homemade pumpkin spice latte

November 13, 2010

I’ve never been much of a fancy latte kind of girl. I drank tea and instant coffee when I was a teenager and at university. Yes, that’s right, instant coffee. It’s pretty popular in England, which my husband thinks is because it takes about the same amount of time to make as a cup of tea – just boil the kettle and you’re good to go.

I still have a strange soft spot for the instant stuff but after I moved to the States permanently, three and a half years ago, I slowly but surely started getting into real coffee. At first I found it way too strong and toned it down with milk and sugar, but these days I drink my coffee black. I love it that way.

As for the fancy lattes, I did go through a stage of drinking skinny vanilla lattes before I realized that it was burning a huge whole in my pocket and that the “skinny” version of anything was just not that satisfying or delicious.

This Autumn I tried a pumpkin spice latte for the first time and was basically hooked. They’re definitely a once in a while kind of thing, but there’s something so alluring about a drink with a creamy base, smoky coffee, and spicy, fragrant overtones of pumpkin, cinnamon and nutmeg.

I think it’s in everyone’s best interests to learn how to make your own pumpkin spice latte. It costs far less than what you’ll pay at the coffee shop. Plus it’s super easy and so soothing – perfect for lazy, cold Autumn nights or brisk weekend mornings.

Enjoy!

Pumpkin Spice Latte

adapted from The Kitchn

makes 1-2 servings

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups milk
  • 2 tablespoons canned pumpkin
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 2 tablespoons vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
  • 2 cups strongly brewed coffee

Directions:

  1. In a saucepan combine milk, pumpkin and sugar and cook on medium heat, stirring, until steaming. Remove from heat, stir in vanilla and spice, transfer to a blender and process for 15 seconds until foamy. If you don’t have a blender,  just whisk the mixture well with a wire whisk or shake in a glass jar (with lid on!).
  2. Pour into a large mug or two mugs. Pour the coffee on top and enjoy!
  3. You could also top with whipped cream and sprinkle some pumpkin pie spice, nutmeg, or cinnamon on top.
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