Here’s how to make a better version of Starbucks’ cult favorite pumpkin cold foam at home and on a delicious latte. This homemade cold foam has actual pumpkin, sweet vanilla, luscious heavy cream, sweetened condensed milk, and warm spices.

This pumpkin cold foam tastes exactly like pumpkin pie filling, and it’s to die for. You could eat it alone if you don’t want a drink! This drink is easy to make and takes under 10 minutes.

Here’s how to make a pumpkin cold foam latte at home!

What is Cold Foam?

Cold foam is frothed cold milk, sometimes sweetened with syrup and other flavors. It has a very silky and almost velvety texture. Aerating milk creates tiny air bubbles, which makes it lighter and airier than whipped cream. 

However, if you want something more creamy, try a sweet cream cold foam. It’s a cult favorite drink topper, famously popularized by Starbucks, which is heavy cream, milk, and sugar whipped until lightly frothy.

It’s a heavenly combination that people top their coffee or tea drinks with, and it adds a sweet, milky addition to any drink and creates a nice, frothy texture.

It’s really easy to make, especially if you have a handheld frother or whisk. You can also add different syrups, sugars, or sweeteners to create different flavors of cold foam.

What is Pumpkin Cold Foam?

Starbucks’ pumpkin cold foam, or sweet cream cold foam, is made from a blend of heavy cream, milk, vanilla syrup, and pumpkin spice syrup, whipped together to create a light, airy topping with a hint of pumpkin warmth.

This creamy foam has a soft, fluffy texture and a light orange hue, making it the perfect companion for milk-based drinks. Its warm spices pair beautifully with lattes, iced coffee, chai lattes, and even tea lattes, adding a cozy, seasonal twist to each sip.

Plus, it’s super easy to recreate at home—you only need four ingredients, and in under five minutes, you have a delicious pumpkin cold foam ready to elevate any drink!

What Does Pumpkin Cold Foam Taste Like?

Pumpkin cold foam tastes very similar to pumpkin pie or pumpkin spice-flavored treats. Starbucks used not to have real pumpkin in its pumpkin spice drinks, so the flavor of most retail pumpkin cold foam leans sweet and spiced.

However, this recipe uses real pumpkin in it, so this pumpkin cold foam tastes exactly like pumpkin pie filling. It’s sweet, spiced, creamy, a little nutty, and has that savory squash flavor that works perfectly with creamy condensed milk and vanilla.

How to Make Pumpkin Cold Foam

To make pumpkin cold foam, whip heavy cream, pumpkin puree, pumpkin spice, condensed milk, and a little milk in a cup or bowl until it gets light and fluffy. Stop whipping when the cream is fluffy but still pourable.

If you make pumpkin whipped cream, you can still use it, but it won’t have the same soft and fluffy texture that a semi-whipped cream has.

You can whip your cream using a whisk, handheld frother, blender, or electric whisk. However, I recommend using an electric frother or whisk because it will give you the best whip quickly.

Does Pumpkin Spice Have Pumpkin In It?

Pumpkin spice, or pumpkin pie spice, refers to the spices people use in pumpkin pies. It includes an array of spices, including ginger, allspice, nutmeg, cinnamon, and clove. It does not include pumpkin in it.

Pumpkin spice-flavored drinks or desserts may or may not have pumpkin in it. However, most large coffee chains or cafes don’t use real pumpkins in their drinks. Famously, Starbucks did not use real pumpkins in their pumpkin-spiced drinks until 2015.

Pumpkin has quite a strong flavor, being earthy and nutty. It also has a very stringy texture, which makes it a little harder to make into a smooth syrup or sauce. Most pumpkin-spiced drinks taste good because there is no pumpkin in it. However, I like the addition of real pumpkin because it makes it taste more similar to pumpkin pie than just sugar and spices.

What Does a Pumpkin Cream Cold Foam Latte Taste Like?

A pumpkin cream cold foam latte is pumpkin pie in coffee form—it’s like you’re sipping on a slice of pie and chasing it with smooth, rich coffee. The foam itself is lightly sweet and creamy with those warm pumpkin pie spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove that hit you right away.

Then, there’s a subtle earthiness from the pumpkin that pairs perfectly with coffee’s natural bitterness, creating this cozy, balanced drink that’s not overly sweet or heavy. Each sip is like getting that whipped cream-topped pumpkin pie experience with the addition of a nice coffee flavor. It’s indulgent but not overwhelming and the perfect autumn treat in a cup.

How to Make a Pumpkin Cold Foam Latte

Here’s what you’ll need to make a pumpkin cold foam latte at home:

• Pumpkin puree
• Pumpkin spice
• Condensed milk
• Vanilla extract
• Heavy cream
• Milk
• Espresso or strong coffee
• Ice

Pumpkin Cold Foam Latte Recipe

1. Make pumpkin cold foam. Whip pumpkin puree, pumpkin spice, condensed milk, vanilla extract, and heavy cream in a small cup or bowl using a handheld frother or electric whisk until it gets soft and slightly fluffy. It should be the consistency of a thick yogurt and be pourable.
2. Brew espresso or coffee. Brew espresso shots in an espresso or coffee machine. You could also use coffee concentrate or instant coffee in a pinch.
3. Assemble drink. Add ice, milk, and espresso into a separate cup, then top with the pumpkin cold foam. Optional: garnish with a dust of cinnamon or pumpkin spice.
4. Mix and enjoy!

Other Pumpkin Cold Foam Drinks

Looking for other pumpkin cold foam or pumpkin spice-flavored drinks? There are so many creative combinations you can make, including:

• Pumpkin cream chai latte
• Pumpkin spice latte
• A pumpkin pie latte
• Pumpkin pie milk
• Dalgona pumpkin spice latte
• Pumpkin spice matcha latte
• Pumpkin spice hot cocoa
• A pumpkin spice milkshake
• Pumpkin smoothie

And the list goes on!

Tips

Here are some tips for making a creamy, spiced pumpkin cold foam latte!

• Instead of heavy cream, you can use half and half instead! Alternatively, for a true cold foam, use low-fat or 2% milk to make a rich, velvety cold foam that is light and delicious.
• You can use regular sugar, brown sugar, or maple syrup instead of condensed milk to sweeten your drink if you don’t have condensed milk. It won’t have that same distinct, creamy taste pumpkin pie has, but it will taste just as good.
• For a caffeine-free version, omit the coffee and mix the cream with milk. Alternatively, instead of heavy cream, use milk and have a sweet and creamy pumpkin spiced milk!