Homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte – Naturally Sweetened

Support my blog by sharing!

This Pumpkin Spice Latte recipe makes a cozy drink full of warm spices and flavor. It is made with a homemade syrup that has simple ingredients and is naturally sweetened, making it the perfect fall drink for pumpkin season! You can make this recipe hot or as an iced pumpkin latte. 

Fall is my favorite time of year, there is just something about the first crisp morning and the leaves just starting to turn color. I always get so excited to break out my sweaters and of course… Pumpkin spice!

This Homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte recipe is better than any coffee shop version. Don’t get me wrong, I love cute coffee shops, but there is something so satisfying in making a delicious cup at home! This homemade version is not only made with only four ingredients and is naturally sweetened, but it is also a fraction of the cost of getting it from a coffee shop. 

This recipe uses a homemade Pumpkin Spice Syrup that is also used in my Pumpkin Spice Chai Latte recipe, or you can use it to add a sweet fall flavor to any other drink or recipe! It’s a yummy fall version of a simple syrup that you could even use to make cocktails or mocktails. 

Better than Starbucks

I am a huge coffee lover, and for many years I spent waaaay too much money at Starbucks! That is until I learned how to make a good cup of coffee in my own kitchen. I love making Starbucks copycat recipes so you can enjoy your favorite coffee drinks, but much cheaper and also made with better ingredients, like my Lavender Latte recipe. I feel like seeing the PSL on the Starbucks menu is the start of the fall season! But, did you know that Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte has 50 grams of sugar?! That is an insane amount of sugar,  especially if you are drinking this first thing in the morning. This recipe is naturally sweetened with maple syrup and has significantly less sugar in it, only 8 grams for every tablespoon!

What is a latte?

A latte is a coffee drink that has a shot of espresso and steamed milk with a little bit of foam on top. You can also make an iced version that is espresso, cold milk, and ice. If you do not have an espresso machine, you could make this with about half a cup of regular brewed coffee, but I recommend making it a little stronger than normal so you can get the strong coffee taste typically associated with lattes. Or, you can even use an espresso powder for an easy latte! I also have a Pumpkin Spice Coffee Creamer recipe that is made with half and half and you can use it like a regular creamer in regular coffee or cold brew coffee. 

Is this recipe gluten-free?

Yes! The ingredients in this recipe make it naturally gluten-free. 

Is this recipe dairy-free?

As long as you use dairy-free milk, this recipe is dairy-free and plant-based friendly. I recommend using a milk alternative such as coconut milk or almond milk. 

Tools to make this recipe

Espresso Machine – this Breville Espresso Machine is a bit of an investment, but it is well-loved in my house to make fresh espresso! It paid for itself quickly by saving me money from not buying coffee. It also has an attachment to froth milk and gives it beautiful foam. 

Coffee Syrup Dispenser Bottles – These glass bottles are so beautiful and match the mugs listed below. You can use a mason jar or any glass bottle to store the syrup in, but I love that these bottles make it really easy to pour from. It comes in a pack of two, so you can make other syrups for your coffee like this Lavender Simple Syrup. 

Glass mugs- I love these glass mugs for their pretty design! These are the mugs used in the photos. 

Can I make this recipe if I do not have a milk frother?

A milk frother will create the signature foam on top of the latte, but if you do not have one, that’s okay! You can warm up your milk with a small saucepan on the stove. A mini handheld electric whisk, like this one, can also be used to froth up the milk, but if you don’t have a way to get foam, that is totally fine. It will still taste yummy! Or, just make an iced latte instead! 

Ingredients to make the Pumpkin Spice Latte

For the Pumpkin Spice Syrup

• Pumpkin Puree – this recipe uses real pumpkin puree. Just be sure to get the puree and not pumpkin pie filling. That is already sweetened! I used canned pumpkin but if you make your own pumpkin puree, that works too! 
• Maple Syrup – used as a natural sweetener. 
• Vanilla Extract – the hint of vanilla compliments the pumpkin spice flavors.
• Pumpkin Pie Spice – this is a blend of fall spices used in pumpkin pie such as ground cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger. If you do not have this you can substitute for ground cinnamon and nutmeg. 

For the latte

• 1-2 shots of espresso – or you can use 1/2 cup of strong coffee or espresso powder
• Milk – I like to use whole milk because it is nice and creamy, but you can use your preferred type of milk or non-dairy milk
• Optional: you can top it with whipped cream if you’d like, and if you are making an iced version you’ll, of course, need ice. 

How to make a homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte 

Make the syrup

Add all of the syrup ingredients into a medium bowl and whisk to fully combine. Add to a glass jar or airtight container. (Using a funnel can prevent you from making a big mess!)

Make the latte

Hot coffee: Make your espresso shots and add to a coffee mug. Add 1 tablespoon of the Pumpkin Spice simple syrup (or you can add more to your desired sweetness level) Top with frothed milk. 

Iced coffee: Fill a tall glass with ice. Add in espresso shots and 1 tablespoon of Pumpkin Spice simple syrup (or you can add more to your desired sweetness level) Top with cold milk. 

How to store the Pumpkin Spice Syrup

I recommend keeping the syrup in the fridge. It will stay good for 10-14 days. (If it will even last that long!!)