Craving a Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte but not the price tag? Good news-you can whip up this cozy fall favorite right at home with this copycat recipe, saving you time and money! This homemade pumpkin spice latte recipe is so easy, you'll wonder why you ever paid for it!
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Why You'll Love This Homemade PSL
Every year as pumpkin spice season hits, my Starbucks pumpkin spice sauce recipe goes crazy! People love how easy and tasty that sauce is; you can whip it up in about 5 minutes!
The pumpkin spice sauce is delicious in cold brew coffee but I thought it's about time we dedicated a full post to crafting the perfect homemade pumpkin spice latte!
This recipe captures all the cozy pumpkin spice flavor of the original PSL while being incredibly simple to make! Perfect for those warm late-summer days when you're ready for fall to finally kick in-or those crisp fall mornings that beg for a cozy drink!
Don't believe me? Check out what one reader had to say about my pumpkin spice sauce recipe...
Recipe Love! What Readers Are Saying:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"I don't usually leave comments on recipes but this stuff is PERFECT. It's exactly what I was looking for. I make iced americanos with pumpkin, white chocolate and cream. I had looked into buying some pumpkin sauce but they all have so many preservatives and colorings added, I couldn't justify doing that for the price. I made this in all of 5 minutes with some stuff in my cupboards and it was exactly the flavor I was looking for, 100/10 would recommend."
- EC (in reference to my Pumpkin Spice Sauce)
Pumpkin Spice Latte Recipe Ingredients
- Pumpkin Spice Sauce: I highly recommend using my homemade Starbucks pumpkin spice sauce recipe. It is made with sweetened condensed milk, real pumpkin puree, and pumpkin spice seasoning.
If you have a store-bought pumpkin spice syrup you love, you could use that too. Keep in mind pumpkin syrup is a bit different than my pumpkin sauce which contains canned pumpkin purée. Using pumpkin sauce, will be more like the original pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks. - Brewed espresso: If you don't have an espresso machine, you can substitute strongly brewed coffee. Use espresso roast beans when making your espresso for the best results!
- Milk: I used 2% milk here. You can substitute a non-dairy milk if needed. See my recommendations below.
- Whipped Cream: What's a PSL without a little whipped cream on top?! I just grabbed a can of redi-whip from the grocery store to keep it simple!
- Pumpkin pie spice: Add that classic dusting of warm spices on top, just like Starbucks.
*Refer to the recipe card for the complete recipe.
Can I Make This PSL Dairy Free?
You can make this pumpkin spice latte dairy free by substituting with dairy free ingredients. Here's my suggestions:
- Milk: Soy Milk or Oatly Barista Edition Oat milk, which is certified gluten-free are my top recommendations. Almond milk would also be a good choice.
- Whipped cream: Redi-whip and Aldi sell non-dairy canned whipped cream.
- Sweetened condensed milk (for pumpkin spice sauce): Sweetened condensed coconut milk.
Equipment
- Espresso Machine: If you're in the market for an espresso machine, I highly recommend the Breville Barista Express. It's the perfect espresso machine for beginner espresso enthusiasts. It's easy to use and learn and makes delicious espresso drinks of all kinds.
- Milk Frother: To make a true latte, you'll need steamed milk. If you don't have an espresso machine with an attached steam wand, you'll want a way to froth your milk. An electric milk frother is best because it can warm the milk while it froths but a handheld milk frother is a more affordable option. You'll have to heat the milk first. You can also use your frother to make Starbucks vanilla sweet cream cold foam!
Instructions
- Start by adding your delicious pumpkin spice sauce and freshly brewed shots of espresso to your favorite mug.
- Give it a good stir to blend those cozy flavors together.
- Next, steam your milk until it's nice and frothy.
- Finally, pour the steamed milk into your latte.
- Finish with a dollop of whipped cream, a dash of pumpkin pie spice, and a cinnamon stick- if you're feeling fancy!
- Enjoy every sip!
More Starbucks Recipes You'll Love!
If you're enjoying my easy homemade pumpkin spice latte, check out some more Starbucks recipes, like this Starbucks Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai Latte and the Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew! If you or a loved one is gluten-free, check out my gluten-free guide to Starbucks!
Top Recipe Tips
- Make the pumpkin spice sauce a day ahead to allow the spices to infuse into the sauce and hydrate. When used immediately after making the sauce, the spices sometimes feel like they are grainy or getting caught in your throat.
- For the best pumpkin spice latte, use freshly roasted coffee beans and grind just before brewing your shot of espresso.
- This recipe will make a "grande" size latte and calls for a double shot of espresso.
- Adjust the amount of pumpkin spice sauce in the latte to your desired tastes.
Some Like It Iced...
If you're like me and love iced coffee, you'll definitely want to make this iced pumpkin spice latte recipe as well! It's the perfect way to enjoy that fall flavor while keeping cool in or out of pumpkin season!
Recipe FAQs
Making your own pumpkin spice latte allows you to save a little money and control the ingredients. You can customize the sweetness and spice levels to your liking, ensuring every sip is just how you want it. Plus, it's a fun and rewarding way to enjoy a café favorite right at home!
This is not recommended. Pumpkin pie filling is much different than the pumpkin spice sauce used in this recipe. The pumpkin sauce recipe contains sweetened condensed milk, which imparts a creamy texture to the drink.
A standard Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte typically contains three pumps of pumpkin spice sauce for a tall (12 oz) size, four pumps for a grande (16 oz), and five pumps for a venti (20 oz). However, you can adjust the number of pumps to suit your taste preferences.
Recipe
Copycat Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte Recipe
Ingredients
Pumpkin Spice Sauce
- 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk (not evaporated milk)
- ½ cup canned pumpkin puree
- 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
Pumpkin Spice Latte
- 2 shots freshly brewed espresso
- 2 Tablespoons pumpkin spice sauce
- 12 ounces milk (approximately)
- whipped cream
- pumpkin pie spice
Instructions
Pumpkin Spice Sauce
- Stir sweetened condensed milk, pumpkin puree, and pumpkin pie spice together in a small bowl.
- Before making your latte, let the sauce rest for at least 15 minutes before use to absorb the spices.
- Store unused sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
Pumpkin Spice Latte
- Add pumpkin sauce to the bottom of your desired mug.
- Pour in freshly brewed espresso shots and stir or swirl to combine.
- Steam your milk until warm and lightly frothed. Pour into your espresso.
- Finish with whipped cream and a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice. Enjoy!
Notes
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Estimated Nutrition
* Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and should be used as an estimate only. See the nutrition policy for more information.
Erika says
Super simple to make with ingredients on hand. I have made many dupes for Starbucks but this one tastes the most like it. Thank you!
Katie Olesen says
Thanks Erika! I appreciate it!