Hey St. Louis friends—tune into Fox2news Friday morning at 8:40 to watch me make this live! I can’t promise the milk won’t go flying when I turn on the blender, but I can promise the chance to watch a woman burn herself on live tv!
I’m taking issue with myself for how early I started drinking pumpkin spice lattes this year. It’s never been as early as September. This much I know. My birthday is at the end of this month (OMG THE BIG 3-0!), so Fall does not start until then for me. But, after a summer of drinking nothing but hot lemon water and green tea, the cold snap last week deemed pumpkin acceptable in my head. I couldn’t predict that the weather would climb back up to 90-degrees, and I’d be left sitting there sipping a hot drink in an Indian summer.
But, hey, at least my pumpkin spice latte has real pumpkin in it. And that’s just vitamins, I don’t care who ya are. So, I copied the method for this pumpkin spice latte that tastes better than Starbucks from The Kitchn. I made a minor adjustment to the pumpkin spice mixture, and I swapped sugar for honey because I don’t need guilt in the morning. I think this latte is perfect. And I really do think it’s better than Starbucks. Bravo, The Kitchn: everything you do is amazing, but this drink especially so.
If you want to make a mocha version of this drink, stir in an additional 1 teaspoon of chocolate extract. I use the Nielsen Massey chocolate extract. Then, before serving, drizzle your glass with chocolate sauce. And hey, while you’re at it, go ahead and drizzle the whipped cream on top, too. You’ve got nothing to lose. Chocolate also = vitamins.
And right now you’re thinking: Two whole tablespoons of vanilla?! Of course that must be a typo. While my recipes are almost always riddled with typos (serious high fives to the reader that always catches them for me!), this one is not a typo. It’s precisely what makes this latte better than the coffee shop’s. Along with the real pumpkin and honey. Oh, and special spice mixture. Ok, you get it. This latte rocks. Do it!
www.DessertForTwo.com
Yields 2
5 minPrep Time
5 minCook Time
5 minTotal Time
Save RecipeIngredients
- 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice (homemade recipe below)
- 2 tablespoons pumpkin puree
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 2 tablespoons pure vanilla extract
- 2 shots espresso (or 2/3 cup strong coffee)
- whipped cream for serving
- 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice (homemade recipe below)
- 2 tablespoons pumpkin puree
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 2 tablespoons pure vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon chocolate extract (optional)
- 2 shots espresso (or 2/3 cup strong coffee)
- chocolate sauce for glass
- whipped cream for serving
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- In a small sauce pan over medium heat, add the spice, pumpkin and honey. Cook while constantly stirring until it starts to simmer, about 45 seconds.
- Next, stir in the milk and vanilla. Bring to a slight simmer while constantly stirring.
- Next, use an immersion blender (or transfer the mixture to a blender carefully) and blend until frothy.
- Divide the espresso between two glasses, and divide the latte mixture on top. Top with whipped cream and serve.
- In a small sauce pan over medium heat, add the spice, pumpkin and honey. Cook while constantly stirring until it starts to simmer, about 45 seconds.
- Next, stir in the milk, vanilla, and chocolate extract. Bring to a slight simmer while constantly stirring.
- Next, use an immersion blender (or transfer the mixture to a blender carefully) and blend until frothy.
- Add chocolate sauce to the two glasses, and add the coffee or espresso. Pour the frothy pumpkin latte mixture on top, and then top with whipped cream. Drizzle extra chocolate sauce on the whipped cream.
- Combine all ingredients, and store in an air-tight jar.
This looks awesome and being able to DIY with coffee drinks is such a money saver at the rate I can guzzle them! Pinned :)
Girrrrrrl, these two recipes are pure gold! Loving this post!
Yes! So glad you are featuring this today. Everything about it is better than Starbucks–the real ingredients and the price!
Mmmmm….and all that vanilla can only make these better!!!
I am really digging your new style of photos. I know you mentioned trying to find your own place a few weeks ago and beginning to include a lot of shots with people in them. And it works. I love it! And I love this. I grabbed a PSL the day they released them at Starbucks and woooooooah. It was so sweet, I couldn’t drink it. Plus, no real pumpkin. So I’ll take your version any day!
Glad you share this “early!” I’m always ready for pumpkin!
So, I actually read the ingredients in a Starbucks’ PSL. Thank GOODNESS I have this version now. Love being able to enjoy this warm drink in a more wholesome way!
Looks amazing and better than the Starbucks variety!
