Homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte
Homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte is made with brown sugar simple syrup and real pumpkin — there are no ingredients you can’t pronounce and you control the sweetness. You don’t have to spend $5 on PSL’s any longer — this homemade version can be made for less than $1 and it’s as delicious as ever!
I’m so glad it’s Sunday! Sundays are all about football, food, and Ray Donovan. You have watched Ray Donovan on Showtime, haven’t you? Season 2 is coming to a close and I have no idea what I’ll do on Sunday nights without it. Homeland is no substitute, but I’ll give it a try. 🙂 Let’s not forget that Sundays are about relaxation, and this Homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte is just the thing to help you in that department.
Are you a PSL fan? I know most people are. I used to love all the sweet holiday inspired coffee drinks, but I’ve become quite the bore over the years. I’m a coffee snob, and drink coffee for sheer coffee flavor with no sweeteners EVER. In the morning I drink my favorite espresso from Peet’s coffee, and I’ll either make a latte myself with 2 shots of said espresso and some non fat milk, or buy one. With cinnamon powder on top, of course. Gotta have that. 🙂
I’m not sure what came over me when I decided to make my own PSL at home. I guess I wondered if homemade would taste better, and that was silly, because I already know homemade always tastes better. Especially when you control the ingredients, the sweetness, and it costs much less to make your own.
I made brown sugar simple syrup some time ago for the Greek yogurt dip for my Grilled Stone Fruit Skewers a few months ago, and I knew that would be perfect in this latte. The warm flavor of brown sugar with the pumpkin, cinnamon, and pumpkin pie spice are just purr-fect. Mix in some rich, full-bodied espresso, non fat milk, and you’ve got a fabulous drink already. I topped this with some whipped cream and more pumpkin pie spice, because that’s what PSL’s are all about, isn’t it? You could always opt to froth up a bit more milk instead of the whip. I was going all out this time. 🙂
Next time you want a Pumpkin Spice Latte and you don’t want to fork out five smackaroos, you gotta make your own. It’s so easy, so inexpensive, and oh so good. 🙂
Can’t get enough pumpkin pie spice in your life? Try some of these as well:
Pumpkin Spice Cake by Gimme Some Oven
Pumpkin Spice Granola by Pumpkin ‘n Spice
Pumpkin Spice Energy Bites by Oh My Veggies!
The Best Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls by Averie Cooks
- ½ cup brown sugar, packed (I used light)
- ½ cup water
- 1-2 shots brewed espresso*
- ½ cup milk (I used skim)
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar simple syrup*
- 2 teaspoons pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
- ⅛ teaspoon cinnamon
- ⅛ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- whipped cream and pumpkin pie spice, for garnish*
- Place the brown sugar and water in a small sauce pan and cook over medium low heat until the sugar dissolves, stirring occasionally. Once the sugar dissolves, allow to cook about 5 more minutes to thicken slightly. Remove from heat and allow to cool. You can make this in advance and store in an air tight container in the refrigerator.
- Pour the brewed espresso in your mug. Place the milk, simple syrup, pumpkin, and spices in a small sauce pan and heat over medium low heat, stirring occasionally. When the mixture is warm, pour it into the espresso and stir to combine. Garnish the latte with whipped cream and pumpkin pie spice, if desired, and enjoy immediately!
*If you like your coffee stronger, use 2 shots of espresso. You can also substitute the espresso with your favorite coffee.
*You can use plain brown sugar or your favorite sweetener in place of the simple syrup.
*Instead of whipped cream, you can froth up some extra milk for a low fat version.
Recipe by Flavor the Moments.
This is definitely the perfect drink to relax with on a lazy Sunday! I love finding home-made pumpkin spice lattes because I’m addicted to them! I try to only go to Starbucks for the occasional one and would much prefer to make my own. This one sounds amazing, Marcie!
I hadn’t had one in years because they’re always too sweet for me. This was perfect because I made it just right for my taste. And the price was right! 🙂
You are saving me a fortune here!! This looks amazing and just what I need right now on the. couch!!
I can’t believe how much coffee drinks are — one could go broke! I’m about to make myself another. 🙂
Yay, I love pumpkin spice latte and now I can make a better and healthier version at home for a fraction of the cost. A cup of this sounds so good right now to curl up with – it looks fantastic!
Thank you, Kelly, and it sure is nice to be able to enjoy a PSL for a fraction of the cost! Hope you’re having a great Monday!
I love relaxing Sundays too – it’s my favorite day of the week! One of these delicious lattes would make for the perfect Sunday – next week I’ll be trying it out!
It’s my favorite day of the week, too! I’m going to make another today and try to make this a relaxing Monday. 🙂
yum yum yum! Like every other 20-something girl in America, I’ve drank roughly 4,000 PSLs this year. We just invested in an espresso maker, so now is the time to start making them at home! I’ll keep a tally of just how many of these I drink instead over the coming months 😉
Oh, you’re so lucky — I so want to buy an espresso maker (being the snob that I am). 🙂 I use my keurig and it isn’t quite the same, but it gets me by. Sounds like you’ll be saving so much money on PSL’s that it will pay for your espresso maker! haha
I do love starbucks, but I love making my own too. It saves me a fortune.
