Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte

DrinksEasyFall/WinterPumpkinThanksgiving

Aug 31

Written By

I did it- I created the BEST Starbucks pumpkin spice latte copycat recipe!

I’ve searched every Pinterest pin and mommy blog on the internet, and I just could not find a spot-on Starbucks pumpkin spice latte recipe. So I had to make my own. And it came out REALLY GOOD!

I promise that my Starbucks pumpkin spice latte recipe will be the BEST you try, and the only one you’ll need. So go ahead and kick off this fall season with a steaming hot cup of liquid pumpkin pie.

Lauren, why is your Starbucks pumpkin spice latte recipe so great?

I’ve been looking forward to PSL season every single year since 2014.

Yeah, I’ve drank a lot of pumpkin spice. And I wouldn’t have shared this recipe with you all if I didn’t think it was, like, the real deal.

So, If you’re like me, you’ve been waiting all year to drink pumpkin spice lattes. You even started drinking them in August with no shame, all while the PSL haters try and get you down. But they never will.

You’re also like me if you’re a little worried that treating yourself to Starbucks pumpkin spice lattes all season might start to get just a little expensive. And also sometimes I want a PSL like right now and don’t want to get in the car to go get one.

The solution??

Make a pumpkin spice latte at home using this recipe! First of all, you know exactly what is going into it. While it’s not exactly healthy…. well, like I said, at least you know what’s in it. So it’s not exactly unhealthy?

Anyway, we’re not drinking PSL’s for our health, so let’s do this the right way, shall we? Let’s jump into the details.

For your Starbucks pumpkin spice latte, you'll need:

Sweetened condensed milk: a squeeze bottle like this one or a can
Pumpkin puree
Pumpkin pie spice blend: buy a pre-made one in the spice aisle, or save money and make your own using by using my recipe!
A shot of espresso or very strong coffee
Milk of your choice
Whipped cream for topping
A milk frother or immersion blender

How many PSL's does this recipe make?

This recipe gives you two options: you can make a batch of pumpkin spice lattes, or use the recipe that makes 2 at a time.

The squeeze bottle of sweetened condensed milk is definitely the way to go here, since you only need 1/4 cup, so try to find one because its so worth it!

However, since you might be using a can of sweetened condensed milk, and making 2 lattes won’t use up the whole can, the batch recipe gives you the option to use the entire can at once, so you don’t have to figure out what to do with an awkward leftover amount of condensed milk.

You’ll still have leftover pumpkin puree, but that’s easier to use up in recipes like my pumpkin cheesecake pancakes, waffles, muffins, etc.

The batch recipe makes about 1 1/2 cups of syrup, so that’s a lot of lattes, since one latte only uses 4 tablespoons of the syrup.

Store it in an airtight container in the fridge, and use it to make PSL’s throughout the week!

How do I make a PSL?

First, the pumpkin syrup: This is a mixture of sweetened condensed milk, pumpkin puree, and pumpkin spice. The syrup has alll the sweetener and flavor in it.

To make the syrup, all you need to do is add the sweetened condensed milk, pumpkin puree, and pumpkin spice into a small bowl, and then whisk to combine.

Next, the coffee: Starbucks makes their PSL with a shot of espresso, but not all of us have the luxury of owning an espresso machine. If you do, this step is super easy for you: use a shot of espresso!

No espresso machine? No problem!

If you don’t have an espresso machine: make one cup of very strong coffee. I used my french press, and did two tablespoons of ground coffee to one cup of water. No matter what you use to make the coffee, just make sure the coffee is strong and you get at least one cup of it!

What kind of milk should I use in my PSL?

Last, the milk: I used whole milk for mine, because thats what Starbucks uses in the classic PSL, and it makes the latte as creamy and delicious as it can possibly be. But like I said before, use any milk you like!

The key to the milk is frothing it. This step is pretty important, because it makes the milk thick, fluffy, and velvety just like Starbucks. If you skip this, it’s not going to be an exact PSL replica, so try not to skip this part!

How can I froth my milk?

Warm the milk in a saucepan on the stove, but don’t boil it or anything. Once the milk is steaming, froth it for about a minute. The milk will become fluffy on top and almost double in size in the pot.

If you don’t have a milk frother, I honestly recommend getting one! I avoided getting one for the longest time because I thought it was so unnecessary, but it really makes a big difference, and you can do so much with it; especially if you love making matcha lattes, or other fun coffee drinks!

If you don’t have one, use an immersion blender! I’m honestly not sure how well this works, but I’ve heard it does the job.

Assemble the latte

Add the pumpkin syrup, then the coffee, and top it off with your milk and give it a little stir.

Tip: when you’re pouring the milk into your mug, hold the foam back with a spoon and then spoon some foam on top. Congratulations, you’re a barista now.

Watch the video to see all the steps!