This homemade pumpkin spice latte combines real pumpkin purée, freshly brewed espresso and warming spices in one cozy cup. Maple syrup rounds out the coffee, while a light cap of milk foam gives it a creamy finish. Start with cooked pumpkin purée and you can make the drink in ten minutes, without a ready-made coffee sauce.
What pumpkin spice adds to your latte
Pumpkin spice is a blend of warming spices, usually cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and cloves, sometimes with allspice. The spice blend itself does not necessarily contain pumpkin. Here, plain pumpkin purée adds gentle flavor and a little body. Maple syrup provides the sweetness; you can adjust its amount the next time you make a cup.
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At a glance
Pumpkin Spice Latte with Real Pumpkin in 10 Minutes
- Prep time
- 5 min
- Cook time
- 5 min
- Total time
- 10 min
- Yield
- 1
Ingredients for 1 large mug
Makes 1 large mug · Prep: 5 minutes · Heating: 5 minutes · Total: 10 minutes
Ingredient links marked * are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
| Amount | Ingredient |
|---|---|
| 200 ml | whole milk (about 3.25% fat), divided into 150 ml and 50 ml |
| 60 ml | freshly brewed espresso* (about 2 US fl oz or a double shot) |
| 30 g | smooth, unsweetened cooked pumpkin purée* (about 2 tablespoons) |
| 10 ml | pure maple syrup* (2 teaspoons; about 13 g) |
| ¼ teaspoon | pumpkin pie spice* with no added sugar (about 0.5 g); reserve a tiny pinch of this amount for the top |
How to make a pumpkin spice latte
- Warm a large mug that holds at least 350 ml (12 US fl oz). Measure the milk, pumpkin purée, maple syrup and pumpkin pie spice. Set aside a tiny pinch of the measured spice for the top.
- In a small saucepan, stir the pumpkin purée, maple syrup, remaining pumpkin pie spice and 2 tablespoons from the 150 ml milk portion into a smooth paste. Whisk in the rest of that 150 ml portion.
- Warm over medium-low heat, stirring, for about 3–4 minutes, until the mixture reaches 60–65°C (140–149°F). It should steam without boiling. If you can still see pumpkin pieces, briefly blend with an immersion blender.
- Meanwhile, brew 60 ml espresso. Warm the separate 50 ml milk portion to 60–65°C (140–149°F), then froth in a narrow, tall container using a handheld milk frother. Alternatively, whisk briskly with a small whisk.
- Pour the espresso into the warmed mug and stir in the hot pumpkin milk. Spoon over the milk foam, dust with the reserved pinch of pumpkin pie spice and serve immediately.
Choose plain, smooth pumpkin purée
Use cooked, finely puréed pumpkin without added sugar, salt or spices. Canned pumpkin is convenient, but sweetened pumpkin pie filling will change the balance. Making purée from scratch adds cooking and cooling time beyond the ten-minute recipe. Drain very watery purée before measuring.
Keep the texture smooth
Mix the pumpkin purée with a little liquid first, then add the rest of the milk. Ground spices do not dissolve completely, so a little settling is normal; give the latte a quick stir before sipping. For an extra-fine finish, pass the pumpkin milk through a fine-mesh strainer before adding it to the mug.
No espresso machine?
Replace the 60 ml espresso with the same volume of strong moka-pot coffee. The flavor and nutrition will differ slightly. Decaffeinated coffee is an option if you want less caffeine, though it can still contain small residual amounts.
Save pumpkin for another cup
Freeze leftover pumpkin purée in 30 g portions. Thaw a portion in the refrigerator and stir it smooth before making your next latte. Store opened purée and milk according to their package instructions. Make the finished drink fresh for the best foam.
Estimated nutrition per mug
Approximately 179 calories · 23 g carbohydrate · 6.8 g protein · 7.0 g fat per large mug. Calculated with 200 ml whole milk (about 3.25% fat) and the stated amounts, including the milk foam and spice topping. Other milks, extra syrup or straining will change the values.
Contains milk and caffeine. Check spice packaging for allergen information. Use cooked pumpkin purée and let the hot latte cool slightly before sipping.
Recipe by AI_Chef
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