Make it stronger: add an extra teaspoon of instant coffee or a shot of brewed espresso.
- Go lighter: cut back on the brown sugar or use your favorite sugar-free sweetener.
How to Make Pumpkin Spice Latte
- Add the pumpkin puree, brown sugar, pumpkin spice, and instant coffee to a tall glass, then pour in about four tablespoons of the milk.
- Whisk the mixture until it is frothy and well combined, using a small electric frother or a spoon.
- Fill the glass with about one cup of ice.
- Pour the remaining cold milk into the glass over the ice and the pumpkin coffee base.
- Stir gently with a straw to bring all the flavors together, then top with a generous swirl of whipped cream.
- Finish with a sprinkle of ground cinnamon over the whipped cream and serve right away.
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Use pure pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling, which is already sweetened and spiced.
- Dissolve the coffee first in the small splash of milk so there are no gritty granules left.
- Froth the base well for the creamiest, most cafe-like texture before adding the rest of the milk.
- Chill your glass and milk for an extra-refreshing iced latte that does not water down.
- Adjust the sweetness to taste, since brands of pumpkin spice and coffee vary in strength.
- Make a big batch of the pumpkin coffee base ahead of time and keep it in the fridge, the way you would prep for a weekend brunch.
Serving Ideas and Suggestions
This pumpkin spice latte is the ultimate cozy sip on a cool morning or a crisp fall afternoon, and it is even better with something sweet alongside it.
Serve it with a plate of pumpkin chocolate chip cookies or soft pumpkin whoopie pies for the ultimate fall coffee break.
It also makes a fun addition to a brunch spread next to baked cake donuts and a slice of caramel pumpkin sheet cake, so everyone can build their own cozy plate.
Pumpkin Spice Latte FAQs
Yes. Stir the pumpkin coffee base together, then warm your milk on the stove or in the microwave and pour it over the base instead of adding ice. Top with whipped cream and cinnamon the same way.
High-quality instant coffee works beautifully and dissolves right in the glass. If you prefer, you can use a shot of brewed espresso or strong brewed coffee in place of the instant coffee and a splash of milk.
Not at all. This homemade pumpkin spice latte is designed to come together with just a glass and a whisk or small frother, so no special equipment is required.
Absolutely. Swap in oat, almond, soy, or coconut milk and use a dairy-free whipped topping. Oat milk gives an especially creamy, cafe-style result.
Multiply the pumpkin puree, brown sugar, pumpkin spice, and coffee by the number of servings and whisk it into a jar. Store the base in the fridge for a few days and stir a few spoonfuls into a glass of milk over ice whenever you want a latte.
No. Pumpkin puree is just cooked, blended pumpkin with nothing added, while pumpkin pie filling is pre-sweetened and spiced. Use plain pumpkin puree so you can control the sweetness and spice yourself.
Leaning into pumpkin season? Bake a batch of our pumpkin chocolate chip cookies to go with your latte.
Make your own cafe drinks at home by learning how to use coffee syrup for hot and iced coffee.
Copycat Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon pumpkin puree
- 1 tablespoon light brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin spice
- 2 teaspoons high-quality instant coffee
- 1 cup milk
- 1 cup ice
- Whipped cream for garnish
- Ground cinnamon for topping
Instructions
- Add the pumpkin puree, sugar, pumpkin spice, and instant coffee in a large glass.1 tablespoon pumpkin puree, 1 tablespoon light brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin spice, 2 teaspoons high-quality instant coffee
- Add about 4 tablespoons of milk to help with the mixing process.1 cup milk
- Whisk the mixture until it’s frothy and well combined. You can use an individual electric whisk or help with a spoon.
- Add one cup of ice to the glass.1 cup ice
- Pour the remaining cold milk into the glass with the other ingredients.
- Stir a bit with a straw to integrate the flavors.
- Add a layer of whipped cream to the drink and sprinkle a little ground cinnamon over the whipped cream.Whipped cream for garnish, Ground cinnamon for topping
Notes
- Use Cold Ingredients: Start with cold milk and chilled coffee for the best iced experience.
- Adjust Sweetness: Feel free to add more or less sugar based on your taste buds.
- Blend for Frothiness: Use a milk frother, blender, or even shake the mixture in a mason jar to achieve a creamy texture similar to what you’d get from a coffee shop.
- Prep Ahead: Make the pumpkin spice mixture ahead of time and store it in the fridge. This way, you can whip up your iced pumpkin latte in no time, especially on busy mornings.
- Leftover Pumpkin: Use leftover pumpkin puree in other pumpkin recipes like pumpkin bread, pumpkin muffins, or even a homemade pumpkin spice syrup for future lattes.
- Natural Ingredients: Opt for natural ingredients and avoid artificial flavors for the healthiest and tastiest results.
Nutrition
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