Beverages

Serving

Beverages Kid-friendly Quick & easy

Pumpkin Spice Latte

Name: Pumpkin Spice Latte
Total time: 10 min
Yield: 2 servings
Cuisine: Beverages
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons pumpkin puree; 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice; 2 tablespoons sugar; 1 1/2 cups milk; 1/2 cup brewed espresso or strong coffee; whipped cream, for topping

A cozy fall favorite blending pumpkin puree, warm spices, and espresso.

10 minutes

Serves 2

Breakfast

5 min prep

8 min cook

Contains common allergens

Dairy

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Good to know

Ready in under 30 minutes

Matched from this dish's own ingredients and timing. Browse more: 30-minute meals

Instructions

4 steps

1
Whisk pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice, and sugar with the milk in a small saucepan.
2
Heat over medium, whisking, until steaming and frothy but not boiling.
3
Divide the espresso between two mugs and pour in the spiced milk.
4
Top with whipped cream and a dusting of pumpkin pie spice.

Pumpkin Spice Latte — plated and served — Serving moment. How Pumpkin Spice Latte looks plated and ready to eat — a representative photo, not a step in the recipe.

Listahan Family Score™

80/100

Good fit for most families

Allergen-friendly 90

Kid-friendly 85

Weeknight-easy 96

Budget-friendly 72

Great leftovers 56

Pantry-friendly 47

Score reflects how well this recipe fits a typical busy household. In the app, your Family Score is personalized to your household's allergens, kids, and pantry.

Nutrition

per serving

165

Calories

6 g

Protein

22 g

Carbs

6 g

Fat

Estimated per serving. Actual values depend on the brands and portions you use.

Listahan cooking guide

Chef notes & practical guide

Technique notes, ingredient swaps, serve-alongside ideas, storage guidance, and equipment for this recipe.

Cultural context

The pumpkin spice latte was developed by a major coffee chain in 2003 as a way to bring fall flavors into the espresso menu, and it became such a cultural touchstone that "pumpkin spice season" is now shorthand for the start of autumn itself. The homemade version lets you control the sugar and use real pumpkin instead of syrup.

Listahan note

This version cooks the pumpkin puree and spices right into the milk instead of using a bottled syrup, so the flavor tastes like actual pumpkin pie rather than just cinnamon-sugar.

Technique cues

Whisking the pumpkin, spice, and sugar with the milk before heating helps everything dissolve evenly instead of clumping.
Heat just until steaming, not boiling; boiled milk can scorch and pick up a burnt-sugar taste.
A quick froth with a handheld frother right before pouring gives the latte its café-style texture.

Kitchen flow

Parallel prep: Brew the espresso while the pumpkin-spice milk mixture heats on the stove.
Make-ahead: Mix a jar of pumpkin puree, spice, and sugar ahead of time to whisk into milk each morning.
Leftover move: Stir extra spiced pumpkin milk into oatmeal for a fall-flavored breakfast.
Cleanup rhythm: Rinse the saucepan promptly; pumpkin residue can stick if left to dry.

Ingredient brief

Role, handling, and swap guidance for each key ingredient.

Pumpkin puree

Flavor base

Purpose: Real pumpkin puree gives the latte an actual pumpkin flavor, not just a spiced-sugar syrup taste.

Handling: Use plain canned pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling, which is already heavily sweetened and spiced.

Adaptation: A tablespoon of pumpkin butter can work, though the sugar content will need adjusting.

Pumpkin pie spice

Signature spice blend

Purpose: This blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and clove is what makes the drink instantly recognizable.

Handling: Whisk into the milk mixture before heating so the spices bloom in the warm liquid.

Adaptation: A mix of 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon ginger, and a pinch each of nutmeg and clove works if pre-made spice isn't on hand.

Espresso or strong coffee

Coffee backbone

Purpose: A strong coffee base keeps the drink from tasting like spiced milk with no coffee flavor.

Handling: Brew fresh and keep hot while the spiced milk is heating so both come together warm.

Adaptation: Strongly brewed decaf works for an evening version.

Technique notes

Whisk constantly while heating so the pumpkin puree doesn't settle and scorch on the bottom of the pan.
Froth the milk mixture right at the end, off the heat, for the best foam texture.
A dusting of extra pumpkin pie spice on top of the foam finishes the drink the way a café would.

Ingredient swaps

Dairy-free direction: Oat milk works especially well here and froths similarly to dairy.
Lower-sugar direction: Cut the added sugar in half; the pumpkin and spice still carry plenty of flavor.
Decaf direction: Swap in decaf espresso or coffee for an afternoon or evening version.

Serve alongside

Pumpkin bread
Cinnamon scones
Spiced oatmeal cookies
A warm croissant
Hot apple cider for a caffeine-free fall option
Chai tea latte for a different warm-spice profile
Black coffee for those who want it simpler

Serving suggestions only — check pairings for your household's allergens.

Storage & reheating

Best enjoyed hot and fresh; the foam and texture don't hold up well once cooled.
The pumpkin-spice milk mixture can be refrigerated separately for a day and reheated with fresh espresso.
Not recommended for freezing once fully assembled.

Equipment

Small saucepan
Whisk
Milk frother
Espresso machine or strong coffee maker

Make this household-aware

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