Best Homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte Recipe

This recipe is the closest I’ve come to tasting like Starbucks. Plus I’m going to share a tip with you on storage and usage.

Pumpkin spice latte in a white cup topped with whipped cream and a bottle of the pumpkin syrup sitting next to it.

Why You’ll Love This

You will save so much money making your latte at home!

Using pumpkin spice syrup (simple syrup) is tastier than adding spices to the coffee. You also don’t have those pesky spices at the bottom of your cup.

And you know it’s healthier because you control the ingredients.

Dare I say? I think it’s better than Starbucks.

Is it pumpkin spice latte season already? But I must admit I make these all year. As well as our popular pumpkin bread and pumpkin muffins! Don’t judge me, it’s one of my many flaws.  

Ingredients for the Pumpkin Spice Syrup

  • Pure pumpkin puree – Real pumpkin not pumpkin pie filling.
  • Sugar – You can use granulated or raw turbinado sugar.
  • Water
  • Vanilla extract
  • Cinnamon, ground nutmeg, ground cloves, ground ginger, and ground allspice.
Pumpkin spice syrup in a sauce pan.

Don’t Sweat The Recipe is supported by its readers. We may earn a commission if you purchase through a link on our site. Learn more.

How to Make The Coffee Syrup

Pumpkin spice syrup in a strainer.

Combine all ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally to keep the syrup from burning.

Strain it and use it! It’s that easy.

Orange juice box.

How To Store The Syrup

And now for the tip…I store mine in a mason jar.  I found a tip on Pinterest (morewithlesstoday) to use the pour spout off of a juice carton or other container with the same spout.

Lid cut off of orange juice carton.

Open the juice container and cut out around the spout leaving enough room to trace and trim to fit your jar lid.

Trace the lid onto the container and cut it out. Pop it into the jar ring and Ta-Da!

Mason jar filled with pumpkin spice syrup with the orange juice spout inserted under the lid ring.

It works great! You can do this for just about anything you pour out of a jar.

Pumpkin spice latte in a white coffee mug topped with whipped cream.

Ok, back to the Pumpkin Spice Latte. Skip that coffee shop drive-thru line and save your money!

Espresso being pulled into a white cup.

I have the Saeco Odea Giro espresso machine and have had this machine since 2007. It’s now 2022 as I update this post and it’s still running. They no longer make this machine but if I need to replace it (knock on wood) I will definitely buy another Saeco.

How to Make a Pumpkin Spice Latte at Home

Pull 2 shots of espresso.  Sometimes more if you are me. It depends on the comfort cup choice of the moment.  

Using espresso gives a much stronger coffee flavor but you can use strong brewed coffee if you prefer.

Add 3 to 4 tablespoons of the pumpkin spice syrup, steam the milk, combine and enjoy!

You can also use a milk frother instead of steaming the milk. I’ve been using mine a lot lately because I get bored standing there holding the frothing pitcher when heating the milk.

pumpkin spice latte in a white cup

Now you can stay in your flannel pj’s and fuzzy slippers.  You don’t have to leave home to spend $5 on a coffee drink.

Now you can make a copycat Starbuck’s pumpkin spice latte with great pumpkin flavor at home!

Variations

  • Use your choices of milk, such as skim milk, 2% milk, almond milk, oat milk, coconut milk, or soy milk.
  • Try 1/2 cup brown sugar and 1/2 cup granulated sugar. It adds a little molasses flavor!
  • You can use strong brewed coffee instead of espresso.
  • It’s perfect in cold brew too! Because it’s syrup it mixes in beautifully.
  • You can use store-bought pre-mixed pumpkin pie spice in place of all the spices in this recipe. I would say about 2 teaspoons of pumpkin pie spice would work.
  • Top with whipped cream for an extra treat.

FAQ

Storage

Once cool to room temperature, store covered in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.

More Starbucks Copycat Drink Recipes

Are you on Pinterest? Click the button below to add this recipe to one of your boards!
Pumpkin spice latte in a white cup topped with whipped cream and a bottle of the pumpkin syrup sitting next to it.

Best Homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte Recipe

If you haven't already learned to make these at home you should give this a try.  This recipe is the closest I've come to tasting like Starbuck's.
5 from 3 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Coffee, Drinks
Cuisine: American, Italian
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 32 tablespoons
Calories: 26kcal
Author: Leigh Harris

Ingredients
 

  • 1/3 cup pumpkin puree fresh or canned
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 1/4 cups water
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon cloves
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/4 teaspoon allspice

Instructions

  • Combine all ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a boil.
  • Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally to keep syrup from burning.
  • Let the mixture cook together until it becomes syrupy and begins to coat the spoon (for about 10-15 minutes), then remove from heat.
  • Refrigerate in a heat-proof container.
  • The syrup will thicken a bit in the refrigerator but will become syrupy again when heated.
  • To make the latte pull 2 shots of espresso, pour in 3 to 4 tablespoons of syrup and fill with steamed milk.

Notes

Makes approximately 1 pint (32 tablespoons)
Using espresso gives a much stronger coffee flavor but you can use strong brewed coffee if you prefer.
Storage – Once cool to room temperature, store covered in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.

Nutrition

Serving: 4tbsp | Calories: 26kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 5mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 397IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 1mg | Iron: 1mg

Share With Your Friends And Family!

18 Comments

  1. I am a huge fan of anything latte or pumpkin so putting them together is heavenly for me. YUM. Thanks for linking up another fab post. #sharewithme5 stars

  2. I’ve never tried a flavoured latte. Sounds interesting and love your pouring tip #FestiveFoodFriday

  3. I think I’m the only person in the world who hasn’t tried a Pumpkin Spiced Latte. I’m a creature of habit and stick to just my skinny vanilla latte. I think I’m eventually going to have to give in and give it a go.

    Thanks for sharing on the #FFBH <3

  4. This looks scrumptious. I’m not a regular PSL drinker but I do love the way it leaves that wonderful scent. Thanks for sharing on Tuesday Talk today.

  5. Good morning! I love this post. I found it at Delicious Dish Tuesday linkup! I really like the recipe and will attempt soon, but I LOVE your mason jar pouring lid idea even better! Such a fun and easy way to make pouring from mason jars mess-free! Thank you for sharing 🙂 ~Talitha @ Doing It All with Dignity

  6. Yummy! I order my favorite holiday drinks year-round too! Or make them in my Keurig. Thanks for sharing on the Small Victories Sunday Linkup!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *