Embrace all the cozy fall vibes with a homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte! This easy recipe tastes just like the original, but for a fraction of the cost.
Pumpkin Spice Latte
Sweater weather is officially here, and you know what that means—Pumpkin Spice Latte season! There’s nothing quite like the rich blend of espresso, steamed milk, and pumpkin pie spice to warm your soul. Whether cozying up with a good book or enjoying a crisp autumn day, this seasonal favorite is the ultimate comfort drink.
This pumpkin spice latte recipe is made with pumpkin butter and your favorite brewed coffee. Enjoy it with some Pumpkin Bread, Mini Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins, Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal Cups, or Cream Cheese Pumpkin Muffins.
Why You’ll Love This Pumpkin Latte
When I first shared this pumpkin spice latte recipe back in 2010, the prices at Starbucks were half as much as what they are now. I just can’t bring myself to spend that kind of money on a cup of coffee, so I make it myself whenever I get a craving for a cozy warm drink.
- You don’t need to leave your house to enjoy a PSL! Enjoy a cozy drink in the comfort of your own home, still in your pajamas.
- Easy to Make: Quickly whip up this seasonal drink whenever the craving strikes! Just make the espresso, warm the milk, and mix everything in a mug.
- Dietary Restrictions: It’s vegetarian, gluten-free, Weight Watchers-friendly, and vegan and dairy-free (if you use dairy-free milk and whipped cream).
- Cheaper than Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte: Making lattes at home is much more affordable than buying them at Starbucks or other cafes. Your wallet will thank you!
If you make this healthy pumpkin spice latte recipe, I would love to see it. Tag me in your photos or videos on Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook!
What You’ll Need
The pumpkin butter and pumpkin pie spice make the coffee taste like fall in a cup. See the recipe card below for the exact measurements.
- Fat-free Milk: This keeps your drink light but you can also use whole milk. Use dairy-free almond milk, oat milk or coconut milk, if you prefer.
- Pumpkin Butter: I love to make a batch of pumpkin butter every autumn. It contains canned pumpkin puree, apple cider, brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, and pumpkin pie spice, and there are so many uses for it. Besides stirring it into your coffee, it’s fantastic on toast, oatmeal, smoothies, and yogurt. You can also buy it here or at Trader Joe’s.
- Sugar: Adjust according to how sweet you want your latte to be.
- Vanilla Extract: Enhances the flavor and adds a subtle sweetness.
- Pumpkin Pie Spice: For all those warm fall spices.
- Coffee: I prefer espresso, but any strong-brewed coffee works. You can also use caffeine free.
- Garnish: For the full coffee-house experience, top your PSL with fat-free whipped topping (like Cool Whip or Truwhip) and pumpkin pie spice.
How to Make a Pumpkin Spice Latte
Making a homemade pumpkin spice latte is easy, and I promise the extra work is worth it. The recipe card contains the complete instructions.
- Milk Mixture: Simmer milk, pumpkin butter, and sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat.
- Vanilla and Pumpkin Pie Spice: Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the vanilla and pumpkin pie spice with an immersion blender or whisk.
- Serve: Pour the milk mixture into 2 mugs and add half of the espresso to each. Top with whipped cream and a dash of pumpkin pie spice.
Variations
- Dairy-Free: Use your favorite plant-based milk, like soy milk, almond or oat, and skip the whipped cream or use Cocowhip.
- Pumpkin: If you don’t want to make pumpkin butter, use pumpkin puree. You may need to add more sweetener or pumpkin pie spice to get the same flavor.
- Sweetener: Use maple syrup or honey in place of sugar. For a pumpkin spice latte with no sugar, use monk fruit, which has zero calories and net carbs or a sugar-free maple syrup.
- Want it stronger? Add extra shots of espresso.
- No pumpkin pie spice? Substitute cinnamon and a dash of nutmeg.
- Topping: Feel free to skip the whipped cream if you prefer.
- Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte: Serve the coffee drink over ice.
Storage
Pumpkin spice lattes are best enjoyed right after making them.
More Pumpkin Recipes You’ll Love
Pumpkin Spice Latte Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups fat-free milk, almond milk or dairy-free milk of choice
- 2 tablespoons pumpkin butter, or use pre-made from Trader Joe's or Amazon
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- 2 teaspoons sugar, or sugar substitute, to taste
- 1/2 cup espresso, or 3/4 cup strong brewed coffee works
- fat-free whipped topping
- dash pumpkin pie spice, for topping
Instructions
- In a small pan combine milk, pumpkin butter and sugar or sweetener of choice and simmer over medium heat, stirring, until boiling.
- Remove from heat, stir in vanilla and pumpkin spice.
- Using an immersion blender, blend until smooth (or whisk well with a wire whisk).
