Pumpkin Spice Latte
Updated Nov 02, 2024
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Delicious Pumpkin Spice Latte made just like Starbucks, this copycat recipe shows how easy it is to make this drink at home in just 5 minutes, including the homemade whipped cream!
The Ultimate Fall Drink
Pumpkin Spice Latte (also known as just PSL), is a popular seasonal fall drink at Starbucks. The drink is made with pumpkin spice sauce, espresso, milk, and topped with whipped cream.
With a combination of flavors like pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove, PSL is a delicious and comforting hot beverage, perfect for the cooler months.
Note from Jee
Whenever Starbucks announces the launch of their fall drinks at the end of August, I both love it and hate it. I’m a fan of their pumpkin spice drinks but hate that it’s signaling the end of warmer days ahead.
Real pumpkin puree in the pumpkin spice sauce is the secret to making this drink delicious so I would recommend taking the time to make your own sauce at home instead of buying.
I figured out that the Starbucks pumpkin spice topping only has 4 spices (pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove) so I blended my own pumpkin spice topping using the same spices. You can find the homemade pumpkin spice topping below.
Instead of using 2 Nespresso capsules, I like to make this drink with just 1 Nespresso capsule since I find 2 capsules to be too strong.
RELATED: Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte
Recipe Summary
- An espresso machine or a Nespresso is needed to make espresso for this drink, but instant coffee can be used as a substitute, although it won’t taste quite the same.
- The drink is sweetened and flavored with homemade pumpkin spice sauce but store-bought can be used.
- This copycat recipe recreates a grande size (16 ounces) Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte, including the whipped cream.
RELATED: Pumpkin Spice Chai Latte
Ingredient Notes
- Espresso: Any espresso can be used but go with Starbucks if you want it to taste closer to theirs.
- Pumpkin spice sauce: Use store-bought or homemade pumpkin spice sauce.
- Milk: Starbucks makes the drink with 2% milk by default but you can use any milk you like.
- Heavy cream: This is to make the whipped cream.
- Vanilla syrup: To sweeten and flavor the whipped cream, just like the one at Starbucks. Use store-bought or homemade vanilla syrup.
- Pumpkin spice: A blend of warming spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, this topping is sprinkled on the whipped cream. Make your own pumpkin spice topping using my homemade version below.
For full ingredients and detailed instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Whisk heavy cream and vanilla syrup to make whipped cream. Set aside.
The quickest and easiest way to make whipped cream for drinks is to use a handheld milk frother.
Step 2: Put pumpkin spice sauce and espresso into a cup. Stir.
Step 3: Add frothed or heated milk.
An easy way to make frothed milk is by using an electric milk frother like an Aeroccino. Another method is to simmer milk on the stovetop, pour it into a French press, then pump the plunger a few times to create froth
Step 4: Use a spoon to add the whipped cream on top of the drink. Garnish with a sprinkle of pumpkin spice topping.
Homemade Pumpkin Spice Topping
Homemade pumpkin spice topping can be made at home by combining:
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
Nespresso Notes
For a drink to be a latte, it has to be made with espresso. The easiest way to make espresso at home is with a Nespresso machine. To make this grande size Pumpkin Spice Latte at home, you’ll need 2 Nespresso espresso capsules or 1 double espresso capsule.
Starbucks uses their signature espresso to make the PSL. Using Starbucks espresso will get the drink to taste more like the one at Starbucks.
Nespresso makes Starbucks capsules for both Vertuo and Original machines. Make sure the Nespresso capsule you use makes espresso and not coffee/mug (7.77 ounces).
Blonde Espresso
Instead of using the regular Starbucks espresso Nespresso capsule, try it with their Blonde espresso capsules which are more popular and smoother in taste. A lot more people prefer the taste of the Blonde espresso over any other Starbucks Nespresso capsules, including me.
Expert Tips
- Milk will increase in volume when frothed, so to get 1 ¼ cups of frothed milk for this recipe, use ¾ cup of cold milk (dairy or non-dairy).
- To whip cream for drinks, use a handheld milk frother for about 30-50 seconds until you get soft peaks. Don’t overwhip.
- Vanilla syrup is used to sweeten and flavor the whipped cream, but you can replace it with regular simple syrup or 2 teaspoons of sugar.
Questions You May Have
There are 4 spices in the pumpkin spice topping at Starbucks: cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and clove. The same spices can be found in this pumpkin spice topping.
Sauces contain dairy and they’re thicker than syrups. Both the sauce and syrup contain pumpkin puree.
In a grande (16 ounce) drink, there’s 2% milk, 4 pumps of pumpkin sauce, 2 shots of espresso. The drink is topped with vanilla whipped cream and pumpkin spice topping.
Related
If you tried this Pumpkin Spice Latte recipe, please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ star rating and let me know how you like it in the comments below.
Pumpkin Spice Latte
Ingredients
Pumpkin Spice Latte
- 2 capsules Nespresso espresso, (or 2 espresso shots)
- 3 tablespoons pumpkin spice sauce
- ¾ cup milk
- pinch pumpkin spice topping
Whipped Cream
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon vanilla syrup
Instructions
- Whisk heavy cream and vanilla syrup to make whipped cream. Set aside.The quickest and easiest way to make whipped cream for drinks is to use a handheld milk frother for about 30-50 seconds until you get soft peaks. Don’t overwhip.¼ cup heavy cream, 1 tablespoon vanilla syrup
- Froth or heat milk.Frothed milk can be made using an electric milk frother, which will heat and froth the milk at the same time. Another method is to simmer milk on the stovetop, pour it into a French press, then pump the plunger a few times until it doubles in volume.¾ cup milk
- Put espresso and pumpkin spice sauce into a mug. Stir. Add frothed or heated milk.3 tablespoons pumpkin spice sauce, 2 capsules Nespresso espresso
- Top with whipped cream and garnish with a sprinkle of pumpkin spice topping.Use a spoon to add the whipped cream on top of the drink.pinch pumpkin spice topping
Notes
- 1 shot of espresso = 1 Nespresso espresso capsule
- To make a 16 ounce (grande) Starbucks drink, you’ll need 2 Nespresso espresso or ristretto capsules. You can also use 1 Vertuo double espresso.
- Instead of using the regular Starbucks espresso Nespresso capsule, try it with their Blonde espresso capsules, which are more popular and smoother in taste.
- With the Vertuo machine capsules, only use espresso capsules and not the coffee capsules that make 7.77 ounces.
- Vanilla syrup is used to sweeten and flavor the whipped cream, but you can replace it with regular simple syrup or 2 teaspoons of sugar if you don’t have it.
- Instead of using 2 Nespresso capsules, I like to make this drink with just 1 Nespresso capsule since I find 2 capsules to be too strong for me.
Homemade Pumpkin Spice Topping ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground ginger
⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg
⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
