This Pumpkin Spice Latte recipe features a homemade spiced pumpkin sauce, espresso, and creamy, frothy milk. It’s a cafe-worthy drink that’s easy to make at home, the perfect fall latte!
Chilly fall mornings were made for this easy Pumpkin Spice Latte recipe. It’s flavored with a homemade spiced pumpkin sauce that elevates the drink into a better-than-the-coffee-shop fall latte. No need to venture out, enjoy this gorgeous drink in the comfort of your pajamas and slippers!
I love serving this pumpkin spice latte with my homemade Spice Cookies. It’s my go-to combo for a cozy afternoon treat
Why We ❤️ This Homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte
Our daughters wait excitedly each fall for the Starbucks pumpkin spice latte to make its grand entrance. I’m pretty sure they’d order this drink year ’round if it was available! Here’s why we like this pumpkin coffee drink recipe:
- Affordable. Going out for coffee drinks is a treat that can definitely add up (💲). So it’s awesome to make our own pumpkin spice lattes at home, to still enjoy those beautiful flavors while also saving money.
- Easy to customize. Part of the beauty of DIY coffee drinks it that you can adjust them however you like. Make it sweeter or less sweet. Amp up the spice. Add a little less milk or a lot more whipped cream!
- Enjoy it anytime. With this recipe, we can drink a pumpkin spice latte whenever we want – in our pj’s, no need to leave the house!
Recipe Ingredients
I’ve included some notes below to help you when you make this recipe. Check the recipe card lower down for the full ingredient amounts.
For the Pumpkin Sauce
- Pumpkin puree – Pumpkin puree is the base of our pumpkin sauce–it adds the earthy pumpkin flavor to our latte.
- Maple sugar – I love the rich flavor of maple sugar but if you can’t find it, this latte is also perfect with light brown sugar or coconut sugar.
- Water – Water helps thin the pumpkin sauce.
- Vanilla extract – Pure vanilla extract enhances the sweetness and flavor of the pumpkin sauce.
- Pumpkin pie spice – Pumpkin pie spice is a combination of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, and allspice that gives the latte its signature warmth and pumpkin pie flavor.
- Ground cardamom – Cardamom adds a floral flavor to the latte that isn’t traditional but is so lovely! If you don’t have cardamom on hand, feel free to skip it.
For One Latte
- Espresso – I use my Nespresso maker to make this latte–my favorite pods are the Scuro and Chairo, but you could use very strong black coffee or a bottled espresso.
- Pumpkin sauce – Start with 2 tablespoons of pumpkin sauce then increase the amount if needed to suit your taste.
- Milk – I use whole milk, but any type of milk, including non-dairy milk, works fine. To froth it, you can use a stand frother, a wand frother, a blender, a french press, or even just a whisk
- Garnish – Whipped cream and cinnamon.
How To Make A Pumpkin Spice Latte
A few simple steps are all that’s needed to make a pumpkin spice latte! I’ve outlined the for you in these photos. Find the detailed instructions in the recipe card lower down.
- Make sauce. Combine all of the sauce ingredients over low heat and simmer to dissolve the sugar.
- Make the latte. Stir together the espresso and pumpkin sauce.
- Heat and froth the milk. Warm the milk until it’s just steaming and froth it for about 20 seconds by carefully shaking it in a jar or using a wand frother.
- Add milk. Pour the frothed milk on top of the espresso.
- Garnish. Add a swirl of whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice, if desired. Fun and so pretty!
Tips for Success
Below, you’ll find a few tips to help you if you don’t have an espresso machine or pumpkin pie spice on hand. You can easily adapt this pumpkin spice latte recipe if needed.
- What if I don’t have an espresso machine? If you don’t have an espresso machine, Nespresso machine, or moka pot for making espresso, pick up a jar of instant espresso and follow the direction on the package to make the espresso. Alternatively, you could use strong coffee in place of the espresso.
- Pumpkin pie spice substitute: If you don’t have pumpkin pie spice in the pantry, you can easily recreate it. Use this simple formula: For one teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice, use a combination of ¾ teaspoon of cinnamon and ¼ teaspoon ginger, nutmeg, cloves, or allspice.
- Adapt the spices. You could also adjust the added spices to do half ground cinnamon and half ground ginger, or even make it an all-ginger latte if you love the spicy taste of ginger.
