Healthy Pumpkin Spice Latte Recipe
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This homemade healthy pumpkin spice latte brings a new meaning to the word, delicious!
I remember the day I took my first sip of a friend’s PSL from Starbucks and just about fell over at the amount of sugar. It made my teeth ache!
But I did like the flavor, so I decided to go home and try making it myself. What I came up with is, in my humble opinion, leaps and bounds better than the sip I took that day from my friend’s drink.
In fact, I have to be careful not to let Mini Chef get ahold of this because it’s almost like candy. Hot or cold, this is seriously good stuff! I would even be willing to bet that you too could kick the Starbucks habit completely with this little recipe. My friend sure did! The price, flavor, and nutrition of this homemade version is just so much better!
There is no pumpkin puree, foamed milk, or even a small saucepan for this recipe. You don’t have to worry about shots of espresso or anything else. It’s just coffee, pumpkin pie spice, and milk. It’s super easy!!
Pumpkin Spice Latte Calories
Let’s compare the nutrition data of this drink to the Starbucks version. This is directly from their website.
Now check out the data of this recipe!
That’s quite a difference, don’t you think? The ingredient list alone is a major upgrade for your health when you make this at home!
Homemade Latte
This time of year brings up all things pumpkin. While a pumpkin spice latte doesn’t have any real pumpkin in it, it can be full of simple ingredients and natural flavors.
The best part of a homemade version of this favorite fall drink is that it beats the long lines at your local coffee shop. This recipe doesn’t include any of the pumpkin spice syrup that most coffee shops use. But it doesn’t need it when you use strong coffee or hot espresso, real spices, frothed milk, and a touch of maple syrup.
I made this using a French press. So it was easy to get these specific measurements. If you use a coffee maker, you’ll need to adjust the amounts of all the ingredients based on the amount of coffee you use. You can double or triple or…
What Type Of Coffee Maker Works Best?
If using a coffee maker, be sure you use the type that requires paper coffee filters. The spices will clog your machine if you have the other type that does not use these filters.
I made this using a French Press, and I highly recommend them.
Vegan Pumpkin Spice Latte
This recipe is naturally vegan if you use plant-based milk. The rest of the ingredients are naturally vegan!
Tools For Making A Pumpkin Spice Latte
While you can easily make this and many different types of lattes with a regular, paper-filter coffee maker, those of us who like to take our lattes to the next level, like to have the toys to do it. Here are some options:
Note that you don’t really need any of these fancier tools. You can froth your milk with an immersion blender, heat your water on your stovetop and then brew a single cup of coffee with a teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice. But if you enjoy the toys and make enough lattes for them to be worthwhile, they can be a fun addition to your kitchen.
About Healthy Pumpkin Spice Latte Ingredients
Ground coffee – Use your favorite, as long as it isn’t flavored.
Pumpkin spice – Pumpkin pie spice is typically a blend of spices such as nutmeg, allspice, cloves, ground cinnamon, ginger, and other spices. Everyone has their own formula. If you’d like, you can make your own in minutes. And if you don’t like the pumpkin flavor all that strong, you can back off to about 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice. This recipe is totally adjustable in that way.
Water
Milk – You can use unsweetened almond milk, whole milk, soy milk, coconut milk, oat milk, skim milk, nonfat milk, whipped cream, or other non-dairy milk. The choice is yours. Whatever type of milk you most enjoy in your regular coffee, as long as it isn’t a flavored creamer.
Pure vanilla extract – Use the real stuff, not flavoring. You can use up to a full teaspoon vanilla extract if you like.
Pure maple syrup – Use the real stuff, not imitation syrup. Don’t use honey because the flavor of honey will overtake the pumpkin spice flavor.
Cinnamon stick – For garnish
How To Make A Healthy Pumpkin Spice Latte
Combine the coffee and the pumpkin spice and brew as usual with the specified amount of water.
Pour the maple syrup into the bottom of your cup, jar, or mug with the vanilla extract, and pour half of the hot coffee over that.
Add 1 cup of milk and stir, whisk, or shake. Repeat steps 2-3 for the second serving.
Cool a bit to medium-hot or medium heat, add a little whipped cream if you like and enjoy.
