Is anyone else a sucker for fall? Chilly mornings, sunny afternoons, cozy food, good TV shows return. I mean, what’s not to love? Let’s celebrate with a healthier, homemade take on pumpkin spice lattes. Yes, let’s. This “PSL” is dreamy yet simple to make, requiring just 1 pot, simple ingredients, and 10 minutes to prepare. It took quite a bit of testing to get it just right because spices are tricky to nail. In the process we even ended up making our own pumpkin pie spice recipe (!!), which we’ve been meaning to do for years since store-bought brands can vary so much and we wanted the flavor to be perfection. However, in the recipe we also spell out individual spices just in case you don’t have any pumpkin pie spice on hand.
What’s in a Pumpkin Spice Latte?
In pumpkin spice lattes you’ll find at your average coffee shop (that aren’t super local and cute and organic), the ingredients can get a little dicey and often include natural flavors, carrageenan, and a lot of sugar. These aren’t things we necessarily avoid entirely, but do choose to limit whenever possible. Our homemade version includes real food ingredients like:
coconut milkpumpkin puréemaple syrupvanilla extractspices (like cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger)& espresso or your coffee of choice
Caffeine-Free Option (Dandy Blend!)
Because we’ve been digging caffeine-free / low-caffeine drinks lately, we included a caffeine-free option too! Have you ever tried Dandy Blend? It’s an herbal alternative to coffee that smells and tastes like coffee and is made of extracts of barley, rye, dandelion, and chicory. Somehow the gluten is (magically) removed during the extraction process, making it gluten-free to boot. We’d heard it recommended in the health community for a while but had more or less written it off as “not as good as the real thing.” But upon sampling it recently, we were so impressed we bought a bag and have been using it in things like this drink and afternoon “lattes.” Caffeine-free “coffee” for the win.
How to Make a Pumpkin Spice Latte
Making the latte is the easy part. Simply add all of your ingredients to a small saucepan and whisk to combine. Heat until just bubbling over medium heat, then add coffee of choice and stir. That’s it! You can also make an iced version by adding all the ingredients to a glass jar and stirring to combine. Then add some ice and shake vigorously for 30 seconds until completely combined. Bam: iced PSL. Simply top with coconut whipped cream or a dash of nutmeg or cinnamon and dive into this comforting fall beverage. We hope you LOVE this latte! It’s: Fall-inspiredPumpkin-infusedPerfectly spicedNaturally sweetenedCustomizable& Incredibly delicious This would make the perfect drink to cozy up to after a long day this fall or winter. It’s not only easy to make, but also health promoting thanks to spices like ginger, clove, and cinnamon, which can have digestive, anti-inflammatory, and blood sugar-balancing benefits.
More Cozy Drinks
3-Ingredient Turmeric Tonic5-Minute Golden Milk5-Minute Mushroom Latte (2 Ways)3-Ingredient Moringa Latte (Caffeine-Free “Matcha”)Feel Good Hot Chocolate (with Adaptogens)
If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo #minimalistbaker on Instagram. Cheers, friends!
