Warm up your fall mornings with a cozy cup of this rich and creamy Pumpkin Spice Latte—no pumpkin required! Made with coffee infused with the perfect blend of spices and sweetened just right, it's a delightful twist on the seasonal classic.
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My Homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte will satisfy your Fall coffe cravings without waiting in long lines, and with no actual pumpkin. As I may have mentioned in my Pumpkin Spice Pancakes recipe, I am not a fan of the Devil's gourd. But as much as I hate pumpkin, I love a cute little Fall coffee. Why should my distaste of pumpkin keep me from enjoying a warm bevvie?
The secret to my delicious homemade PSL is a rich brown sugar pumpkin spice syrup. It takes only minutes to prepare, and its intense pumpkin spice flavors will keep you in warm and cozy coffees for up to two weeks. Breakfast and brunch just got that much more delicious!
Before the coffee police get mad, I know that a latte is normally made with espresso, but I don't have an espresso machine and I know most people don't. You could certainly use espresso, but the rest of us want a hot drink too. Then whenever the mood strikes, just brew some coffee, or espresso, add some syrup, and top it all off with a generous pour of warm spiced milk. It's so much better than the coffee shop version, and everyone can enjoy one!
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❤️ What you'll love about this latte
- Made with coffee - No need for an espresso machine. I don't have room on my counter for another gadget, so having a homemade version of pumpkin spice latte made with coffee is perfect for me.
- No pumpkin - I dislike pumpkin so much that it may feel like I'm on an anti-gourde crusade. If you are on the same team, I'm the girl for you!
- Ready in a flash - Make the syrup in advance and you are only a few minutes from pumpkin spice bliss.
- No pumpkin. Please. - If you really, really want a pumpkin latte, I'll tell you how much pumpkin puree to add, but just don't mix up our mugs, okay?
Ingredients & Substitutions
Simple ingredients are all that's needed to make a homemade pumpkin spice latte recipe that is so much better than the Starbucks version.
Pumpkin Spice Syrup Ingredients
- Brown sugar and water - A basic simple syrup consists of plain granulated sugar and water, but I make it richer by using brown sugar.
- Pumpkin pie spice - You can use a store bought pumpkin spice, but making your own warm spice takes literally a minute or two. Mine consists of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves.
Pumpkin Spice Latte Ingredients
- Coffee - I like a nice strong cup o'Joe in my pumpkin spice latte. My keurig has a setting to make strongly-brewed coffee, but you can substitute with 2 shots of espresso, brewed or instant. No judgement here.
- Cream and milk - Of course, this equals half and half, so you can use that, or just milk, or just cream, or you can substitute with almond milk, coconut milk, soy milk, or the nondairy milk/cream of your choice.
- Pumpkin spice syrup - Oh boy is this delicious and easy to make, but you can use Torani Pumpkin Spice Syrup, which is available online.
- Pumpkin spice sugar - Literally pumpkin pie spice mixed with granulated sugar, but it is so good on top of your latte, on top of fluffy pancakes, and really adds to the flavor of an iced french toast latte.
See recipe card at the bottom of this post for precise measurements.
Love a copycat recipe? Try my Potato Cheddar and Chive Egg Bites. This better than Starbucks copycat recipe has flavorful potatoes and cheese baked into an eggy custard with a bonus of bacon because bacon makes everything better ❤️
Variations
Here are a few ways to change things up depending on ingredients or mood:
- French toast latte - This PSL may be my new favorite coffee drink, but it is fighting for first place next to a hot version of my French toast iced coffee, with the flavors of cinnamon, butter, and a hint of maple syrup.
- Chai - Try the spice blend I use in my chai spiced waffles; a combination of 1 teaspoon cinnamon, ½ teaspoon cardamom, ¼ teaspoon ginger and nutmeg, and ⅛ teaspoon cloves, or used store-bought chai spice.
- Fine. Pumpkin. - Add 2 tablespoon of pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling) to your hot coffee, along with the pumpkin spice syrup, and stir it in before adding the hot milk.
Equipment
You don't really need any fancy equipment to make this homemade latte. Following the instructions as written will get you great results, but I feel like a fancy barista when I whisk up the milk using the milk frother I purchased from our Internet Overlords for less than $10.
It whips together the milk and cream in literally seconds, and just as well as my immersion blender, FOR $9!! Anyway, I'm fancy now. Bonjour.
(p.s. you can also froth your milk in a small food processor, a portable blender, or with your very strong wrist and a whisk. You got this 💪)
Instructions
This is a very simple recipe. Isn't that a relief? You'll start by making the pumpkin spice syrup, and then you'll be ready to make a pumpkin spice latte at a moment's notice, or every morning for two weeks straight - if you don't share.
