It’s September and that can only mean one thing. Yes, it’s the time when everyone goes crazy for the iconic red and brown colors that only appear once a year. No, I’m not talking about the fall leaves, I’m of course talking about the pumpkin spice latte. This — to me — mystifyingly popular drink makes an appearance for one month of the year and is pined for by enthusiasts for the remaining eleven.
There was a hint of controversy this year when it was revealed that Starbucks had quietly increased drink prices just the day before the launch of the 2017 pumpkin spice season. While this price increase did not affect the taste of the pumpkin spice latte itself, the whole issue did make me wonder if there was a better and more affordable way for fans of fall flavors to get their seasonal caffeine fix.
As you can probably figure out based on the fact that this article exists, there are a number of do-it-yourself recipes for making your own pumpkin spice lattes. So to make your life easier I’ve taken two of my favorites from The Kitchn and A Beautiful Mess and combined them to make the perfect homemade pumpkin spice latte recipe!
The following recipe will result in about 2.5 cups of syrup and can be refrigerated for up to two weeks.
You’ll need
- 1/1/2 cups water
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 Tsp ground ginger
- 1/2 Tsp ground cloves
- 1/2 Tsp nutmeg
- 1/2 pureed or canned pumpkin
- 1/2 Tsp black pepper
- 1/2 vanilla extract
Method
Combine the ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, black pepper, and pumpkin puree in a saucepan. Cook over a medium heat, stirring constantly until the mixture is hot throughout.
Add the sugar and stir until dissolved.
Simmer for about 5-10 minutes. Keep an eye on the heat and do not let the mixture boil.
Remove from heat and let cool for about 20 minutes.
Once you’ve cooled the syrup it’s time to make your latte. Add 1 Tbsp of the mixture to a mug followed by a shot of espresso and hot milk.