We’re having our first chilly day here in Michigan and I feel like I wished this recipe into existence today :) The photos are incredible!
Dang girl! I think you covered every possible combo I could ever want!
These lattes look totally amazing, Christina! I’m just a wee bit obsessive about Starbucks pumpkin spice lattes and I am SO excited to try it homemade this fall! Preeetty sure I’m gonna have to try that mocha version first, though. ;)
Your photos are totally gorgeous too—love love the light and airy lighting! Pinned.
I love this!! SO easy and it looks absolutely perfect. Good luck on the TV show this morning, I am sure you will be amazing!
This recipe just made my 53 degree morning…the honey and vanilla together totally rock this dreamy drink – it’s delicious!!
These look delish!
I got a pumpkin spice latte Sept ember 1st because I was just so excited it was September, which meant it was basically Fall, which meant it is just about my favorite time of year. The Starbucks version is tasty, but I know pumpkin flavored syrup is no match for the real thing. Can’t wait to try this homemade version! Beautiful pictures as always Christina. Best of luck on your TV appearance this morning! You must share the segment if you can!
Welp, you didn’t have to do a lot of talking to convince me – I’m totally making this next week!
One of our local coffee shops makes a pumpkin mocha that I can’t resist! Love that I can make my own now!
Ahhh! These lattes! And those birchwood straws! Dying.
We are SO on the same wavelength today. I posted a PSL recipe too, except mine is a little drunker. LOL
Hey Graham, I LOVE your site. I couldn’t find a way to comment (please tell me I’m just not blind). Can we be friends? Pretty please? I’m nice enough. And I wasn’t in a sorority. Swear. xo
All of this. On repeat. For the next 2.5 months. That’s where I’ll be.
This looks amazing! Can’t wait to try it!
I just mixed the spices so I can make this for Ryan and I tomorrow morning! I can’t wait!
This looks amazingly good (as usual). Can’t wait to try it. And I love, love, love that it uses real pumpkin. You’ve given me an excuse to buy pumpkin puree, which means I’ll have to make pumpkin bread with the leftovers. Hello, fall!
HECK.YES. Trying them all. :)
These look awesome! Much better than paying for these at coffee shops. I’m all about this mocha version!
Love at first glance. Girl, it’s never too early for pumpkin lattes. Pinned.
I want one of these every morning. Love the extra touch of vanilla. I’m making this asap!
This looks amazing!
YUM!!!! I drink iced coffee year round, so I can’t imagine drinking hot water and tea all summer. But I respect a woman with conviction! I love that the recipe calls for so much vanilla. Vanilla is so underrated and yet it makes everything taste soooooo good!
Luci’s Morsels – fashion. food. frivolity.
What’s not to love about this?? I haven’t had a pumpkin spice latte yet this season, but I’d love to start here!
delicious
Congrats on your TV appearance! Wish I could see it – you’ll have to post the footage! And these look lovely. I love that your PSL is so quick and easy – I recently posted a refined-sugar-free and vegan PSL but you have to make a syrup! Definitely going to try yours, since my syrup is – gasp – totally finished!
oh my gawd, love love love!! and can’t wait to see the Fox2news video!!
Love this! Glad there’s some REAL pumpkin in there. Also – watched your little snippet from TV that you posted on facebook. You were great! So calm, cool, and collected. :) Bravo, friend!
Okay, so I may be the only person in the world who isn’t ga-ga over the PSL. But adding chocolate? I’m in!
Perfect fall drink! Thanks for the pumpkin pie spice recipe: it’s going to be handy this fall!
I have to admit, I’m not a fan of PSLs…at least, not the version sold by the big coffee shops. They have a weird aftertaste that turns me right off. However, this at-home version is on the top of my list to try. It looks super delicious and authentic!
homemade pumpkin spice lattes > starbucks! but everyone knows that… the mocha version is calling my name… I need to buy some pumpkin puree; asap!
What gorgeous photos! Pumpkin spice lattes don’t appeal to me but that mocha version sure does! It looks so beautiful…I could just stare at it all day. Plus, I know it’s got to be delicious.
So late to the party on this one. But YUM!!! Going to have to make this with almond milk and booze. Where can I see the TV clip?? You go gurl!
xoxo
Wow I want that in my face right now!! Chocolate makes anything 10x better!
I am planning on linking to this recipe and using a photo in a roundup on Lifehack if that’s okay! :)
I think this recipe is messed up…