Recipes Used
More Coffee Drink Recipes
Healthy Pumpkin Spice Latte Recipe Card
Healthy Pumpkin Spice Latte
CLICK TO WATCH THIS RECIPE IN ACTION!
Equipment
- French Press OR coffee maker with paper filters
Ingredients
- 4 tbsp. ground coffee
- 1 tbsp. pumpkin spice
- 2½ cups water
- 2 cups unsweetened almond milk (or any milk you prefer)
- ½ tsp. pure vanilla extract
- 2 tbsp. pure maple syrup
Instructions
- Combine the coffee and the pumpkin spice and brew as usual with the specified amount of water.
- Pour the maple syrup in the bottom of your cup with the vanilla extract and pour half of the hot coffee over that.
- Add 1 cup of milk and stir. Repeat steps 2-3 for the second serving.
- Cool a bit to a medium-hot or medium heat and serve with a little cinnamon or extra pumpkin pie spice sprinkled over the top.
Notes
- While this recipe shows the use of a larger french press, the measurements are the same if using a coffee maker with filters.
- Do not use coffee makers that do not use paper filters. The spices will clog up your coffee maker.
- Please note that the nutrition data is a ballpark figure. Exact data is not possible.
Nutrition
This recipe from the Gracious Pantry archives, originally posted 9/20/11.
I love this recipe! I’ve had one every morning for the past week. They are a great way to start out your day- the healthy way! Thank you for the recipe!
Kylie – My pleasure! Glad you’re enjoying it. 🙂
Hi. I am living in Brazil right now and we dont have pumpkin spice anywhere to sell, could you point me to some recipe for that ? Googleing around I found a ton of different recipes so I dont really know which one to use @_@
Fernando – pretty much any of the ones you googled will work. They all taste slightly different, but for the most part they all work. Just be sure to use one without added sugar. It should be JUST spices. I’m working on a recipe for that for this fall, so I should have it posted soon!
Thank you so much for this recipe! I found it on Pinterest and, after reading the ingredient list, realized that I had everything I needed to make it right now! I also have a French press, so I followed your directions and I am SO PSYCHED that I can make my own pumpkin spice lattes at home! 🙂
Kelsey G – Haha!! Wonderful! Enjoy!! They are definitely one of my favs. 😀
This is very good. I did find that you need an actual coffee pot and not a single serve maker (like a Keurig), the coffee doesn’t come out, just turns to a consistency of brownie mix. I was trying to make only one latte. Also, when do you add the vanilla? I went ahead and did it with the syrup but I’m not sure if that’s right. Thanks for these clean alternatives 🙂
Brittany – Ya, this recipe really was developed for a french press. I should experiment with different types of coffee makers. You can add the vanilla at any time. Glad you enjoyed it! 🙂
Trader Joes currently is offering their Pumpkin Spice coffee! I used this in my French press and then followed the rest of the recipe. It turned out great and I can’t wait to make them for my mommy friends this week!! I know they will love them as well!! Thank you for another great clean, healthy alternative to a fabulous Fall treat!
CareyG – I haven’t seen that one yet! Is it clean?
Sounds yummy, but I don’t drink coffee at all any longer…the smell gives me a headache. Do you have something comparable in a tea???
Ceanne – I have a pumpkin chai latte recipe on here. Will that work?
I’ll try that for sure! Thanks!
What is done with the vanilla extract? Is it halved and added to the syrup?
Anon – Just updated the recipe. Thanks!
This is such a great drink! Thank you for being so creative and sharing with us/me/perfect strangers. So stoked to have stumbled upon your website the other night.
Erin – Thanks so much! Happy to have you here. 🙂
I feel like I can smell the deliciousness through my computer! Thanks for sharing!
Erena – My pleasure! I hope you enjoy it. 🙂
I just made this and WOW, absolutely fabulous! Just what I needed to warm up on a dreary day. I made it using a drip coffee pot and it came out perfect. Thanks for all your great recipes. I have enjoyed many of them.
Michelle – My pleasure! 🙂
Hands down one of the best pumpkin drinks I have ever tasted! Thank you! 🙂
Mrs. Price – My pleasure! Glad you enjoyed it! 🙂
Do you add 2 T. of maple syrup and 1/2 t. vanilla to the bottom of EACH mug or do you divide it? The recipe isn’t too clear.
Thanks!
Tracy – To each mug, yes.