Starbucks Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte
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It’s Pumpkin Spice Latte’s 20th anniversary! Celebrate on the cold side with this Starbucks Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte copycat recipe! Featuring a pumpkin sauce from scratch, homemade whipped cream, and aromatic pumpkin spice, there’s all the fall goodness in a cold beverage!
On October 10th 2023 (2 days before this blog post went live!), the Pumpkin Spice Latte turned 20. Wow, isn’t this crazy! I admit that I’m definitely part of the crowd who loves it when fall rolls around and the cozy vibes come around - and part of those cozy vibes include everything pumpkin-flavoured!
If pumpkin spice everything is near and dear to your heart like it is to mine, then you’re going to love making your very own Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte at home! You’ll see later in this post, this really is a made-from-scratch recipe. While I love to go get my fix at Starbucks, I do find there’s something rewarding about making your own replica of your favourite coffee shop beverage, just like when you make your favourite restaurant meals at home! To put your heart in a glass and celebrate 20 years of pumpkin spice, make this Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte recipe as part of your Live to Cook one-month challenge! Get started on your cooking journey for free by signing up to my newsletter, plus you’ll get all of my latest recipes sent straight to your inbox!
Be sure to watch the video at the bottom of this post to watch the entire process in making this Starbucks fall favourite! If you haven’t already, it would mean a lot to me if you would please subscribe to my YouTube channel, and be sure to press the bell button to be notified when all of my video recipes go live! Let’s get brewing!
What is a Pumpkin Spice Latte?
Let’s begin by checking out the official definition of the Starbucks Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte!
Our signature espresso and milk—with the celebrated flavor combination of pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg and clove—served over ice. Enjoy it topped with whipped cream and real pumpkin-pie spices.
source: Starbucks.com
In my own words, a latte is a coffee drink that contains 1/3 part espresso and 2/3 milk, with the addition of sweetener, if desired. Lattes can be hot or cold. The Pumpkin Spice Latte therefore contains a base sweetener of pumpkin sauce, and you get the “pumpkin spice” flavour from the sauce and the garnish of pumpkin spice over the whipped cream! The “iced” latte simply is the drink served over ice, as the name suggests.
What is in Starbucks iced pumpkin spice Latte?
Here’s the actual ingredient list:
MILK, ICE, PUMPKIN SPICE SAUCE [SUGAR, CONDENSED SKIM MILK, PUMPKIN PUREE, CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF FRUIT AND VEGETABLE JUICE FOR COLOR, NATURAL FLAVORS, ANNATTO, SALT, POTASSIUM SORBATE], BREWED ESPRESSO, WHIPPED CREAM [CREAM (CREAM, MONO AND DIGLYCERIDES, CARAGEENAN), VANILLA SYRUP (SUGAR, WATER, NATURAL FLAVORS, POTASSIUM SORBATE, CITRIC ACID)], PUMPKIN SPICE TOPPING [CINNAMON, GINGER, NUTMEG, CLOVE, SULFITING AGENTS]
source: Starbucks.com
We’ll follow a similar formula in our recipe, but there will be actual pumpkin in my version, and we’re keeping things as natural as possible!
Why You Need to Make this Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte!
Refreshing: Since you’ll be in your own home drinking this, even on the chillier days of fall you can enjoy a cold beverage! You get fall flavours in a cold drink!
Fast: If the pumpkin sauce and coffee are prepared (and your own whipped cream if you’re using it!) then you only need a solid minute to assemble the drink! You can make the coffee in advance in this case since it’s going to be iced, so it doesn’t have to be hot anyway! However, if you leave your coffee in your French press, it will stay hot for quite some time!
Easy: As quick as a homemade Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte is to make, it’s also easy to make! Making your own pumpkin sauce and whipped cream don’t have to be intimidating, so I recommend you check out the full recipes for more details to master those! When those are ready, the actual drink is just the process of assembly!
Minimal ingredients: We’re going all-natural with this recipe by making all of the components from scratch, as I pride myself in doing! As you saw above, there are quite a lot of processed ingredients going on there!
Wallet-friendly: In Canada as of October 2023, a grande iced pumpkin spice latte will cost $6.45 CAD without tax! With this recipe, you can serve TWO grandes for a fraction of the cost, plus you’ll have lots of leftover pumpkin spice, pumpkin sauce, and
Fall favourite: 20 years of pumpkin spice, can you believe it? Granted, I’ve only become familiar with pumpkin spice since coming to Canada, so that’s half of its lifetime I’ve been attached to pumpkin spice! With this Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte, you can celebrate this milestone any day any time!
Tools needed to make Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte
You’ll need a few pieces of equipment to make a Starbucks Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew at home! However, there are definitely alternatives, so read on to find out more!
