Healthy Pumpkin Spice Latte Recipe

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!

A side view of two glasses filled with pumpkin spice latte.

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.

Nutrition data of a Starbucks latte.

Now check out the data of this recipe!

Nutrition data label for this pumpkin spice latte 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.

A front view of two glasses, side by side, filled with pumpkin spice latte.

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.

A slightly overhead view of two glasses, side by side, filled with pumpkin spice latte and garnished with cinnamon sticks.

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

Hot water being poured into coffee grounds and pumpkin pie spice in a french press.

Combine the coffee and the pumpkin spice and brew as usual with the specified amount of water.

Pouring vanilla extract into a cup with maple syrup.

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.

Pouring frothed milk into a cup to complete a Healthy Pumpkin Spice Latte.

Add 1 cup of milk and stir, whisk, or shake. Repeat steps 2-3 for the second serving.

An overhead view of two glasses filled with pumpkin spice latte and topped with cinnamon sticks.

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

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A side view of two glasses filled with pumpkin spice latte.

Healthy Pumpkin Spice Latte

Why buy the garbage and sugar filled drinks from the coffee shops when you can make this so much cheaper and healthier at home? In fact, this could even be better than what most coffee shops make. Delicious!
IMPORTANT:
If using a coffee maker, be sure you use the type that requires the paper coffee filters. The spices will clog your machine if you have the other type that does not use these filters.
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Course: Drinks
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 2 servings
Calories: 68kcal

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
  • 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.
    Hot water being poured into coffee grounds and pumpkin pie spice in a french press.
  • Pour the maple syrup in the bottom of your cup with the vanilla extract and pour half of the hot coffee over that.
    Pouring vanilla extract into a cup with maple syrup.
  • Add 1 cup of milk and stir. Repeat steps 2-3 for the second serving.
    Pouring frothed milk into a cup to complete a Healthy Pumpkin Spice Latte.
  • 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.
    An overhead view of two glasses filled with pumpkin spice latte and topped with cinnamon sticks.

Notes

  1. While this recipe shows the use of a larger french press, the measurements are the same if using a coffee maker with filters.
  2. Do not use coffee makers that do not use paper filters. The spices will clog up your coffee maker.
  3. Please note that the nutrition data is a ballpark figure. Exact data is not possible.

Nutrition

Serving: 0.5the recipe | Calories: 68kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Sodium: 20mg | Potassium: 82mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin C: 1.7mg | Calcium: 76mg | Iron: 1.5mg

This recipe from the Gracious Pantry archives, originally posted 9/20/11.

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209 Comments

  1. 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 @_@

    1. The Gracious Pantry says:

      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!

  2. Kelsey G. says:

    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! 🙂

    1. The Gracious Pantry says:

      Kelsey G – Haha!! Wonderful! Enjoy!! They are definitely one of my favs. 😀

  3. 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 🙂

    1. The Gracious Pantry says:

      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! 🙂

  4. 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!

    1. The Gracious Pantry says:

      CareyG – I haven’t seen that one yet! Is it clean?

  5. 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???

    1. The Gracious Pantry says:

      Ceanne – I have a pumpkin chai latte recipe on here. Will that work?

  6. I’ll try that for sure! Thanks!

  7. Anonymous says:

    What is done with the vanilla extract? Is it halved and added to the syrup?

    1. The Gracious Pantry says:

      Anon – Just updated the recipe. Thanks!

  8. 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.

    1. The Gracious Pantry says:

      Erin – Thanks so much! Happy to have you here. 🙂

  9. Erena DiGonis says:

    I feel like I can smell the deliciousness through my computer! Thanks for sharing!

    1. The Gracious Pantry says:

      Erena – My pleasure! I hope you enjoy it. 🙂

  10. Michelle Randall says:

    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.

    1. The Gracious Pantry says:

      Michelle – My pleasure! 🙂

  11. Mrs. Price says:

    Hands down one of the best pumpkin drinks I have ever tasted! Thank you! 🙂

    1. The Gracious Pantry says:

      Mrs. Price – My pleasure! Glad you enjoyed it! 🙂

  12. 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!

    1. The Gracious Pantry says:

      Tracy – To each mug, yes.