Step 1: In a small saucepan, combine the water, brown sugar, and pumpkin spice. Place the saucepan on medium heat bring to a low boil, whisking until the sugar is dissolved and the spices are incorporated.
Allow to cool before pouring into a clean container, using a wire mesh strainer to filter out any undissolved spices.
Step 2: Add 2 tablespoons of pumpkin spice syrup to 6 ounces of coffee in a large mug. (you can use 2 shots of espresso if you like)
Step 3: Heat milk, cream, and 1 tablespoon pumpkin spice syrup on the stove for a couple of minutes, or in the microwave for 45 seconds, or until hot.
Step 4: Use a milk frother, or a hand whisk, and mix the milk mixture vigorously for 30 to 45 seconds, or until it becomes foamy and almost doubles in volume.
Step 5: Pour the hot milk and cream into your coffee, reserving the foam to spoon on top.
Step 6: Optional: Sprinkle with pumpkin spice sugar made from ½ cup of granulated sugar and 1 ½ teaspoons of pumpkin pie spice.
Ooh la la: Be absolutely decadent and top your Pumpkin Spice Latte with whipped cream and a generous shake of pumpkin spice sugar.
How to make an Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte
To make an iced latte, froth cold milk and cream with pumpkin spice syrup until foamy. Fill a 12 ounce glass halfway with ice. Add 2 tablespoons of syrup and 6 ounces of milk. Stir. Pour over with cold brew coffee, cooled strong coffee, or cooled espresso. Top with 2 tablespoon of cold foam and a sprinkle of pumpkin spice sugar.
Recipe FAQs
Wherever the recipe calls for pumpkin pie syrup, you can use pure maple syrup (not pancake syrup) along with a dash of pumpkin pie spice or cinnamon.
If you or your brunch buddies don’t drink coffee, try brewed chai tea instead.
You can add 1 cup of cold heavy cream and 2 tablespoons of powdered or granulated sugar to a bowl and mix with a hand mixer until you have fluffy whipped cream. Alternatively, you can make it in a small portable blender or even add the ingredients to a cold pint-sized Mason jar, screw on the lid, and shake, shake, shake!
Did you try this recipe?
Leave a comment with a ⭐️ rating below to tell me all about it, and don't forget to tag me on Instagram!
I appreciate you!
-Cynthia
📖 Recipe
Homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte (without pumpkin)
Equipment
- Milk frother optional
Ingredients
Pumpkin spice (or store-bought)
- 3 tablespoons ground cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 2 teaspoons nutmeg
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground allspice
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground cloves
Pumpkin spice syrup
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup water
- 2 tablespoons pumpkin spice
Pumpkin spice sugar (optional)
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons pumpkin spice
Pumpkin spice foam
- ¼ cup heavy cream or plant based cream
- ¼ cup milk or plant based milk
- 1 tablespoon pumpkin spice syrup
Per drink
- 2 tablespoons pumpkin spice syrup
- 6 ounces hot coffee or 2 shots of espresso
- Pumpkin spice foam
Instructions
Make pumpkin spice syrup
- In a small saucepan, combine the water, brown sugar, and pumpkin spice. Place the saucepan on medium heat bring to a low boil, whisking until the sugar is dissolved and the spices are incorporated.
- Allow to cool before pouring into a clean container, using a wire mesh strainer to filter out any undissolved spices.
Make Pumpkin spice sugar (optional)
- Mix together ½ cup of granulated sugar with 2 teaspoons of pumpkin spice. Place in a small shaker jar or emptied and cleaned spice bottle.
Make one pumpkin spice latte
- Heat milk, cream, and 1 tablespoon pumpkin spice syrup on the stove for a couple of minutes, or in the microwave for 45 seconds, or until hot.
- Use a milk frother, or a hand whisk, and mix vigorously for 30 to 45 seconds, or until the mixture is foamy and almost doubles in volume.
- Add 2 tablespoons of pumpkin spice syrup to a cup of coffee in a large mug.
- Pour the hot milk and cream into the coffee reserving the foam to spoon on top. Sprinkle with pumpkin spice sugar, if you like.
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Taylor says
My syrup tastes really good, but it turned out really thick and almost gloopy... is this normal?
Cynthia Christensen says
It’s possible that you either simmered it too long or that you didn’t strain out the excess spices. Not all the spices will dissolve. If it’s too thick, just add a little bit of water until it’s the consistency you want. I hope that helps!
Izzy says
It took me forever to make a syrup! What I could have done wrong?
Cynthia Christensen says
I'm not sure. All you have to do is boil sugar and water together and add some spices. It should only take a couple of minutes.