Ramekin: I like to keep my Pumpkin Pie Spice in a ramekin. A better storage option would of course be a glass spice jar, but the pumpkin spice disappears quite quickly here so it’s okay for me to leave it uncovered for easy access!
Saucepan: Needed if you’re making your own pumpkin sauce.
Whisk: To mix together the sugar and water in the pumpkin sauce.
French press: To brew your coffee if you don’t have an espresso machine.
Measuring cup: To measure the amount of pumpkin puree you’ll need for the pumpkin sauce.
Measuring spoons: To measure the vanilla extract and pumpkin spice you’ll need for the pumpkin sauce.
Spatula: To stir your pumpkin sauce in the saucepan.
Mason jar: To store your extra pumpkin sauce.
Ice cube tray: For your ice cubes, which are definitely needed for an iced latte!
Serving glass: I like to serve my Starbucks at home drinks in Starbucks cups I’ve cleaned up and saved just for presentation purposes, but on a day-to-day basis the Zwilling double-walled glasses are my favourite! They retain heat and cold without bothering your fingertips!
Whipped cream dispenser: If you’re making your own whipped cream, you’ll need this tool! If you’re on the fence about which whipped cream dispenser to buy and/or how to use it, check out my full guide on how to use it here!
If you already own an espresso machine to brew your espresso, then of course I recommend you use it! However, I don’t own one, so my method to make the strongest coffee without an espresso machine is to boil my water in my coffee maker and then brew my coffee in my French press. If you don’t have a French press either, then simply make some coffee in your coffee maker, you’ll be fine!
Ingredients for Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte
Scroll to the bottom of this post or press the “Jump to Recipe” button for the FULL PRINTABLE RECIPE CARD which will allow you to see the full ingredient list and their quantities and save the recipe for later. You can also scale the recipe if you want to double or triple the amount of lattes you want to make - all individual ingredient quantities are automatically adjusted for you!
For the pumpkin spice
For the pumpkin sauce
Pumpkin puree: You can use canned pumpkin puree or make your own!
Condensed milk: You can use the canned sweetened condensed milk, but if you have a lactose intolerance, I recommend you try out my Lactose-Free Sweetened Condensed Milk!
Water
Pumpkin spice
For the Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte
Ice cubes
Espresso or strong coffee: Either option that you have on hand will work here. As I mention in my Make Cooking Fun! free guide, if there is a suitable substitute that you have at home, then you should use the ingredient that you already have instead of going to the store to buy something new! If you’re using ground coffee, I recommend you use double the amount of ground coffee to espresso.
Water: To brew the coffee or espresso.
Milk: By definition, a latte needs milk! 2/3 of the beverage contains milk, to be precise. My favourite milk to use with my coffee beverages is whole milk because it gives the richest and creamiest texture, but use whatever milk you want.
Pumpkin spice: As described above or store-bought.
Pumpkin sauce: As described above or store-bought.
Whipped cream: You can use your favourite whipped cream from an aerosol can, but I prefer to use my homemade whipped cream recipe since you get the texture and taste of Starbucks’ whipped cream!
How to make a Better than Starbucks iced Pumpkin SPice Latte
For the pumpkin pie spice
To make this pumpkin pie spice recipe, all you need to do is mix all the spices together in a plate or shake the ingredients together in an airtight jar.
For the pumpkin sauce
In a saucepan, add the water and sugar and turn on the heat. Whisk well and warm the mixture until the sugar has completely dissolved. Once dissolved, add the pumpkin puree, condensed milk, pumpkin spice and vanilla extract. Heat for 1-2 minutes and then turn off the heat. Pour out the pumpkin syrup into a mason jar for storage in the refrigerator.
For the iced pumpkin spice latte
Prepare the espresso using an espresso machine. Alternatively, prepare espresso-like coffee using a French press.
Add 2-3 Tbsp of pumpkin sauce to the bottom of the cup. Then, pour in the coffee and mix the pumpkin sauce and coffee well.
Add in ice cubes, followed by the milk. Top with whipped cream and a dash of pumpkin spice for garnish.
Enjoy!
TIPS FOR The Perfect Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte
If making your own pumpkin sauce, be sure to use pumpkin PUREE and NOT pumpkin PIE FILLING! This will really ruin your sauce because the pumpkin pie filling is actually loaded with sugar, which we don’t want!
If making the pumpkin sauce to use right away to make the drink, make sure it cools down completely.
If you’ve made the pumpkin sauce in advance and noticed it separated, simply give it a shake and you’ll be good to go!
While you CAN use whatever coffee you have, the quality of your coffee will affect the overall flavour, so aim to use a nice strong coffee.
To truly replicate the Starbucks recipe, sweeten your Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte with both pumpkin sauce and vanilla syrup! Alternatively, you can sweeten the drink with some Table sugar will be perfectly fine for the drink, or you can choose brown sugar, honey, cane sugar, agave syrup or maple syrup for natural sweetener options. You can also use Splenda or Stevia for sugar-free options.