- Pour into two mugs, add the hot espresso and top with fat free whipped cream and a dash of pumpkin pie spice on top.
Delicious. I made it with brewed coffee and only one teaspoon of sugar as my pumpkin butter is a maple pumpkin butter (which is also delicious). This definitely tastes like the well-known chain version 🙂
Great technique and recipe. Good results with oat milk. I will bump up spices and pumpkin next round, but I like stronger flavors. Thanks!
This was good but I didn’t get a whole lot of pumpkin spice latte taste going on. Maybe because I used oatmilk? But I had to add a squirt or two of Torani pumpkin spice syrup. Then it tasted like a pumpkin spice latte. I did love the pumpkin butter recipe tho and will make pumpkin bars with it
Super excited to try this. I would be beyond tickled if you could come up with a healthier, less fat and sugar frappe! 😋
Woow i love to prepare a cup of coffee.. huge difference making coffee i didn’t see any other websites without this site… it’s really amazing and help me to prepare https://www.myfodiebox.coma good coffee…
I’m not sure if this is anything that you can control on your side, but I use Feedly to keep up with blogs and Skinnytaste is the only one (out of like 50) that won’t let me click through to your website directly in the app. If I want to read something I have to open Safari and search for it. Maybe it’s something I’m doing wrong? Either way I love your blog and can’t wait to try your PSL!
Sorry I really have no clue why? I wish I could help!
Amazing! Made this tonight when craving a Starbucks PSL and was even better!! Used almondmilk instead of fat free and was just as good. Thank you!
Delicious! Wow! Seriously impressed. I want to see more latte recipes.
I made a strong decaf chai tea instead of espresso, and used almond milk. Delish!
Amazing!!!!
I knew there was another reason I loved your blog and recipes so much. October is THE BEST birthday month (it's mine too)! 🙂 Love all the pumpkin recipes
I have been addicted to Starbuck's Pumpkin Spice Latte for a number of years now. But $5 for a cup of jo doesn't sit well with me. I've discovered that if I brew my coffee with a couple shakes of pumpkin pie spice, my coffee tastes exactly the same. And for a fraction of the price and well, calories and fat!
Just made this last night for my daughter (we shared it actually) Just liked Starbucks, only better! and way less expensive. Also had the pumpkin butter on some whole wheat toast this a.m-yummy!!! thanks. another winner Gina 🙂
I'd also like to know when the 1/2 tsp of pumpkin spice is added. It's not included in the directions so not sure if you put it in while cooking or after…or if it matters?! Lol
Amazing recipe, drinking some now. So yummmmmmmmm!
And I love knowing since I made it myself, that's its all natural and none of the junk or chemicals Starbucks may use.
Thanks again!!!
Terry
It’s #2 in the instructions
THIS. IS. AMAZING. Perfect motivation to get me to do my work…sipping this while doing anything makes it SO much better!!! Thanks!
When is the 1/2 tsp. of pumpkin pie spice added? Before or after removing from the heat? It isn't mentioned in the directions.
Gina, you do not know how happy you have made me! I love pumpkin lattes and this is so much better than the pumpkin sugary syrup concoctions at the coffee house. YOU ROCK!
Yummers!
Real pumpkin and real spices in a pumpkin lattte?! Had to try it.
Made a vegan version with my expresso machine and '365 Unsweetened Almond Milk' (foams beautifully with a steamer). and I'm Canadian, so I had to add maple syrup instead of sugar, eh?
Pumpkin Maple Latte… how great is that right?!
Better than Starbucks regular or soy version which is just a bunch of pre-mixed chemicals in a box mixed with coffee.
Gina: you GO girl!
Debating using the milk portion to do a Pumpkin French Toast…thoughts?
So so so so good!!!! I have been depriving myself of the Starbucks version due to my diet but this comes pretty close. Thank you!
I have a question about the serving size. It says pour into two mugs, but it says it makes 1 latte. So does this mean the calories are really 200+ since its 2 servings?
Hi! You have such amazing, yummy recipes that I can't wait to try! I have already begun my own food blogging experience.
The link you have provided for the original recipe is no longer valid. You may want to update that.
I found it here: http://www.thekitchn.com/diy-pumpkin-spice-latte-96277.
Thanx for sharing!
Gina, you are awesome! This past fall, I discovered Starbucks Pumpkin Latte and fell in love. I tried to recreate it at home with the pumpkin pie creamer, cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger (in with the coffee grounds) and vanilla in the water and it came close and I was happy. Then the season was over and they stopped selling the pumpkin spiced creamer so I had to make do without. BUT I just tried your Pumpkin Butter today in my coffee and you seriously ROCK! Thank you for giving me back my coffee ROFL 🙂
I don't do coffee at all, but I'm wondering if I could adapt this to maybe a chai tea or other tea? What do you think? THANKS!
