This is hands down the best and the easiest Copycat Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte recipe you’ll ever find. My photo and video instructions will help you make your favorite drink at home!
During the fall months, so many of us LOVE and CRAVE Pumpkin Spice Lattes from Starbucks. I still remember the first time I tried it because I felt so sure that I wouldn’t like the pumpkin mixed with milk and espresso. Boy, was I surprised when I took the first sip! It’s like all of the best things fall has to offer in one cup!
While working at Starbucks for five years, I had plenty of opportunities to enjoy Pumpkin Spice Lattes. During the fall months, I had one almost every day. Now that I work from home, I would love to see a cup of PSL next to my computer while I am working, but the nearest Starbucks is 20 minutes away—plus, if I bought it as often as I wanted it, I would run the risk of going broke. 🙂 Since I’ve had success duplicating many of my favorite Starbucks drinks at home, like the Caramel Macchiato and Mocha Frappuccino, it was a no-brainer for me to make the Pumpkin Spice Latte as well. Today, I want to teach you how you can make this delicious treat, too.
HOW THE PUMPKIN SPICE LATTE IS MADE
A Pumpkin Spice Latte is made with:
- Pumpkin Sauce
- Espresso
- Milk
Let’s talk a bit more about these ingredients.
ESPRESSO
Espresso could be made with an espresso machine, various K-Cup machines, or with a macchinetta or “moka.” If you don’t own any of these items, I suggest starting with a macchinetta. That’s what all of Italy is using! It is cheap, easy to use, and the Italians swear it makes the best espresso. There are several good brands to choose from, like Bialetti and Grosche, but I have to tell you that even the cheapest $10 macchinetta makes espresso well. Check out this video I found on how to use a macchinetta:
MILK
As with any latte, you’ll need to froth the milk for this Pumpkin Spice Latte. You can froth the milk by simply warming it up (microwave or stovetop) and whisking it. But if you enjoy making lattes and cappuccinos at home, you’ll need a simple and effective milk frother. There are two kinds of milk frothers that work really well: manual milk frothers (I use this Ninja Frother), and electric frothers (I recommend this PowerLix Frother). Check out the reviews on these frothers. They are both very effective. Here is a video on how to use a manual milk frother:
PUMPKIN SAUCE
Lastly, you’ll need Pumpkin Sauce for this Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte. It is also easy to prepare, and the sauce will last up to seven days in the refrigerator. You’ll need just a few ingredients to make the sauce:
1. To make the sauce, just place all of the ingredients in a small saucepan and simmer for about 10 minutes.
2. Place the sauce in a smoothie cup or food processor and process until very smooth. This step is optional, but recommended.
The sauce is ready!
Now, let’s make the Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte at home!
PUMPKIN SPICE LATTE INGREDIENTS:
- 1/4 cup of pumpkin sauce
- 2 oz. espresso
- 8 oz. milk
- whipped cream and cinnamon, to garnish
HOW TO MAKE PUMPKIN SPICE LATTE:
1. Prepare the espresso.
2. Warm and froth the milk.
3. Add pumpkin the sauce and espresso to a 16 oz. serving cup. Stir well.
4. Pour the milk into the pumpkin-espresso mixture. Top with whipped cream, and sprinkle with cinnamon.
You’ll love these Starbucks Copycat Recipes too:
STARBUCKS PUMPKIN SPICE LATTE VIDEO TUTORIAL
Copycat Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte
Ingredients
For Pumpkin Sauce
- 1 cup pumpkin puree
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 tsp. pumpkin spice
For Pumpkin Spice Latte
- 1/4 cup pumpkin sauce
- 2 oz. espresso
- 8 oz. milk
- whipped cream and cinnamon to garnish
Instructions
PUMPKIN SAUCE
- To make the pumpkin sauce, just place all of the ingredients in a small saucepan and simmer for about 10 minutes.
- Place the sauce in smoothie cup or food processor and process until very smooth. This step is optional, but recommended.
- Transfer the sauce into a jar with a lid and keep in refrigerator for up to 7 days.
PUMPKIN SPICE LATTE
- Prepare espresso.
- Warm and froth the milk.
- Add pumpkin sauce and espresso into a 16 oz. serving cup. Stir well.
- Pour the milk into the pumpkin-espresso mixture. Top with whipped cream and sprinkle with cinnamon.
I find with these clones the pumpkin puree always leaves a “pumpkin graininess” to the drink.
Hi Candace! If you place the pumpkin sauce in the smoothie cup of a blender and blend really well, it will have the exact same texture as original pumpkin sauce from Starbucks. Happy Cooking!
This looks so good. I love Starbucks PSL! I had a question about the sugar. Have you (or anyone else) tried using a sugar substitute like stevia or monkfruit instead of sugar? I don’t buy these at Starbucks anymore because they’re too sweet. 😔
Hi Maria! I didn’t try any sugar substitutes. You can skip the sugar altogether when making the pumpkin sauce, and when you have the hot latte ready in the cup, just mix in as much Stevia (or other sweetener) as you like. Hope this helps!
I’m not a coffee drinker. Could I just omit the coffee and have and just have a PSL?
I think you’ll still enjoy it without coffee, Vi. Let me know if you give it a try. Cheers!
I made it with just the pumpkin sauce and 8 oz of unsweetened vanilla almond milk. Delicious! Thanks for sharing the recipe!!
Thank you so much for sharing, Vi! I am so glad you enjoyed it!
Love how simple the sauce recipe is, wondering if I can without the sugar, or with a replacement… any thoughts?
Hi Catherine! Even though the pumpkin puree is sweet, but when mixed with espresso, your drink won’t be sweet at all, if you skip the sugar. As an alternative, you can try using honey or agave syrup. Hope this helps!
Tastes just like the one from Starbucks, maybe even better 😍 I frothed microwaved milk using a French press because I didn’t have anything else to froth with – worked like a charm!
Great! I am so happy to hear that, Angela! I enjoyed homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte this afternoon as well. YUM!