I still go out for an occasional latte, but it certainly does save a fortune making my own! 🙂
This looks awesome! I refuse to pay the hefty price tag and calorie count at Starbucks, so this sounds perfect! It’s probably best that I don’t have a brown sugar simple syrup sitting around though – I have a feeling it would find its way into my morning coffee every morning!
I so hate that when I do order expensive drinks from Sbux that they’re often not even the way I want them — I hate milky lattes! If you want something right, you gotta make it yourself! And that simple syrup is far too easy to get into plenty of things. 🙂
YUM!!! This looks amazing! I love pumpkin everything! My birthday is in October so I always wait to drink my first PSL then, it is my little treat! 🙂 I can’t wait to make this!
What a fun birthday tradition you have going with the PSL! I love pumpkin everything, too, and I’m glad I decided to make my own PSL — it’s super tasty! 🙂
I am very excited about the new season of tv shows starting up. I’ve been watching past episodes of Homeland to watch the new season. 😀
I love your recipe for this latte and it is so much better than what you’d get at the coffee shop. They don’t even use real pumpkin…they add weird ingredients to get that pumpkin flavor. Yuck! Definitely making this 😀 Pinning
The first season of Homeland was the BEST! I hope this season is good because I’m on the fence about last year. I can’t understand how something can taste like pumpkin and not have pumpkin in it! I’d never had pumpkin in my coffee before and I have to say I loved it. 🙂
Oooo I’ll take one of these please! I loveeee making drinks like this at home – so much better tasting (and better for you – no weird ingredients!). We’ve gotten super duper picky about our coffee so now I really only make it at home – definitely making this this season!
I’m so picky about my coffee it’s a miracle I ever go out for it — all I do is complain when it’s not right (sometimes I just get lazy). I definitely won’t ever buy a PSL at a coffee shop now! 🙂
I am totally a PSL kinda gal. I actually just ordered my first one today. LOL. Took me long enough right?! I am SO excited to try out your homemade version because I’m already craving another one!
They bust those PSL’s out so early, it makes a person think they’re behind if they actually wait until fall hits to have one. haha Hope you get to try it, Sarah! 🙂
I love this drink Marcie – this would be perfect for my morning coffee break. It looks so creamy and perfect for fall, or well, any season 🙂 Pinned!
Thank you, Deb! This was definitely a nice coffee break for me on my Sunday morning, and need to do this more often! 🙂
Your PSL looks lovely! I’m pinning this for later 🙂
Thank you, Shareba! 🙂
This looks delicious! I am so intrigued… I have never tried PLS before.. I am definitely making this soon.. Thanks for sharing this Marcie! 🙂
The pumpkin flavor is pretty mild, but if you like pumpkin, you’ll love this! 🙂
My wife would be all over this if I made this for her! Maybe I’ll have to score some husband points and whip it up 🙂
Extra husband points can never hurt, can they? I say bank some points and whip it up! 🙂
Peet’s just opened up in Maryland! Finally! I’ve been enjoying them on the West Coast for years.
PSLs are great, but they’re loaded. Your version is lighter and cheaper, and it looks great!
Thanks, Mir, and congrats on getting a Peet’s! The closest one to me is 20 minutes away, so when I’m in the vicinity, I hit it! 🙂
I so badly want one of these right now! It sounds wonderful Marcie!
Thank you, Christin! 🙂
wow latte looks amazing! I also made a pumpkin chai latte recently and realized that homemade version is actually better than Starbucks! Lovely pictures 🙂
Thank you, Manali! I always think my homemade coffees are better than Starbucks because I know exactly how I want mine! 🙂 Pumpkin chai latte sounds delicious.
This drink sounds glorious! 😉 I wish I had a glass in front of me right now!
Thank you, Jocelyn! The price was right, too! 🙂
Marcie, I love these lattes. I don’t like the commercial version of the pumpkin spice. I know I’m not the norm, but I know I’d love these with real pumpkin. Such a special weekend treat!
I don’t like the commercial version either — using real ingredients is where it’s at for me! 🙂
This looks so easy and even more delicious! I know what I am making soon! Thanks so much for sharing!
It is easy, and I hope you enjoy one soon! 🙂
I am such a PSL fan! Love how I can make it at home now!
Homemade is always best, and talk about saving money!
I must try this!!! And Ray Donovan? Am I completely out of the loop!???
Cathy, the 3rd season of Ray Donovan is ending Sunday night. It’s still my favorite show! Netflix, perhaps? 🙂
I am not a coffee drinker, but I do love pumpkin spice steamers. And i would save so much money if I actually made them myself, haha! These look perfect.
Pumpkin spice steamers sound good! Those drinks are all so expensive, it’s nice to make them at home and save some money, not to mention making it exactly the way you like it. 🙂