Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew
on Aug 25, 2024
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See how easy it is to make this copycat Starbucks refreshing cold brew topped with fluffy pumpkin spice flavored cold foam at home in just 5 minutes!
Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew
Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew is a refreshing, caffeinated coffee drink sweetened with vanilla syrup and made creamy with pumpkin cream cold foam. Pumpkin spice topping is dusted on top of the the iced drink.
A Starbucks drink, the cold brew coffee is made at each Starbucks location by steeping ground coffee in water for 20 hours in the refrigerator.
The pumpkin flavor is just in the cold foam and pumpkin spice topping, not in the cold brew. The pumpkin spice topping contains cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves, a blend of spices that usually go into flavoring a pumpkin pie.
RELATED: Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte
Recipe Summary
- Cold brew is ground coffee steeped in cold water for several hours or overnight. It’s very easy to make at home using whatever ground coffee you have at home.
- Store-bought or homemade pumpkin spice sauce can be used. This goes into the cold foam.
- Pumpkin cream cold foam is a frothy, milky foam that tops the drink. Cold foam, just like the one at Starbucks, can be made using a French press.
- This easy recipe recreates a grande size (16 ounce) cup of Starbucks Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew using 6 ingredients.
RELATED: Pumpkin Spice Chai Latte
Ingredient Notes
- Cold brew coffee: To make the cold brew taste as close to Starbucks’ use their cold brew concentrates but I like to make mine the traditional way by steeping ground coffee in water for a few hours.
- Vanilla syrup: Store-bought or homemade vanilla syrup can be used. The vanilla syrup is used in the cold brew and the cold foam.
- Half & half: This is my shortcut to making cold foam. Half & half is half cream and half milk.
- Pumpkin sauce: You can buy pumpkin sauce or use homemade pumpkin spice sauce.
- Pumpkin spice: This is a blend of spices that flavor a pumpkin pie and it’s sprinkled on top of the cold foam. It’s also called pumpkin pie spice. If you want to make your own, see below to get the ingredients.
- Ice: Make ice using filtered water, if possible, for a better tasting ice.
For full ingredients and detailed instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Pour half & half, vanilla syrup, and pumpkin sauce into a French press. Stir.
Step 2: Place French press lid and move the plunger up and down to make cold foam.
Step 3: Put vanilla syrup, cold brew, and ice into a cup.
Step 4: Top drink with cold foam and a dusting of pumpkin spice.
Homemade Pumpkin Spice Topping
Make your own pumpkin spice topping by combining:
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
Coffee Options
Cold brew is the foundation of this drink but if you don’t have cold brew, here are some other coffee options for you to try.
Coffee machine
Use 2-3 tablespoons of ground coffee and 1 cup of water to make ¾ cup of hot coffee in a coffee machine. Quickly cool down the hot coffee by placing it in the freezer for 15 minutes or in the refrigerator for at least 45 minutes.
French press
Combine 2-3 tablespoons of ground coffee and 1 cup of hot water in a French press and steep for 4 minutes. Strain, then cool down the coffee in the freezer or refrigerator.
Instant coffee
Use ¾ cup of cold water with 1 tablespoon of instant coffee to replace the cold brew.
Expert Tips
- Make the cold brew ahead of time since it’ll take at least 12 hours. After removing the coffee grounds, the coffee can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.
- Instead of buying vanilla syrup, make it at home! It only takes 3 ingredients (sugar, water, and vanilla extract) and 5 minutes. Make a batch ahead of time and use to to flavor and sweeten drinks, cold foams, and whipped cream.
- Aside from a French press, cold foam can be whisked using a handheld milk frother but the foam won’t be as frothy and smooth.
- Cold brew is a concentrated coffee that’s typically stronger than regular brewed coffee. If the coffee is too strong, just add cold water to dilute it.
Questions You May Have
Yes, there’s usually more caffeine in cold brew than regular coffee. Cold brew is a stronger coffee using more ground coffee than regular iced coffee, which is made using brewed coffee.
A grande Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew at Starbucks is made with iced, cold brewed coffee, 2 pumps of vanilla syrup, pumpkin cream cold foam, and pumpkin spice topping.
They’re slightly different since the sauce is made with dairy and syrup is not. Both the pumpkin spice sauce and pumpkin spice syrup contain pumpkin puree. You can use either to make this drink at home.
Related
- 13 Starbucks Pumpkin Drinks (Including Secret Menu)
- Pumpkin Spice Latte
- Pumpkin Frappuccino
- Iced Caramel Macchiato
- Iced Shaken Espresso
If you tried this Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew recipe, please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ star rating and let me know how you like it in the comments below.
Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew
Ingredients
Cold Brew
- 1 tablespoon vanilla syrup
- ¾ cup cold brew coffee
- 1 cup ice
Pumpkin Cream Cold Foam
- ⅓ cup half & half
- 1 tablespoon vanilla syrup
- 1 tablespoon pumpkin sauce
- ¼ teaspoon pumpkin spice
Instructions
- Pour half & half, 1 tablespoon vanilla syrup, and pumpkin sauce into a French press.Make the cold foam first then set aside.⅓ cup half & half, 1 tablespoon vanilla syrup, 1 tablespoon pumpkin sauce
- Place French press lid and move the plunger up and down 40 times to make cold foam.The cold foam will double in size in the French press.
- Put vanilla syrup, cold brew, and ice into a cup. Top drink with cold foam and a dusting of pumpkin spice.1 tablespoon vanilla syrup, ¾ cup cold brew coffee, 1 cup ice, ¼ teaspoon pumpkin spice
Notes
- Make the cold brew ahead of time since it’ll take at least 12 hours. After removing the coffee grounds, the coffee can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.
- Instead of buying vanilla syrup, make it at home! It only takes 3 ingredients (sugar, water, and vanilla extract) and 5 minutes. Make a batch ahead of time and use to to flavor and sweeten drinks, cold foams, and whipped cream.
- Cold brew is a concentrated coffee that’s typically stronger than regular brewed coffee. If the coffee is too strong, just add cold water to dilute it.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
