In my early twenties, I discovered that pumpkin spice lattes do not have actual pumpkin in them, which is wild! But now that I think about it, it makes sense since the drink literally says pumpkin spice. So, I made my own version with pumpkin, which is basically a pumpkin pie latte!

This pumpkin pie latte has real pumpkin, all the delicious spices, a hint of vanilla, whipped cream, and a delicious pie crust-inspired topping that mimics everything about a pumpkin pie. It’s creamy, sweet, and delicious and a fun drink to make for fall!

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

What’s in a Pumpkin Pie Latte?

This pumpkin pie latte has pumpkin puree, pumpkin spice, sugar, milk, ice, and espresso. It’s sweet, creamy, earthy, nutty, spiced, and the perfect fall beverage.

You can also customize it to your tastes or your favorite pumpkin pie. You can substitute sugar for condensed and evaporated milk, regular milk for oat milk, and even steam your pumpkin to make your own puree.

Most large coffee chains won’t have actual pumpkins in their pumpkin spice lattes, which is kind of confusing. Many smaller coffee shops use pumpkin puree or some pumpkin in their pumpkin syrup.

Pumpkin Spice Latte vs. Pumpkin Pie Latte

The difference between pumpkin spice lattes and pumpkin pie lattes is that the former does not have pumpkin in it. Which, if you think about the name pumpkin spice latte, makes sense.

The pumpkin spice latte only has the spice, and the rest of the flavor comes from the espresso and sugar. Pumpkin has a very savory flavor that would change the sweet and creamy taste of the pumpkin spice latte so many people know and love.

On the other hand, Pumpkin pie lattes should have some pumpkin in them. It will be sweet and savory and slightly earthy.

Does Starbucks Pumpkin Latte Have Pumpkin in it?

Before, Starbucks’ pumpkin spice latte did not used to have pumpkin in it. A pumpkin spice latte is made with milk, espresso, “pumpkin” and vanilla syrup, whipped cream, and topped with a spice dusting.

When people found out, they started to complain. So, in 2015, Starbucks changed its pumpkin syrup to one made with sweet pumpkins.

Although, I’m not sure how much pumpkin there is per drink… probably not that much! But now they can say there is pumpkin in a pumpkin spice latte.

What Pumpkin to Use?

Multiple pumpkin varieties are available, but not all pumpkins are great for desserts or drinks. However, the best to use for sweet treats are probably sugar pumpkins or kabocha pumpkins.

Normal pumpkins are savory and stringy, like the ones we make jack-o-lanterns with. They’re really fibrous and don’t have the nicest texture or taste. Canned pumpkin puree is convenient, but it also has a savory quality that’s not ideal.

Sugar and kabocha pumpkins are sweeter and smoother, great for pies and our lattes! I like this article, which goes through different types of pumpkins to test which is best for pie.

How to Make a Pumpkin Pie Latte

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

• Canned pumpkin puree or homemade pumpkin puree
• Pumpkin spice
• Sugar
• Milk
• Ice
• Espresso

Pumpkin Pie Latte Recipe

You can either use the pumpkin puree straight up or make it into syrup.

How to Make Pumpkin Pie Syrup

For syrup, add pumpkin puree, water, and sugar to a small pot and heat on low to medium heat until the sugar dissolves. Mix until the puree emulsifies with the water until you get a slightly thick syrup with a sauce consistency. Add the pumpkin spice at the end and mix for a minute on low heat. Let cool before use.

Combine puree, milk, sugar, and pumpkin spice using a spoon or handheld frother to make the drink with straight pumpkin puree. You can also use a small blender. Mix until everything is incorporated well and the milk is smooth.

Add ice and pumpkin-spiced milk (or milk and pumpkin syrup) in a separate glass, then top with your espresso. Optional: top with whipped cream and a dash of pumpkin spice or cinnamon.

Mix and enjoy!

Make it Hot

Want a warm, comforting version? Heat the milk first in the microwave, on the stove, or in an electric frother. You can also steam your milk using a steam wand on an espresso machine.

Add the pumpkin puree, sugar, spices, or pumpkin syrup to your hot milk and mix until everything is well combined.

Brew your espresso or strong coffee and add it to a medium-sized latte cup or mug. Then, pour your hot pumpkin spiced milk on top of your espresso. Make latte art if you know how to do it!

Top with whipped cream and a dash of pumpkin spice, and enjoy!

How to Make Pumpkin Spice

Don’t have pumpkin spice on you? You can make the spice blend yourself! It’s super easy and probably cheaper to make in bulk with separate ingredients.

Pumpkin spice is a blend of 5 spices: cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, cloves, and ginger. You can either buy each preground spice or the whole spice and grind them yourself. The former is the more straightforward method, giving you the best and freshest flavor.

To grind your spices, use a mortar and pestle to grind each spice finely. However, the pieces may be inconsistent when different pressures are applied when grinding. You can also use an electric spice grinder to make a very fine powder.

You can also omit spices if you don’t like specific ones. Just make sure you have the basic three: cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.

Tips

Here are some tips for making the best pumpkin pie latte at home!

• For a more dessert-y drink, add whipped cream on top or vanilla extract to make it taste like pumpkin pie topped with whipped cream or a la mode!
• If pumpkin puree tastes too pumpkin-y, make the pumpkin syrup, which cooks it and removes some of the savory pumpkin flavor.
• If you don’t have pumpkin or can’t have it, you can always use sweet potato instead! It might taste better, to be honest, since it’s sweeter and softer, but it has a similar taste and texture once cooked.