It used to be that we’d have to wait until fall really hit before the seasonal coffee beverages started coming out. One year I remember it was cold, rainy, and almost October before we all got our Pumpkin Spice fix, and I swore that if I ever had the craving again, I’d find a way to make one myself.
Turns out, it’s not that hard to do. I’m not sure what the secret ingredients are in a Pumpkin Spice Latte from your favourite coffee shop, but when you make them yourself you can choose what you put into them and what you don’t.
Take milk for example—yes, I know a latte pretty much dictates you have to use milk, but I’m lactose intolerant. Although I’d crave the Pumpkin Spicey goodness, I also knew I’d have a stomachache about ½ hour after I drank one. It was a price I was willing to pay. This year I’ve seen them made with lactose free milk, but because I know how to make my own, I can safely skip the coffee shop and make as many lactose-free varieties as I’d like on my own.
There are a lot of varieties of Pumpkin Spice latte besides lactose-free. You can make a skinny version too, and it actually tastes just as amazing as the full fat version.
Try these two latte recipes and bring a little Pumpkin Spice into your home:
Original Pumpkin Spice Latte
This recipe calls for canned pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice. If you’re like me and you buy a bunch of pumpkins in October every year, then bake and puree them, you’ll probably have some pumpkin in your freezer. I find the fresh pumpkin is so much better for lattes than the canned, so try it both ways and see what you think. Recipe and photo from thekitchn.com, and you can visit her site for more great tips on customizing your Pumpkin Spice latte.
Before you get started, here’s a list of equipment thekitchn.com recommends you use to make your latte.
Equipment
Mixer, whisk, or hand blender, to whip cream
Saucepan
Whisk
Blender
Espresso maker or coffee maker
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Ingredients: 2 tablespoons canned pumpkin |
Directions
Heat the pumpkin and spices: In a small saucepan over medium heat, cook the pumpkin with the pumpkin pie spice and a generous helping of black pepper for 2 minutes or until it’s hot and smells cooked. Stir constantly.
Stir in the sugar: Add the sugar and stir until the mixture looks like a bubbly thick syrup.
Warm the milk: Whisk in the milk and vanilla extract. Warm gently over medium heat, watching carefully to make sure it doesn’t boil over.
Blend the milk: Carefully process the milk mixture with a hand blender or in a traditional blender (hold the lid down tightly with a thick wad of towels!) until frothy and blended.
Mix the drinks: Make the espresso or coffee and divide between two mugs and add the frothed milk. Top with whipped cream and a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, or nutmeg if desired.
Healthy Pumpkin Spice Latte
I know they taste amazing, but if you’re watching what you eat you might not want to spend the entire months of September and October having a latte every day. The coffee shop versions are full of fat and sugar, so it can add up to a lot of calories fast. But there is a way to cut the calories and sugar and still get your Pumpkin Spice fix. This healthy Pumpkin Spice Latte will hit all your spots, and it only takes 10 minutes to make. Photo and recipe from Popsugar.com.
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Ingredients: 1/2 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk |
Directions
In a cup or saucepan, mix together almond milk and pumpkin. Cook on medium heat on the stovetop or microwave for 30-45 seconds.
Remove from heat, stir in vanilla, spices, and sweetener, place in a cup and use a frother to foam the milk. You can also use a blender — just process for 30 seconds or until foamy.
Pour coffee into a large mug; add the foamy milk mixture on top. Sprinkle with cinnamon. Enjoy!
When you see how easy it is to whip up your favourite seasonal latte right in your own kitchen, you won’t want to go out to the coffee shop anymore. The best part? You can have a Pumpkin Spice latte anytime of the year, so you’ll never have to wait for September.
Here are a few appliances you’ll need to create your own Pumpkin Spice at home.
 Espresso at home is easy when you have the Breville Cafe Venezia |
 Take your latte with you in your Bodum Travel Mug |
 The Breville Milk Frother is the highest rated milk frother on Bestbuy.ca |
Main image from creativelylivingblog.com