I just made the latte this morning. I didnt have whipped cream and it still tasted really good!! I love your site and use recipes here all the time! Making this drink for my husband this weekend!! Thank you gina!
I also had the same question as Erin above re: the pumpkin spice. Seeing where it was placed in the ingredients list, I added it when it came time to whisk in the vanilla. I hope that's right.
Anywhoo, I used super strong (decaf) coffee and omitted the whip cream (didn't have any!), and it was fantastic! It was super smooth and tasted oh-so-creamy. I can NOT t believe it has only a hair over 100 calories. Thanks Gina!
Hi Gina,
I actually have a question about this recipe . . .I noticed in the list of ingredients you have 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice and then you list it again at the end for a topping. Does the 1/2 tsp get added to the milk mixture, or is that the amt we should use for the topping?
Can't wait to try it!
~Erin
I just made my pumpkin butter and I can not wait to try this recipe tomorrow morning!
All this chatter made me make an "apple butter earl grey vanilla tea" with my homemade apple butter & some skim milk – 1 old pt for a giant mug…. ahhh fall is wonderful!
Thx! Kathy
LOVE LOVE Pumpkin everything. And I cant wait to try this recipe!!
Found your sight a few days ago and have tried a few recipes already! Delicious! I made the Pumpkin Butter this morning and had no apple juice on hand. I sub'd applesauce, 1/3 cup of water and one more tsp. of Splenda. It is great!
I then couldn't wait to make the Pumpkin Spice Latte and am enjoying a cup right now! I used Almond milk instead of fat free milk…also a good sub!
Thanks for contributing to our family's lifestyle of healthy eating while enjoying delicious foods!
Adapted this for my Tassimo machine. Mixed the pumpkin butter, vanilla and agave with the espresso…then added the milk (I made it cold the first time….still hot here on the west coast), but plan on having it tomorrow morning as a hot drink. I was able to just mix with a fork and had no consistency issues the hot espresso seemed to help it dissolve in. It was delicious!!!! So much better than dragging my 2 yr old to Starbucks 🙂
made this with unsweetened organic silk soy milk and it is so yummy 😀 and way cheaper than starbucks 😉 TY! 😀
I loved it, and I don't even like coffee!
It certainly is Gina…This morning I also added pumpkin butter to my yogurt. Delish!!! I can"t get enough. Thanks again…
It's like a warm cup of pumpkin joy, don't you think!
Hi Gina…this is awesome. I am drinking your pumpkin spice latte as I write this. Delicious!! I made the pumpkin butter this morning and couldn't wait to try it. I found your site a few days ago and have already tried a few recipes. I am so impressed. Thanks for sharing.
Gina – what an awesome website that you have created & thank you so much for sharing it with us. All of your recipes are great & can't wait to try each and every one of them. I'm a pumpkin & Chipotle lover too so really appreciate you sharing such wonderful recipes that I would not have been able to come up with on my own. Your website will definitely help me on my weight loss (& keeping it off) journey. Thank you!
This is soooooo much better than Starbucks!!!!!!
Vickie
I'm born in October and love pumpkin as well! (seems to be a pattern here!) Cannot wait to try this out, since I can't live without coffee or pumpkin! Thanks!
You're welcome!! Glad you like!!
Omg! I have been making the latte mix in triple batches and keeping it in the fridge when ready to use. Gina this is what I call the Bomb pumpkin latte! My best friend hates pumpkin and she loves this! Thank you so much for all the fab recipes!
I just bought maple pumpkin butter from Stonewall Kitchen. I think it would be great in this recipe. Thanks!!!
Joanna, It will still be good if it's not whipped.
Wow, Uganda, Okinawa, gotta love the internet!!
I LOVE this drink, i add 1 t. Pamper Chefs Sweet Caramel Sprinkles to the top of it yummy. 1 t. of the sprinkles are 15 cal. and .5 grams of fat so i don't add an extra pts. I want to make this for a party, so i will have to make the milk part add of time, will i be missing anything if i don't whip each glass of the milk mixture? thanks Joanna
I live in Okinawa (Japan) where we have Starbucks, but they don't offer the seasonal drinks. This recipe is a fantastic stand-in and one I can't wait to share with friends. Thank you! 🙂
I live in Uganda where there is no Starbucks to be found! But thankfully there are pumpkins to be found, and this satisfied my craving perfectly. Thanks!
Hey Gina!
Sounds delicious! if i only have 1% milk will that change the points much?
Thanks!
Megan
Made my pumpkin butter about an hour ago, now on to a Vanilla Tea Pumpkin Spice Latte…it is like Thanksgiving in a cup! Thank you!
