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This Healthy Vegan Pumpkin Spice Latte recipe is so much better than Starbucks or any coffee shop version! It’s naturally dairy-free, contains half the amount of sugar and is made with REAL pumpkin in 5 minutes!
You can even turn it into an Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte! Read on to learn my favorite ways to make espresso and froth vegan milk at home for a fraction of the cost, too!
If you’re like me, when the fall season hits, your homemade coffee drink immediately needs a scoop of pumpkin in it. I don’t care if it’s still 90 degrees out – it’s pumpkin season dangit! Try it with a loaf of Vegan Pumpkin Banana Bread with Cream Cheese Filling or a Vegan Pumpkin Scone for the ultimate fall breakfast treat!
Can the Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte be made Vegan?
Ordering a VEGAN pumpkin spice latte at your local Starbucks coffee shop is unfortunately not possible. As of 2022, Starbuck’s signature pumpkin spice sauce is made with condensed skim milk, meaning it contains dairy.
So, even if you were to order their famous pumpkin spice latte with non-dairy creamy milks, like oat milk or soy milk, your latte would still contain dairy because of the pumpkin spice syrup.
But making your own pumpkin spice latte at home that rivals the Starbucks version is not only quick, easy, and delicious, but better for you too!
Ingredients You’ll Need
You’ll need just 5 simple ingredients to make your own pumpkin spice latte at home:
- espresso – A latte is traditionally made with espresso and steamed milk with milk foam. To make the best at-home pumpkin spice latte, I highly recommend using espresso when possible. If you’re unable to use espresso, skip down to the add-ins and variations section and I’ll give you the best tips for using regular coffee in a pinch.
- dairy-free milk – I like to use a combination of homemade oat milk or cashew milk that I make using my Almond Cow and French Vanilla Nut Pods. Homemade plant milk is creamy and delicious, but it’s notoriously bad at become frothy. By mixing these two together, I get a foamy, creamy consistency without any added sugar. If you prefer to use a store-bought milk, I recommend a Barista-style vegan milk or Silk Next Milk (whole fat) like oat milk, coconut milk, or almond milk.
- pure pumpkin puree – One perk of making your own pumpkin spice latte at home is using REAL PUMPKIN for the ultimate pumpkin flavor. Pumpkin spice lattes sold at coffee shops almost never contain real pumpkin. It’s almost always a pumpkin flavored syrup made with “natural flavors” and a whole lot of sugar. But once you try a pumpkin spice latte with real pumpkin puree, you’ll prefer it over the syrup every. single. time.
- maple syrup – This is of course optional, but I do find a little bit of sweetener to make this latte delicious! We’re using just 2 tablespoons of maple syrup, or 25 grams of sugar instead of the 50+ you’ll get at Starbucks.
- pumpkin pie spice – I use a pre-mixed store bought pumpkin pie spice, but you can always make your own at home with a simple mix of fall spices including cinnamon, ground ginger, nutmeg, ground cloves, allspice, and black pepper. Try this quick homemade pumpkin pie spice recipe from Sally’s Baking Addiction.
See the recipe card at the bottom of the post for complete measurements and recipe instructions.
Add Ins & Variations
- Make your own pumpkin puree: If you can’t find pumpkin puree in stores, roast your own sugar pie pumpkins at home and blend them into a simple puree using a food processor or high-speed blender. Follow this simple guide to learn how to make pumpkin puree at home.
- Pumpkin substitutions: If your store is out of pumpkin puree and you don’t have time to roast your own pumpkins, look for a can of sweet potato puree or butternut squash puree. The flavors are very similar to pure pumpkin puree and will make an equally delicious Autumn Spice Latte :). Avoid using pumpkin pie filling – this canned product is sweetened with sugar and meant to taste like the filling of pumpkin pie.
- Espresso substitution: If you don’t have the ability to make espresso, you can use 2 ounces of VERY STRONG coffee or cold brew concentrate instead. Do not use a full cup of regular coffee – the pumpkin flavors will be very muted and taste watered down.
- Maple syrup substitutions: Use another liquid sweetener like agave nectar, date syrup or substitute 1 tablespoon of coconut sugar, sugar, or brown sugar to suit your personal taste buds. You can even omit the sweetener completely if you prefer or are using a plant-based milk made with added sugars.
- Add pure vanilla extract: Want an additional boost of sweetness and depth of flavor. Add a splash of vanilla extract to taste.
How to Make a Vegan Pumpkin Spice Latte
1. Make the espresso.
I’ve been making espresso at home for about 5+ years now and have tried a number of different espresso makers. Here are my favorite ways to make espresso at home, starting with the most budget friendly option to the ultimate splurge.
- Budget-friendly espresso: If you’re looking for the best bang for your buck and don’t have space for yet another appliance, go with the Bialetti Moka Pot. It’s a bit more involved than some of the more expensive models and has a learning curve, but once you’re comfortable with it, it works incredibly well. Plus, you can’t do better than $30 for an espresso machine.
- Mid-range espresso: If you’ve got the counter space and are willing to pay for convenience, invest in a Nespresso machine. You can pick one up for a few hundred dollars and can use it to make espresso with the press of a button. This method is by far the easiest way to make espresso at home and is perfect for beginners.
- High-end espresso: A couple of years ago we were gifted a Breville Barista Touch and have been in love with it ever since. It makes barista quality espresso, is easy to use, and steams plant-based milk like a dream! It’s absolutely a splurge, so if you’re new to espresso, try it out with a lower end budget version before investing in a machine like this one.
