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Did Starbucks Invent The Pumpkin Spice Latte
It seems that the Western world associates the Pumpkin Spice Latte with Starbucks. Now, it seems every single coffee shop has to compete with Starbucks, and they all offer their own Pumpkin Spice Latte. However, did Starbucks actually invent the drink? Well, lets see!
According to Seattle Melt, in spring of 2003 in the laboratory at Starbucks Headquarters in Seattle, the objective was to develop a fall seasonal flavour. At the time, Peter Dukes was a product manager of the espresso division at the company. His mission was to replicate the success of the seasonal Peppermint Mocha and the Eggnog Lattes .
At the time, pumpkin spice drinks were available at local Seattle coffee shops. Dukes was always interested in pumpkin, and he believed that pumpkin is iconic or Americans. Through customer surveys of a potential fall drink, it appeared that the idea of a pumpkin pie latte was not well received. On the other hand, customers were more interested in a chocolate or caramel option.
The PSL was first piloted in Vancouver, Canada and Washington, in about 100 locations. The sales results spoke for themselves, and then the PSL rose to its fame today!
So the answer the question – while there were some pumpkin spice beverages around Seattle, Starbucks was definitely the pioneer of the PSL, and contributed to its popularity to date!
Which Ingredients Do I Need To Make This Pumpkin Spice Latte
For this recipe, you will need quite a few different ingredients, but it will be worth the time and effort you put into it. Have a look below for the full ingredients list:
- Pumpkin spice syrup
You can use any milk you have at home. I like to use whole milk because of its full flavor, but low-fat milk will work just as well.
Pumpkin spice lattes can also be made with oat milk. This will completely change the flavor, which is awesome.
Check out this oat milk latte recipe to learn how to make the best latte with this milk alternative.
Below, you can check out a few add-ins you can use in the recipe to make this latte even more special:
- A sweetener such as brown sugar can also be used to make this latte the best youve ever had.
- You can also add a splash of vanilla extract to the mix if you like. Youll only need to add a small amount to your drink to make a difference. Check out this article to learn more.
Youll also need pumpkin spice mix for that unique flavor. You can use the spice mix to top your drink, and its also used to make the pumpkin spice syrup.
Have a look below at how to make the spice mix:
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Homemade Pumpkin Spiced Latte Ingredients
- Canned pure pumpkin puree: This is not the same as pumpkin pie filling. My go to pumpkin purees are Libbys and trader joes Organic pumpkin puree!
- Pumpkin pie spice: Use store-bought or make your own! Its super easy to make it at home and lasts for up to 6 months in the pantry!
- Pure vanilla extract: Gives this pumpkin spice latte even more flavor. Use as little or as much as you like.
- Granulated sugar: I am not a huge fan of sweet coffee so I only used 1 tsp of granulated sugar for two servings. You can adjust to taste and use more or use a natural sweetener like maple, honey or agave.
- Milk: I used 2% milk, but you can use any type you prefer and have on hand. Non dairy milk works too!
- Two shots of espresso: About 4 ounces total. You can also use about 3/4 cup of strong hot coffee. You may have to adjust to taste.
- Cinnamon sticks for garnish, if desired
How To Make It
Start by heating the milk, pumpkin puree, sugar, pumpkin pie spices, and vanilla extract on the stove.
Then mix the pumpkin spice milk with the strong coffee. Divide it between two mugs and add whipped cream. Simple, quick, and no coffee shop lines.
Recipe Update: Since publishing this recipe in 2012, some readers have commented that the latte doesnt have a strong enough pumpkin flavor. If you are worried about this, one thing you might try is to cook the pumpkin puree down before adding it to the milk mixture. . This way, the pumpkin flavor will concentrate. Id imagine that you could do this in a larger batch and then keep the concentrated puree in the fridge for when you are ready to make your next latte. I hope that helps! Joanne
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All Hail The Psl Supremacy
Why is PSL a cult drink? For one, it is a seasonal delicacy which is mostly enjoyed in the holiday months. Because it is traditionally not available all year round, it is more alluring. Secondly, it tastes decadent but also has a kick of spice which goes perfectly well with a shot of espresso. It has a unique taste created by seemingly contrasting ingredients finding a perfect balance in one beverage.In short, PSL is a drink that looks good, feels good and so its global appeal is unsurprising.
Fighting an urge to visit your nearest cafe for a perfect pick-me-up with a tall glass of PSL? The good news is that you can brew this beverage at home too. Heres how.
How To Cook A Whole Pumpkin
Use this method to roast a whole pumpkin and use it in sweet & savory recipes.
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How To Make A Healthier Latte
One of the reasons your favorite drinks arent really good for you is that they are very high in sugar. If you want to make it a bit healthier, you can cut the sugar content.
