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!
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.
This was nice. we made it decalf and gave it to the kids. They really liked it. We used 6 spoons coffee (made double) and 5 cups water and 3 cups milk. will be nicer when its cold outside! Yum!
Laura – Yes, this is definitely good for cold weather. Glad you enjoyed it!
We made this again last night. I think my son and I are addicted! I tried the pumpkin spice mix in oatmeal yesterday too and it was great. I just love this time of the year.
Laura – Yes!! Fall is WONDERFUL!! My absolute favorite time of year! Glad you like the lattes. I’m going to try it with apple spice next as some readers suggested.
Ooo… For the apple spice version, swap out the maple syrup for amber or dark agave–it adds more of a caramel taste than the light agave. 🙂
Charlena – Fantastic tip! Thanks!
Kristi – Ya, it’s easy to spend tons of money in that place. Very easy! Let me know how you like the latte!
LOVE IT! Thank you so much for the fantastic recipe!
Jeanine – Glad you enjoyed it!
Kristi – The brand I have is called Bodum. It’s fabulous! This is the link if you want to see it. I think I got mine at Cost Plus. Can’t remember. I’ve had it a while. But I highly recommend it!
Bodum Brazil 1-Liter 34-Ounce French Press Coffeemaker, Red
Liz – Hope you enjoy it! But tonight?? Hope you either need to stay up or you’re drinking decaf! LOL! Enjoy!
I froth the milk and it makes it even more latte-ish!
Erin – Oh yum!!
Gues – Good to know!
Ohh dear me too was planning to have just 1 small this weekend 🙂 but i can have it here and there and not worry about cheating yayyy thanks a ton
Jessie – You’re welcome! Enjoy!
Mama – coffee by any definition is technically not clean. Even the regular stuff. But for many people, the idea of giving up coffee is unthinkable. Everything in moderation is fine. Just know that a natural sweetener is always better than an artificial one. Artificial sweeteners actually make you retain or gain weight. So they are extremely counterproductive.
LOVE THIS! Thank you so much for the recipe! I also used my french press, but I opened four of our little “Keurig” pumpkin spice coffee cup pods for the coffee. I also used sugar free syrup, and Lactaid milk. Turned out fabulous! Even my husband wanted one! haha
Ericas – Glad you enjoyed it!
Wow!! This is amazing!! I enjoyed it more than the Starbucks latte…:) Thanks for the recipe.
Christina – You’re welcome! Glad you liked it!
Jbutler – You’re right. It’s not good stuff!
Made this this morning for my husband and me. Tasty.
Lafter – Glad you both enjoyed it!
Jen – Super!
Jen – You’re welcome! Enjoy!
Aley – I hope you enjoy it!
Cmfoley – Fantastic! Glad you enjoyed it! It’s been my experience that picky kids are picky no matter what. So just give her some time to adjust. She will.
I did try the blood type diet once and I didn’t feel very good on it. So I donated the book and never did it again. Some people swear by it, but my experience was not a good one.
DS – Glad you enjoyed it!
Lauren – Fantastic!