Made the pumpkin butter last night and had a latte this morning and a yogurt/pumpkin butter/granola mid morning snack. Wow!!! Delish…better than Starbucks for sure!
just had a cup for breakfast with toast and pumpin butter. amazing, this one is a keeper Gina. i cant wait to put it in my oatmeal. shakes, and pancakes! hooray for pumpkin butter!
What a great sub for Starbucks! I look forward to pumpkin flavored coffee all year long. Thanks for sharing…
I am pumpkin obsessed! I love the idea of making this latte at home, since I don't really like the syrups they use at the coffee houses!
This is seriously better than the real thing at Starbucks! Delish, rich, creamy and doesn't break the calorie bank. Thanks!
I made my minimal one again this morning. I whisked 2TB of the pumpkin butter into my freshly brewed coffee, added vanilla soy milk that I frothed up in my handy dandy Bodum milk frother, and it sprinkled some pumpkin pie spice over the top. Yummy and easy to do.
Thanks again for the recipe. I think I have to try the cocoa idea soon too!
Piscescg
I made this to start my day and yowza, I was blown away by how good it is. I never ever have good coffee come out of my kitchen, until now. First time for everything! Thanks for the simple and delicious recipe. Can't believe it's light!
I'm not a coffee drinker, but was able to adapt this recipe for hot cocoa. Yum! Thanks for posting!
THANK YOU THANK YOU! My wallet and I THANK YOU!
Sounds delicious! I've never tried this but might have to give this recipe a go 🙂
I am in love with your blog, and all of these pumpkin recipes! I almost died when I saw this recipe.. pumpkin spice lattes are my absolute FAVORITE! thank you so much for all of these awesome ideas.. can't wait to try this one!
Love your photography and the way you think!! 🙂
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kris with a k – join the club!
margo – happy birthday month!
southern gal – i'm happy you are enjoying them!
elizabeth – I love chai! I buy it in Trader Joes, I bet this would be delicious in place of coffee!
Coffee drinkers are so fortunate to have all those wonderful flavors. Wonder if the recipe could be adapted for tea drinkers?
You could make a pumpkin smoothie
Hi Gina. I haven't commented in a while, but I just had to stop by and tell you how much I'm loving the pumpkin recipes you're posting. I made a pumpkin flavored coffee yesterday morning and then saw this. I'm going to try it now! Thanks.
Oct is my birthday month too! And I love love love pumpkin lattes! Thank you!!!
I hope this is not a double post, my other one disappeared, but thank you SO much for this recipe! I LOVE all things pumpkin!
The magic bullet would be great for this and sure, you could make the milk mixture the night before, why not!! 🙂
This looks great! I love pumpkin spiced lattes! Happy Birthday this month!
~Gina
I'm always sad that Starbucks doesn't offer this flavor in a "skinny" option… this is the perfect solution!!
i was just thinking, for a single serving if you just halved everything and used the microwave and a magic bullet that would be quick and easy too. i seriously cant wait to try this.
I made this today right after my pumpkin butter was finished bubbling away. I microwaved the milk mixture instead of boiling it on the stovetop. Worked fine I think but I may have to try the conventional way just to make sure I'm not missing out. I was too lazy to whisk or blend (do we see a pattern of shortcuts here?) so I did have some texture in it, which didn't bother me one bit. It was delicious and
surprisingly filling for an afternoon snack.
Thanks Gina for another keeper! You're awesome!
Do you think one would be able to make the milk mixture the night before, then just microwave it and add hot coffee to it in the morning?? I usually am in such a rush in the morning, trying to get my son ready, I wouldn't have time to make it this way…but totally want to try it because it looks amazing (like all of your other stuff!!).
One of my favorite aspects of October are pumpkin spiced lattes!
Hope you're not sick of pumpkin yet… The amount of pumpkin used in this is minimal, you don't feel a texture.
vlo- I wanted to give people ideas, but an easy thing to do with it is to add it to your oatmeal, so good!!
Starbucks has pumpkin spice lattes, but their nonfat, tall latte is 3 points. This is a PERFECT substitution!
Thank you!! 🙂
this looks good gina, youve sold me on the pumpkin butter. when you posted the recipe for it i thought it looked good but wasnt sure how you would use it all before it spoiled. now i see there are many uses, ill will be making a batch soon.
Pretty tasty. Just be aware that theres a certain texture that comes along w/ using actual pumpkin.
Thanks for the recipe
nina bean
My birth month too! This sounds amazing =)
The pumpkin butter is a recipe from 2 times ago. 🙂
Thank you for bringing fall and the coffee shop to my home. You make it sound so easy. Where does one get pumpkin butter? I keep seeing it in recipes everywhere.