2. Add the pumpkin
Once the espresso is made and poured into your mug, add in the fresh pumpkin puree, maple syrup, and pumpkin spice. Mix well to combine.
3. Froth the milk
Frothing plant-based milk at home is more challenging than frothing dairy milk. This is because vegan milk does not contain the casein proteins that dairy milks do. With that being said, you CAN froth plant-based milk at home with the right tools. Just like the espresso, there are a couple of ways to do this that I’ve tested and recommend.
- Budget-friendly milk frother: If you’re on a tight budget, the best milk frother to use is a frothing wand. This method isn’t as reliable as some of the more expensive frothers, but it will work with the right milks and patience. Pick up a milk frothing wand at Target for $10 or order one on Amazon.
- Mid-range milk frother: Use the Breville Milk Cafe Milk Frother with the cappuccino frothing disk. Unlike the frothing wands, this machine will heat up the milk as well as froth it with the push of a button.
- High-end milk frother: The Breville Barista Touch froths plant-based milk better than any milk frother I have ever tried. You can also choose how hot you’d like the milk as well as how much foam you’d like your latte to have. It’s a true splurge but one of the best appliances in our kitchen we’d replace in a heartbeat!
If none of these frothers are an option for you, mix the homemade pumpkin spice latte recipe ingredients together using an immersion blender or high speed blender!
These appliances can help froth up your favorite fall drink (or any coffee beverage for that matter) in a pinch!
4. Pour the frothed milk into the espresso mixture
Enjoy hot with coconut whipped cream and a dusting of additional pumpkin pie spice as desired!
Recipe FAQs
Is Dunkin Donuts pumpkin spice latte vegan?
Unfortunately like Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts uses a pumpkin flavored sauce that contains dairy and is not vegan-friendly. If you are wanting to order a pumpkin spice latte out at a coffee shop this year try Peet’s coffee! They’re PSLs are vegan friendly when made with a non-dairy milk.
Which non dairy milk is best for frothing?
When using store-bought milks, use a non dairy milk that is higher in fat for the creamiest results. Barista style oat milks and Nut Pods are great for frothing. For best results, start with warm plant-based milk before frothing.
What is the ratio of coffee to milk in a latte?
You’ll typically want about a 1:3 ratio which means if you have 3 ounces of espresso you’ll want about 9 ounces of milk. This recipe uses 3 ounces of espresso with 8 ounces of milk, plus foam. It’s the perfect ratio!
More Vegan Pumpkin Recipes You’ll Like
Vegan Pumpkin Spice Latte
Ingredients
- 3 ounces espresso (2 shots)
- 1/2 cup french vanilla Nutpods
- 1/2 cup unsweetened plant-based milk
- 3 tablespoons pumpkin puree make sure the ingredient list on the can is just pumpkin
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup adjust to your sweetness preference
- 3/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
For topping
- coconut whipped cream
- pumpkin pie spice for dusting
Instructions
Breville Milk Frother Instructions
- In a 12 ounce mug, mix two shots of espresso with pumpkin puree until fully incorporated.
- Then, to the Breville Milk Cafe Milk Frother with the cappuccino frothing disk, add 1/2 cup french vanilla Nutpods and 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk or your milk of choice.
- Set Frother to 140 degrees Fahrenheit and push start. Once the machine has started, add in 2 tablespoons of maple syrup and the 3/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice. Once the Frother finishes frothing and turns off, pour milk over top espresso and pumpkin puree mixture.
- Optional, dust top of latte with more pumpkin pie spice. You could also top with coconut whipped cream. Enjoy.
Frothing Wand/Blender Instructions
- In a 12 ounce mug, mix two shots of espresso with pumpkin puree until fully incorporated.
- Then, in a small pot over medium-low heat, warm the milk, maple syrup, and pumpkin pie spice until it reaches a very light simmer. Or, if using the microwave, microwave the milk, maple syrup and pumpkin pie spice for 1 minute or until warm.
- Once warm, turn off heat and froth the milk using a handheld frother or transfer milk to a blender like the Vitamix and blend until frothy. This method will not get as creamy and frothy as the Breville but it is equally as good!
- Pour the frothed milk over the espresso/pumpkin puree mixture.
- Optional, dust top of latte with more pumpkin pie spice. You could also top with coconut whipped cream. Enjoy.
Breville Barista Touch Instructions
- Brew a double shot of espresso into a mug of choice.
- Add the pumpkin puree, maple syrup and pumpkin pie spice into mug with espresso.
- Froth milk to 150 degrees F.
- Pour overtop espresso. Stir to combine. Top with coconut whipped cream and pumpkin pie spice as desired. Enjoy!
Notes
- Read the post for my espresso machine recommendations and milk frother recommendations.
- You can use any plant-based milk you like. I personally like the creamy rich results of mixing Nutpod creamer with unsweetened almond milk, but use what you like and have! Just know that each plant-based milk and brand will have different frothing results!
Nutrition
Disclaimer: The Nutritional Information provided for this recipe is only an estimate. The accuracy of the facts listed is not and cannot be guaranteed.
Did You Love This Recipe?
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Photography by: Baking-Ginger Studios
This recipe was originally published August 28, 2020 and has been republished on November 16, 2022 to include updated tips, new images, and a new method. The original recipe remains the same.
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