Or, you can experiment with sweeteners like stevia to see how you like the taste. Why not try half and half to start and go from there.
You can also choose to use dairy-free milk like almond milk or even soy milk to cut the fat content. My daughter is gluten intolerant and frequently uses almond milk in her recipes.
Make sure that when you add the pumpkin, you choose puree and not pie filling. You can either use fresh puree or canned whichever is easiest for you.
Tools / equipment needed for this recipe
I find that using a blender is the easiest way to make this recipe smooth. But, if you dont have one, you can use a whisk to mix the ingredients by hand.
- A drizzle of chocolate syrup
A Pumpkin Spice Latte Recipe With Real Pumpkin
Ive fine-tuned this easy pumpkin spice latte recipe over the years and now I cant drink anything else! Its easy to make for yourself or for a crowd with just a blender and a stovetop .
This pumpkin spice latte tastes very similar to the coffee shop psl versions without artificial colors, flavors, and sweeteners. Oh, and it actually contains pumpkin puree because its not a REAL pumpkin spice latte without it!
If youre using store-bought canned pumpkin and wont use the whole can, freeze the rest in ice cube trays and keep them in a bag for future batches. Or use it up in something like this warm pumpkin bread recipe. Check out the end of this post for more pumpkin recipe ideas.
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How To Make An Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte
It really doesnt get much easier than this recipe. All you need to do is add all of the ingredients to your blender. Blend until well mixed and frothy.
Then, pour over ice and enjoy. Or, garnish with whipped cream, sprinkles, and cinnamon. Make sure you try it with homemade whipped cream.
Make sure that you taste your drink before you garnish it just in case you want to add a bit more sweetener.
How can I make this hot?
If you want to enjoy this beverage hot instead of cold, just dont add the ice. Its just as delicious either way.
Can I make this ahead of time?
If you want to mix this iced pumpkin spice latte recipe up the night before you can. Then, just place it in a shaker cup and shake to blend.
Add your whipped topping and ice and you are all set. This is a wonderful way to save time in the morning when youre leaving for work.
You can easily double the recipe and make one for everyone in the house if you like. Just make sure that your blender is large enough to handle all of the ingredients.
Check out this ice cream maker with no rocksalt I use to make homemade vanilla ice cream to make this truly decadent!
Why You Should Be Making Your Own Psl At Home
Summer is unofficially over and the season of pumpkin is upon us. The minute fall is here I head over to our local coffee shop to get a pumpkin spice latte. They make their latte with real pumpkin puree, which most coffee shops do not.
I decided to try to make this copycat pumpkin spice latte recipe on my own with real pumpkin. There are no artificial ingredients or syrup added to this drink. This fall favorite is loaded with pumpkin pie spice, pumpkin puree, vanilla and milk. It all gets topped with a dollop of whipped cream and a cinnamon sprinkle! This latte tastes like pumpkin pie in a cup!
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Why Is This Drink So Popular
The pumpkin spice latte was made popular by Starbucks. Starbucks has had this coffee on its menu for a couple of years now, for the fall season.
Most people, including me, immediately think of pumpkins when thinking of the fall season. I dont know why, but there is something about it that makes it special. This then reminds me of a warm, pumpkin spice latte.
When reading along, you will find the recipe to make the pumpkin spice latte at home.
You can make the pumpkin purée used for this recipe at home as well, and I will tell you how to do so further down. Your house will smell absolutely delicious after making this coffee.
Pumpkin Spice Latte At Home
It’s autumn and soon the cold days of winter, and if you are a fan all of pumpkin spices recipes then you must surely love this healthy pumpkin spice latte?
For those who are new to this, as the name suggests, it is a spicy latte made from pumpkin or other squash puree mixed with pumpkin pie spice such as cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and cloves and served hot with espresso and milk.
Pumpkin spice lattes are the kind of drinks we like to buy to take away in coffee shops like the famous Starbucks pumpkin spice latte which cost a lot of money and are often too high in sugar and chemicals.
But this was before testing this homemade pumpkin spice latte recipe, because in addition to being so delicious, it will not cost you an arm and moreover it is made with natural ingredients and especially it is much less sweet.
Yes, this healthier pumpkin spice latte is made with homemade squash puree which is much tastier than the ones you can buy in a can and sweetened with maple syrup which blends perfectly with the spices and unsweetened vanilla almond milk.
The pumpkin spice latte also contains a shot of strong espresso perfect for getting your caffeine fix and can also be made into an iced pumpkin spice latte perfect for chilling out on a hot day.
This delicious drink with spicy flavors is usually served with a cloud of whipped cream but for a vegan pumpkin spice latte you can remove it from the recipe.