Allow the brewed coffee to slightly cool down so that your ice doesn’t melt instantly.
Enjoy immediately so the whipped cream on top doesn’t melt!
Treats to Enjoy with an Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte
Enjoying your Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte with breakfast? Here are some awesome ideas!
Pairing with another sweet treat? Here are my recommendations:
Questions You May Have!
Can Homemade Starbucks Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte be Dairy Free?
Sure! When it comes to the best cow’s milk substitutes, I recommend using coconut milk and soy milk because they are creamier and richer. If you really feel like it, of course you can use almond milk or oat milk. However, in the case of almond milk, it is likely to thin out your drink due to the low fat content. That being said, if almond milk is your favourite but you really want to keep everything from scratch, then try this Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte recipe with my Homemade Almond Milk Recipe! For oat milk, I really just don’t like it at all in coffee drinks since I find the “oat” taste too prominent.
As for the whipped cream, you can easily find some canned coconut whipped cream at the grocery store. I’ve never made it myself, so I can’t suggest how to make it.
IS THERE CAFFEINE IN An Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte?
Yes, you’ll find 150 mg of caffeine in the grande Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte at Starbucks. While I can’t really measure the amount of caffeine that is in my recipe (not to mention it’ll depend on the strength of the ground coffee or espresso you use), there is definitely some caffeine. To have an Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte that’s evening-friendly or just for those who want to skip the caffeine, simply substitute with some decaf coffee.
How Can I Make this Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte Lighter?
Want this drink to be an every day treat? No problem! All you need to do is use less pumpkin sauce, use a lower-fat milk, and don’t top with whipped cream! You’ll save a considerable amount of calories!
What if I Want a Hot Pumpkin Spice Latte?
The temperatures have indeed dropped here so I don’t blame you! Plus, the hot latte really is the iconic drink that we think of “Pumpkin Spice Latte.” I’ve got you covered on exactly what to do with my Pumpkin Spice Latte recipe!
How About a Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino?
I love frappuccinos! You get all the goodness of the latte but with an even richer treat combining more milk, your coffee, and the pumpkin sauce all blended together. For all the details, be sure to read my Pumpkin Spice Latte Frappuccino recipe!
Other Cold Coffee Recipes
Watch How to Make homemade starbucks Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte here:
Let me know what you think of this recipe in the comments! If you’ve tried this recipe, be sure to post it on social media and tag it with #cookingwithanadi and mention me @cookingwithanadi. Thank you!
Starbucks Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte
Ingredients
- 3 Tbsp cinnamon
- 2 tsp nutmeg
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- 1/4 tsp ground clove
- 1/8 tsp allspice
- 1/2 Cup table sugar
- 1/2 Cup water
- 1/3 Cup pumpkin puree (store-bought or homemade)
- 1 x 300 mL condensed milk
- 2-3 tsp pumpkin spice (or homemade)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 4 shots of espresso or 1/2 Cup of strong espresso-like coffee
- 1/2 Cup milk
- ice cubes, as needed
- 2-3 Tbsp of pumpkin sauce (as described above or store-bought)
- 3-4 Tbsp whipped cream, for garnish (from a can or homemade!)
- pumpkin spice, for garnish (or homemade)
Instructions
- To make this pumpkin pie spice recipe, all you need to do is mix all the spices together in a plate or shake the ingredients together in an airtight jar.
- In a saucepan, add the water and sugar and turn on the heat. Whisk well and warm the mixture until the sugar has completely dissolved.
- Once dissolved, add the pumpkin puree, condensed milk, pumpkin spice and vanilla extract. Heat for 1-2 minutes and then turn off the heat. Pour out the pumpkin syrup into a mason jar for storage in the refrigerator.
- Prepare the espresso using an espresso machine. Alternatively, prepare espresso-like coffee using a French press.
- Add 2-3 Tbsp of pumpkin sauce to the bottom of the cup.
- Then, pour in the coffee and mix the pumpkin sauce and coffee well.
- Add in ice cubes, followed by the milk.
- Top with whipped cream and a dash of pumpkin spice for garnish. Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
Calories
516.94Fat (grams)
39.38 gSat. Fat (grams)
24.07 gCarbs (grams)
33.16 gFiber (grams)
3 gNet carbs
30.16 gSugar (grams)
25.4 gProtein (grams)
6.25 gSodium (milligrams)
54.73 mgCholesterol (grams)
81.76 mgNutrition info is an estimate.
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Welcome to Cooking With Anadi. This platform is all about making cooking exciting and finding new ways to bring classic flavours and recipes at your service. Join me in my personal journey in the world of cooking. Hope you have a great ride!
