Love pumpkin spice latte but can’t get it from Starbucks out of season? That’s not a problem! Check out this recipe for home-made pumpkin & cardamom spice latte. You’ll never have to stay in long queues just to get the seasonal drink.
Love it or hate it, you can’t deny the popularity of the pumpkin spice latte since it was first introduced by Starbucks in 2003. Fast forward to 2020, it’s their best-selling seasonal drink. However, believe it or not it almost wasn’t introduced to the market. This is because during the time it was being developed, a number of executives thought it tasted nothing like coffee that it wouldn’t paint Starbucks’ coffee in the correct light. Thankfully, it was still released into the market!
Now, I know there’s a ton of controversy surrounding this drink. Lots of people hate it. At the same time, I know a lot of people would be ecstatic if the seasonal flavor was available all year round. When it is available, it costs an exorbitant amount and you have to brave long queues of people. Below, I’ll share a recipe for this drink that’s actually quite easy to make. It only has four easy steps that will take you 15 minutes to make two servings. Moreover, it’s a healthier take on the Starbucks drink.
How do you make a pumpkin spice latte from scratch?
Cooking Time: 5 minutes
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Serves: 2 people
Ingredients
2 cups milk (dairy or non-dairy)
2 tablespoons pumpkin puree
2 to 3 tablespoons of sugar
1 cardamom pod
1/2 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1/2 tablespoon allspice
1/2 cup strong hot coffee
Whipped cream, for serving
Directions
1. To a medium saucepan, add the milk, pumpkin puree, sugar, cardamom and cinnamon. Heat until hot and remove from the heat. Be careful to not boil the mixture.
2. Now whisk in the allspice and reserve.
3. Pour half of the coffee on both mugs and top with the mixture.
4. Top each mug with whipped cream and sprinkle more cinnamon on top.
There you go! Now, you can have home-made pumpkin spice latte anytime you want. You’ll be saving time and money by no longer lining up at Starbucks just to get a drink. Moreover, it’ll take you less than 20 minutes to whip up two servings. Feel free to tweak this recipe to your liking by adding or changing the proportions of coffee, dairy, or even sugar. That’s the beauty of this recipe. Apart from being simple, it’s highly customizable based on your tastes.
Tips
As usual, let me give you tips on how to make this drink. It may be easy to make, but there are other ways you can make it better.
Make it healthier by adding or reducing some ingredients.
The recipe above calls for 2 to 3 tablespoons of sugar. You may reduce this if you want. Alternatively, you can opt for sugar substitutes or natural sugars. If you’d prefer a stronger pumpkin taste, you can choose to use more than 2 tablespoons of pumpkin puree.
Use whole milk for a frothy drink.
If you want to get the whole experience of a frothy and creamy drink, use whole milk. On the other hand, if you’d prefer alternatives, I recommend 2% milk, almond milk, or oat milk. They will still foam up, but it’ll take more time. Also, it won’t be as creamy.
Don’t use pumpkin pie mix.
In case you aren’t using fresh pumpkin, make sure you pick up canned pumpkin and not pumpkin pie mix or filling. Many people confuse the two and wonder why their pumpkin spice latte doesn’t taste right. Pumpkin pie filling will already have sugar and other spices mixed in, so make sure you get the one that’s only pumpkin
FAQs
What is in a pumpkin spice latte?
Simply put, it has pumpkin, fall spices, espresso, and milk. Those four are the basic ingredients of any pumpkin spice latte.
How bad is pumpkin spice latte for you?
The seasonal drink poses health concerns due to its sugar content and calorie count. Weight gain and diabetes are just a few concerns that dietitians and nutritionists have. If you drink it everyday, it can certainly cause issues. As with all things, moderation is key.
Why is pumpkin spice latte so popular?
According to Montana Miller, a professor who works at the Department of Popular Culture of Bowling Green State University, the fascination with pumpkin spice latte has to do with nostalgia in American culture, such as hometowns, pumpkin-carving, family, and Thanksgiving dinner.
Can you drink pumpkin spice latte when pregnant?
The answer is it depends. Pregnant women’s daily recommended caffeine limit is 200ml. As long as your pumpkin spice latte, be it home-made or from Starbucks, does not exceed this number, then pregnant women may drink it. If you were wondering, Starbucks’ PSL has about 150ml of caffeine. If you are going to order PSL from Starbucks, you can also try ordering for it decaf.
What is pumpkin pie spice made of?
Pumpkin spice consists of what we call “warm spices” that we usually reach for during cold holidays. Specifically, it includes cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, allspice, and ginger. With these spices, you can even make your own pumpkin spice. This will save you even more money because already made pumpkin space can be expensive.