- Serve it cold. Make an iced pumpkin spiced latte! Don’t heat the milk, then simply pour the latte over a glass of ice and give it a gentle stir to cool the espresso.
- Make it sweeter. For those of us who like a sweeter pumpkin latte, add an additional tablespoon or two of sugar to the pumpkin puree.
Proper Storage
Place the pumpkin sauce in an airtight container like a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid and store it in the fridge for up to 1 week.
More Drink Recipes To Try
Pumpkin Spice Latte
Ingredients
For the Pumpkin Sauce
- ½ cup pumpkin puree
- ¼ cup maple sugar, or light brown sugar
- ¼ cup water
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- ¼ teaspoon ground cardamom, optional but delicious
For One Latte
- 2 shots freshly pulled espresso, see notes
- 2 tablespoons pumpkin sauce, or to taste
- ½ cup whole milk
- Whipped cream and cinnamon, for garnish
Instructions
For the Pumpkin Sauce
- Combine all pumpkin sauce ingredients in a small saucepan over low heat. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook for 3 minutes, or until the sugar has dissolved. Remove from heat and cool completely. Store in an airtight container in the fridge until ready to use (up to 7 days).
For The Latte
- In your favorite mug, stir together espresso and pumpkin sauce.
- Heat milk on the stovetop or in the microwave until it is just steaming, about 150℉.
- Froth milk until it develops a ½” thick layer of foam, about 20 seconds using a wand frother – or by very carefully shaking the milk in a mason jar (I recommend wrapping the jar in a towel it will be hot).
- Pour frothed milk over the espresso. Garnish with a swirl of whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon. Enjoy immediately.
Notes
Nutrition Information:
This post was originally published in 2012, then updated in 2024.
I can’t justify handing over $4 – $5 to a barista for a fancy coffee either. Having said that however, I’d pay you to make me this latte :)
I’ve never been keen on Starbucks. I think I go once, maybe twice a year at most. When I do go it’s for a creme frapachino or one of there seasonal fall/winter steamers. Those things are so delicious. And even though it’s like 95 degrees out, I’m realign wanting to make this and drink it hot so my insides can feel all warm and cozy. I want it to be fall dang it!
Oh my – this looks fabulous! Perfect for the coming fall season!
This is so great Brenda! I make myself a latte every morning and this will be a great way for me to spice it up a bit!
I don’t even like coffee and I love this idea. There’s just something wonderful about fall.. :)
Today definitely feels like fall is coming. I could use a mug of this right now.
I’ve never been really into Starbucks. I think I’ll go maybe one or twice (if that) a year. But I do love their fall and winter drinks! This looks so great, and even though it’s like 90 degrees outside, I kind of want to drink this warm and make my insides feel all fuzzy and tingly :)
This will definitely be part of my Thanksgiving menu!
Awesome! Great to hear from you, Susan!
I am not even a coffee drinker but this sounds soooooo good…especially since there is such a chill in the air now!
Yes Brenda, your recipe looks wonderful! I agree that spending $5 on a coffee drink is a bit extravagant! This is great! :-)
Everything about this is perfect, right down to that swirl of whipped cream!
BEST.IDEA.EVER!!!! I can not wait to try this! Sounds so perfect in so many ways :)
What a nice way to welcome Fall. :) I totally agree with you about the price tag of the fancy coffee at the shop. I think your version is way better anyway. ;)
You have no idea how excited I am to see this recipe!! We’ve live in England and I guess the Brits don’t appreciate the value of this drink (as the Koreans didn’t I realized during our years in Seoul)…have all the ingredients and I’m planning to make this recipe this weekend!!!
So nice to hear from you, Lisa. I hope you liked it!
This is perfect, Brenda! I love that I can make one batch that will last me a week!
Yum. My fave cold weather drink…next to a full strength Eggnog latte (after 5349 situps). I need to try out your recipe very soon…weather is getting cold next week!! :)
xo – Happy Friday!
Heather
I’d love one of these lattes right now (cute mug too!).
Pumpkin and coffee are MFEO! I especially love 1) that you don’t need any special equipment and 2) the chocolate shavings.
This is so brilliant Brenda! I rarely go to coffee shops because I’m way too tight to spend $5 on a $.50 cup of coffee. I can’t wait to try this!
The homemade version is the best! Love it!