Delicious Pumpkin Spice Latte made just like Starbucks — this copycat recipe shows how simple it is to make at home in about 5 minutes, including quick homemade whipped cream.
The Ultimate Fall Drink
The Pumpkin Spice Latte (PSL) is a seasonal favorite popularized by Starbucks. It combines pumpkin spice sauce, espresso, and milk, finished with a dollop of whipped cream and a sprinkle of warming spices.
With pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove, this latte is comforting and cozy — perfect for crisp mornings or anytime you want an autumnal treat.
Note from Jee
Each year when Starbucks rolls out fall drinks I get excited and nostalgic — and slightly bummed that summer is ending. Real pumpkin puree in the pumpkin spice sauce makes a big difference, so I recommend making your own sauce if you can.
The pumpkin spice topping at Starbucks is straightforward: four spices — pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove. I mix my own version to match that flavor profile. For espresso I prefer one Nespresso capsule rather than two, which I find a bit strong, but use what suits your taste.
Recipe Summary
- An espresso machine or Nespresso is ideal for authentic espresso; instant coffee can be used in a pinch but won’t match the same flavor.
- The drink is sweetened and flavored with pumpkin spice sauce; you can use store-bought or homemade sauce.
- This copycat recipe reproduces a grande (16-ounce) Pumpkin Spice Latte, including whipped cream on top.
Ingredient Notes
- Espresso: Any espresso works; using Starbucks espresso will bring the flavor closest to their drink.
- Pumpkin spice sauce: Store-bought or homemade pumpkin spice sauce both work well.
- Milk: Starbucks uses 2% by default, but use your preferred milk or a non-dairy alternative.
- Heavy cream: For making the whipped cream topping.
- Vanilla syrup: Sweetens and flavors the whipped cream. Simple syrup or sugar can substitute.
- Pumpkin spice topping: A blend of warming spices to garnish the whipped cream; you can use a store blend or make your own.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts and full instructions.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Whisk heavy cream with vanilla syrup until soft peaks form, then set aside. A handheld milk frother makes this quick and easy.
Step 2: Combine pumpkin spice sauce with espresso in a mug and stir until smooth.
Step 3: Add frothed or heated milk. An electric milk frother will heat and froth simultaneously, or warm milk on the stove and froth in a French press.
Step 4: Spoon the whipped cream on top and finish with a light dusting of pumpkin spice topping.
Homemade Pumpkin Spice Topping
Make your own pumpkin spice topping by mixing:
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
Nespresso Notes
To be a true latte, this drink is prepared with espresso. A Nespresso machine is an easy home solution: for a 16-ounce grande latte use two single espresso capsules or one double espresso capsule. Starbucks offers signature espresso capsules for Nespresso machines; choosing those will bring the flavor closer to the café version. If using Vertuo capsules, be sure to pick ones labeled espresso rather than larger coffee/mug sizes.
Blonde Espresso
If you prefer a smoother, milder espresso, try Blonde espresso capsules. Many find them smoother and more approachable than darker roasts.
Expert Tips
- Milk increases in volume when frothed; to yield about 1 ¼ cups frothed milk start with roughly ¾ cup cold milk.
- Use a handheld frother to whip cream for 30–50 seconds until soft peaks form; avoid overwhipping.
- If you don’t have vanilla syrup, substitute simple syrup or 2 teaspoons of sugar to sweeten the whipped cream.
Questions You May Have
The pumpkin spice topping typically contains cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and clove — the same warming spices you can use in a homemade blend.
Sauces are thicker and often contain dairy, while syrups are thinner. Both can include pumpkin puree for flavor.
A grande (16 oz) typically contains 2% milk, pumpkin sauce, two shots of espresso, and is finished with vanilla whipped cream and pumpkin spice topping.
Related
- Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew
- Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino
- Pumpkin Spice Chai Latte
- Pumpkin Cream Cold Foam
If you tried this Pumpkin Spice Latte recipe, please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ star rating and share how it turned out in the comments below.
Pumpkin Spice Latte
Ingredients
Pumpkin Spice Latte
- 2 capsules Nespresso espresso (or 2 espresso shots)
- 3 tablespoons pumpkin spice sauce
- ¾ cup milk
- pinch pumpkin spice topping
Whipped Cream
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon vanilla syrup
Instructions
-
Whisk heavy cream and vanilla syrup to make whipped cream. Set aside.
The quickest way is to use a handheld frother for about 30–50 seconds until soft peaks form. Don’t overwhip.
-
Froth or heat milk.
Use an electric milk frother to heat and froth, or simmer milk then froth in a French press until it increases in volume.
-
Put espresso and pumpkin spice sauce into a mug. Stir. Add frothed or heated milk.
-
Top with whipped cream and garnish with a sprinkle of pumpkin spice topping.
Use a spoon to add whipped cream and finish with a light dusting of spice.
Notes
- 1 shot of espresso = 1 Nespresso espresso capsule.
- For a 16-ounce grande, use two single Nespresso espresso capsules or one double espresso capsule.
- Blonde espresso capsules produce a smoother, milder flavor if you prefer that profile.
- When using Vertuo capsules, choose ones labeled as espresso rather than larger coffee sizes.
- Vanilla syrup can be swapped for simple syrup or 2 teaspoons of sugar if needed.
- If you prefer a milder espresso, use one capsule instead of two.
Homemade Pumpkin Spice Topping
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground ginger
⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg
⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
Nutrition
Nutrition information is an approximation.