How To: Make a Homemade Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte

October 28, 2013

By Tuulia Koponen

Staff Writer

Autumn: the time of changing leaves, cooler weather, sweaters and of course Starbucks’ Pumpkin Spice Lattes. Instead of spending countless dollars purchasing the latte and countless time standing in line throughout this season, make one from home with this DIY Starbucks Holiday Recipe: Pumpkin Spice Latte.

For those with no knowledge of this drink, I like to think of it as simply pumpkin pie in liquid format. And if that sounds disturbing, it is not. It is actually quite delicious. Give it a try with the instructions below.

Starbucks' Pumpkin Spice Latte is known to be a perfect Autumn treat-tasting like a little bit of Thanksgiving, or Christmas, in a cup thanks to the pumpkin pie spice used in creating the drink . Photo by Tuulia Koponen. — Starbucks’ Pumpkin Spice Latte is known to be a perfect Autumn treat-tasting like a little bit of Thanksgiving, or Christmas, in a cup thanks to the pumpkin pie spice used in creating the drink . Photo by Tuulia Koponen.

Ingredients

1 tablespoon milk

1 tablespoon sugar

1 tablespoon canned pumpkin

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

1/8-1/4 cup espresso

Recipe

1. For starters, go ahead and prepare a cup of coffee or have espresso ready on hand for when the pumpkin spice flavoring is complete. I personally prepare myself a cup of Maxwell House Original Roast for when I crave the drink (as it is the only coffee roast on hand at my house), but any cup of coffee or espresso will do.

2. Combine milk, sugar and canned pumpkin in a pot (or saucepan) and stir under medium heat until steamed. The liquid will appear a light beige-tan color.

3. When steamed, remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract and pumpkin spice. Do not fear if the liquid still appears a rather light beige-tan color, that is normal and perfectly fine.

4. Transfer the mixture into either a blender and process for 10 seconds until foamy, or simply whisk the mixture until foam appears. I figure it is easier just to whisk the mixture and have not tried blending it, however if you would like to blend it, feel free.

5. Pour into a mug of your choice, add in espresso, stir and enjoy.

If you are a little (or really) addicted to Pinterest as I am, you can find the recipe as well as other popular Starbucks drinks such as Peppermint Mocha as easily I did by searching ‘DIY Starbucks Holiday Recipes’ and finding the pin with a green background that reads DIY Starbucks Holiday Recipes at the top and mentions ‘brought to you by drop down deals’ at the bottom of the pin.

This recipe and other holiday Starbucks drinks can also easily be found by doing a Google search on ‘DIY Starbucks Holiday Recipes’.