Real Pumpkin Spice Latte
A homemade pumpkin spice latte with real pumpkin, maple and warm spice, steamed into frothy milk. Add espresso, or skip it for a caffeine-free pumpkin steamer.
Ingredients
- 1 cup milk any kind; oat milk froths best for dairy-free
- 2 tbsp pumpkin purée not pie filling
- 1 tbsp maple syrup or brown sugar to taste
- 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice plus a pinch for topping
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 shot espresso about 1 oz, or 1/2 cup strong coffee; optional, use decaf or skip for a steamer
- whipped cream optional, for topping
- ground cinnamon for topping
Instructions
- Add the milk, pumpkin purée, maple syrup and pumpkin pie spice to a small saucepan. Whisk over medium-low heat until steaming but not boiling, 3 to 4 minutes.
- Take it off the heat and stir in the vanilla. Froth with a handheld milk frother for 20 seconds, or whisk hard until foamy.
- Pour the espresso into a mug (skip this for a caffeine-free steamer). Pour in the pumpkin milk, holding the foam back with a spoon, then spoon the foam on top.
- Top with whipped cream if you like and a dusting of cinnamon. Serve right away.
Notes
How to order it at a cafe, bar or soda shop: At a coffee shop, ask for "a steamer (steamed milk) with pumpkin sauce and pumpkin spice topping." Add "one decaf shot" if you want the latte taste without the jitters. At a soda shop, ask for "pumpkin spice syrup in a vanilla steamer or hot cocoa," or go fizzy with a Pumpkin Patch Pepper. At a cocktail bar in fall, ask if they have pumpkin syrup or purée behind the bar, then ask for it "shaken with cream and a splash of cold brew, served in a coupe, no alcohol."
Iced version: whisk the pumpkin, maple, spice and vanilla with 2 tbsp warm milk into a smooth paste, then add the rest of the milk cold. Shake with ice, pour into a glass of ice, and top with cold espresso.
Make ahead: whisk a batch of the pumpkin milk (no coffee) and keep it in the fridge up to 3 days. Shake, warm and froth one mug at a time.
Allergens: contains dairy (milk) unless you use oat milk. The espresso adds caffeine; use decaf or skip it for a caffeine-free steamer.