Three glass mugs filled with pumpkin spice lattes and topped with cinnamon, with mini pumpkins nearby.

Confession time: I don’t actually like *the* pumpkin spice latte. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good seasonal, spiced coffee as much as the next person, but the Starbucks version? Not really my bag. I know, it seems like blasphemy to not fall at the feet of the PSL gods, but the truth is, I make a much tastier (and affordable) pumpkin spice latte at home!

Once you try my version, you might never hit up the drive thru ever again! My DIY PSL is spiked with fall spices, real pumpkin, and a heavy hand of cozy vanilla. It’s fall in a mug, it can be made plant-based and vegan if you prefer, and I can’t wait to share it with you! Let’s get brewing!

What kind of milk should I use for this pumpkin spice latte recipe? Can I make this vegan?

Honestly, you can use any kind of milk you want! If you choose a dairy option, we recommend whole milk for the ultimate in a creamy, cozy experience, but skim, 1%, or 2% will do the trick, too.

You can make it vegan by using dairy-free milk such as soy milk, coconut milk, oat milk, or almond milk. Personally, I love coconut milk or oat milk because it adds a creamy, decadent flavor to your homemade pumpkin spice latte.

Overhead of ingredients for homemade pumpkin spice lattes in glass containers.Overhead look at two homemade PSLs, with a wooden pumpkin off to the side.

Can I make this even more pumpkin-y?

Absolutely! For some people, there is no such thing as too much pumpkin spice flavor. If you’re one of those people, just increase the amount of pumpkin spice syrup until it reaches the perfect flavor for you.

This is too strong! How can I tone it down?

This pumpkin spice latte recipe is extremely adaptable. You can easily customize it to your personal taste by changing the amounts of pumpkin spice syrup or your coffee’s strength. If you prefer to taste more coffee, brew a stronger batch or cut down on the spice and puree. If you can’t get enough of the pumpkin flavor, amp it up by increasing the amount of spice or puree.

Wholefully Protip

If you are a fan of dark coffee, go ahead and use an espresso roast here. If you like a lighter favored coffee, a blonde roast will work just fine!

A homemade pumpkin spice latte shows through a tall glass mug. A wooden pumpkin is in the background.

Can I use pumpkin syrup for a pumpkin spice latte instead of dry spices?

Definitely! Pumpkin syrup will give you a creamy, smooth pumpkin latte, and it’s easy to make your own homemade pumpkin spice syrup at home!

Overhead of three glass mugs filled with lattes and topped with cinnamon, with whole spices and mini pumpkins nearby.

Can I use pumpkin pie filling instead of pumpkin puree?

You sure can! Pumpkin puree is 100% natural pumpkin with no additions. Pumpkin pie filling tends to already have some of the spices you would need for a pumpkin pie, such as cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon. If you use pumpkin pie filling in your pumpkin spice syrup, you will want to decrease the amount of spices and sweetener you put in so your drink isn’t overpowering.

Can this pumpkin spice latte recipe be made with caffeinated or decaf coffee?

Absolutelyโ€”you can use any type of coffee you want. In fact, you can use any brewing method you want as well. It doesn’t matter if the coffee is drip, espresso, or made using a French press. Every method will taste delicious in this pumpkin spice latte recipe! Just remember that whichever brewing method and coffee you choose, it should be brewed stronger than you’d usually make it. This way, the flavor of the coffee shines through and isn’t lost in a wave of pumpkin.

Latte mixture in a stainless steel saucepan, with coffee and mini pumpkins nearby

 

 
Three glass mugs filled with pumpkin spice lattes and topped with cinnamon, with mini pumpkins nearby.

Homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte Recipe

Yield: 2-3 servings
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes

Learn how to make aย homemade pumpkin spice latte! This fall favorite includes real pumpkin, and comes with a vegan option.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups milk (wholeย dairy milk, oatmilk, orย coconut milk, preferred)
  • 1/4 cup pumpkin spice syrup
  • 2/3 cup strongly brewed hot coffee or espresso

Instructions

  1. Whisk together the milk and pumpkin spice syrup in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Heat until steam rises from the edges of the pan, about five minutes.
  2. Remove from the heat and stir in the coffee. Whisk rapidly until the mixture is frothy (or use an immersion blender or milk frother for extra foam).
  3. Pour into mugs and top with a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice. Serve hot.

Notes

  • For a creamy veganย pumpkin spice latte, we love the combination of 1 1/2 cups unsweetened almond or oat milk with 1/2 cup full fatย coconut milk.

    Nutrition Information:
    Yield: 3 Serving Size: 1 latte
    Amount Per Serving: Calories: 157Total Fat: 3gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 13mgSodium: 95mgCarbohydrates: 28gFiber: 0gSugar: 28gProtein: 5g

    At Wholefully, we believe that good nutrition is about much more than just the numbers on the nutrition facts panel. Please use the above information as only a small part of what helps you decide what foods are nourishing for you.

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    25 Comments

    1. Omg I totally want to make this! ๐Ÿ™‚
      Could I use fake coffee instead? I’m super sensitive to caffeine (even green tea makes me wired)…

      Thanks for sharing all of your wonderful, yummylicious recipes with us! <3

    2. I make them a lot. I have an espresso maker with a steam wand so I make lattes all the time. Plus I worked in a cafe for a while, so there’s that.

    3. With those two tablespoons of vanilla, it might almost be as expensive as Starbucks! Haha I only buy the real stuff so it could get pricey however I am sure this is worth making at least once this season!:) I will try it.

      1. Haha! I buy the real stuff, too. It isn’t that bad because this makes two-three large servings. Which are about $4 a pop at the ole ‘Bucks!

    4. ohh thanks for posting this! I would have thought the pumpkin would need to be strained, but I guess not! Probably makes for a hearty thick and delicious latte. I love the pumpkin spice lattes but I have never made homemade so I think I’ll try this. Sometimes there is nothing wrong with posting a common recipe because not all of your readers navigate the entire blog world you know ๐Ÿ˜‰ Some people only follow a couple, so be your own voice.

    5. Oh my yum! I’d like to remove cows milk from my diet (lactose issues), but I’m terrified for some reason of non cow milk options. Do you have any non dairy milk guide that you go off of? Like taste, cooking, baking for soy, almond, coconut milk etc. Sweetened, unsweetened. Or do you just wing it and buy a milk that you think you’d like?

      1. I just wing it! I really like the taste of almond milk and I don’t eat processed soy, so I used almond milk almost exclusively. I almost always have unsweetened vanilla around for sweet things and some unsweetened plain for savory things. And sometimes we buy a box or two of sweetened chocolate just for a treat! Don’t be scared. Just go out and buy stuff and see which ones you like!

    6. That looks really yummy, and now I’m going to have to try it. Though now I have to figure out what exactly pumpkin pie spice is so I can make it at home.

      We make cappuccino every day and on hot days we just turn it into Vietnamese iced coffee. So yummy!

        1. Yeah, I’ve seen it, but couldn’t remember what was in it. But since we keep all the individual spices at home, it’s easy enough to whip of my own version. I found a recipe at Baking Bites that shows you the quantities, so yay!