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Ingredients For A Real Food Pumpkin Spice Latte
I like using raw, grass-fed milk, but not everyone can have dairy. This coffee recipe is naturally gluten-free, but you can also make it dairy-free. Sub coconut milk, almond milk, oat milk, or macadamia milk. These are easy to find in the store, but homemade nut milk is cheaper and less watered down.
I use a half-teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice, but you can use your own blend of cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg if you dont have pie spice on hand. It tastes similar to chai, but without the cardamom or black pepper. The pure vanilla extract rounds out the warming spices in this coffee drink.
Ingredients In Healthy Hot Chocolate
I started myself on a little quest to make a really, really freaking good HEALTHY hot chocolate that I could sip on while I binge watch all the Christmas movies on Netflix. I say, screw those Swiss Miss packets, my version is something you can feel good about sippin down. Here are the 4 ingredients youll need for this healthy hot chocolate:
- Milk: I like to use a combination of unsweetened almond milk and light coconut milk to keep the healthy hot chocolate dairy free and ultra creamy. The coconut milk adds a slight sweetness and amazing flavor. I recommend using light coconut milk from the can.
- Unsweetened cocoa powder: a high-quality cocoa powder or cacao powder is essential. I highly recommend using Ghirardellis 100% cocoa. I think it has the best flavor for hot chocolate
- Pure maple syrup: I love how delicious the maple syrup tastes in this recipe, plus its a natural sweetener. Perfection!
- Vanilla extract: a splash of vanilla brings lovely flavor to the hot cocoa. Not completely necessary, but oh so good!
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Ingredients For Homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte
Time to see what well need for our Pumpkin Spice Latte!! Ill also go over the ingredients for our Perfect DIY Pumpkin Spice and for the Homemade Pumpkin Sauce. Be sure to check out the full Pumpkin Spice and Pumpkin Sauce recipes for more details and storage instructions!
Dont forget to scroll to the bottom of this post for the FULL PRINTABLE RECIPE CARD or press the Jump to Recipe button to get all ingredient quantities and to save the recipe instructions for later. You can also scale the recipe based on how many cups you want to make – this would be excellent to serve for family gatherings or just when youve got company who love pumpkin spice lattes!
FOR THE HOMEMADE PUMPKIN SPICE
For the Pumpkin Sauce
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Pumpkin puree: Ensure that you are using pumpkin puree and not pumpkin pie filling. There is a big difference! Pumpkin puree is literally just that – pumpkin! On the other hand, pumpkin pie filling has sugar and other ingredients that wont be good in our pumpkin sauce!
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Condensed milk:Im using sweetened condensed milk. If you use unsweetened, youll probably need to add more sugar.
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Vanilla extract: Just a small amount to further bring out the flavours of the pumpkin puree and the sauce.
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Table sugar: Regular table sugar will work just fine.
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Water: As needed to dissolve the sugar for the syrup.
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Pumpkin spice: You can use astore-bought one if you want or make it yourself as Ill describe.
FOR THE Pumpkin Spice Latte
Why Make A Pumpkin Syrup Versus Adding Pumpkin Puree
Pumpkin Puree itself is not that flavourful and it needs help to really shine through. The pumpkin syrup is what will allow you to be able to use pumpkin in the drink. It has the consistency of a syrup, is packed with flavour and sweetness most importantly will not result in a grainy texture in your drink.
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How Do You Know When Your Pumpkin Spiced Latte Is Ready
You should mix your spiced pumpkin puree with your milk until its well mixed.
Whether you use a microwave or a milk steamer, youll need to make sure that your milk, puree and sweetener mix has a good froth on the top before you add the coffee.
Standard advice here in the UK is to cook food until it has reached 70°C and stayed at that temperature for 2 minutes. This is to keep your family safe.
Pumpkin Spice Latte Ingredients
Its easy to make your own PSL at home. Heres a quick explanation of what you will need. The full recipe is below.
Milk Use dairy or non-dairy milk. I love using homemade oat milk, but coconut or almond milk are also delicious.
Pumpkin Puree You can use canned puree or make your own. Heres our recipe for homemade pumpkin puree. Its quite simple to make!
We add the pumpkin puree as is, but some of our readers have complained that there is not enough pumpkin flavor in the latte. To battle this, you can simmer puree in a saucepan until it has reduced down by 1/3. This step will intensify the pumpkin flavor.
Sugar You can use regular sugar, brown sugar, simple syrup, maple syrup or honey! Its completely up to you.
Vanillaand Pumpkin Pie Spice A little vanilla extract goes a long way and it makes the latte so tasty. For the spices, use a store-bought blend or make your own. Heres our simple pumpkin pie spice blend.
Hot Coffee Lattes in coffee shops have espresso added to them, so the coffee is usually a bit stronger. I like brewing my coffee strong for homemade lattes. You can also use cold coffee or cold brew .
Whipped Cream This is completely optional, but I love it!
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