This homemade Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte recipe is healthier and more affordable than the coffee shop version, super quick and easy to make and absolutely delicious. Best part? With this recipe you can enjoy a nice iced PSL in all seasons, not just in the fall!
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What’s to love about this recipe
- Homemade iced pumpkin spice latte is easy to make and exceptionally tasty
- The cost is a small fraction of the coffee shop version
- This version is made with whole ingredients and it’s healthier and lower calorie than store bought (only 83 calories per serving of iced PSL made with almond milk compared to 370 calories in a 16 oz iced PSL made with whole milk at Starbucks)
- Easily customizable – add as much pumpkin, spices, sweetness or milk as you like!
- No refined sugar, syrups, additives or chemicals in this latte
What you’ll need
- Espresso: you will need two shots of espresso (¼ cup) or ½ cup of strong brewed coffee, if you don’t have an espresso machine. Use your favorite coffee blend, caffeinated or decaf.
- Pumpkin Puree: I like Libby’s but use any brand of 100% pumpkin puree (NOT pumpkin pie filling).
- Milk: use regular dairy milk (skim, 2% or whole milk) or unsweetened plant-based milk of choice (almond, oat, soy or coconut). I tested this recipe with both almond and soy milk and both worked great. For the most neutral taste, go with unsweetened plain almond milk.
- Pumpkin Pie Spice: made with ground cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and other spices. You can buy pumpkin spice blend at most grocery stores or make your own.
- Maple Syrup: to sweeten the latte. I don’t like my coffee sweet so I only add ½ tablespoon of pure maple syrup. You can add more if you want!
Equipment notes
- Espresso machine: I like this one by Breville because it has a built-in coffee grinder and it’s easy to use)
- Coffee grinder: if your espresso machine doesn’t already come with one
- Blender: I like my Vitamix but any type of blender will work for this recipe
- Pint glass or mason jar
- Metal straws: I love serving festive coffee drinks with a golden straw
- Whipped cream maker: my husband bought one a while ago and we absolutely love it, especially for flavored whipped cream (maple whipped cream would be great for this latte)
Note: If you’re a kitchen and coffee gadget nerd like me, you will probably appreciate the equipment list above but frankly, you really don’t NEED these items to make a smashing iced pumpkin spice latte. As long as you have strong brewed coffee, a glass and a spoon, you are good to go!
How to make Pumpkin Spice Latte at home
Step 1: Place pumpkin puree , espresso (or brewed coffee), milk of choice, pumpkin pie spice and maple syrup in a blender.
Step 2: Blend until well combined and frothy, about 10 seconds.
Step 3: Pour into a pint glass or mason jar filled ⅓ with ice cubes (or more if you like).
Step 4: Enjoy on its own or topped with whipped cream and sprinkled with ground cinnamon.
Expert tips
I love a good fall pumpkin spice latte (both hot or iced) but often when you get it at a coffee shop, it doesn’t come out quite right. Different coffee places use different pumpkin syrups and it’s hard to gauge how sweet it’s going to be.
There is nothing worse than paying $5.75 for a fancy pumpkin spice latte to discover that it’s way too sweet for your liking or that the oat milk you requested tastes funny in it.
The beauty of a homemade coffee drink is that you can make it exactly how you like it. It may take some experimentation but if you follow the tips below, you’ll end up with truly perfect glass of pumpkin latte.
- Use good quality espresso. It really makes a difference and will make your latte taste like the expensive real deal you get at a cozy coffee shop. My favorite espresso brands are Lavazza and Illy. If you’re going for a Starbucks copycat ice PSL, choose Starbucks Espresso Roast. Freshly ground coffee beans will give you best results.
- Cool your coffee. This will prevent the ice from melting too fast. A couple of minutes is usually enough to cool two shots of espresso.
- A little goes a long way. I recommend starting with 2 tablespoons of pumpkin puree, ¼ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice and ½ tablespoon of maple syrup. Blend it up and give it a taste. Add more pumpkin, spices or sweetener to make it perfect for you.
- Go easy on the ice. If you add a lot of ice cubes in your glass, the melting ice will dilute the flavors. Make sure your milk is super cold and only fill ⅓ of the glass with ice.
How to store it
If you don’t drink your iced PSL latte right away, store it in an airtight container, such as a mason jar with a lid in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Don’t put ice or whipped cream in it for storage. When ready to serve, give the jar a shake and pour over ice. Add toppings if you like.
Substitutions and special diets
- If you’re sensitive to caffeine, use decaf espresso blend or decaf coffee.
- To make this PSL latte vegan, use plant milk, such as almond, oat or soy and coconut whipped cream.
- If you don’t have maple syrup, replace it with your favorite sweetener (sugar, stevia or agave).
- For a low-sugar version, use unsweetened milk and skip maple syrup or use a no-sugar sweetener such as monk fruit or stevia.
- You can use cinnamon in place of pumpkin pie spice, especially if you don’t have any.
- To make this latte skinny, skip the whipped cream, use unsweetened almond milk or skim dairy milk and swap maple for stevia.
- If you want a more frothy latte, use a good milk frother and froth half of the milk this way. Blend the remaining milk and all other ingredients, pour over ice and top with extra frothy milk.
Recipe FAQs
I wouldn’t recommend it. Stick to plain pumpkin puree.
Yes. The easiest swap if you don’t have a blender (or don’t want to make one dirty) is an inexpensive handheld milk frother. Or, place everything in a glass and mix with a plain old spoon. It won’t be frothy but it will still taste good!
Espresso is made in an espresso machine which uses pressure to create a creamy, strong shot of coffee with its characteristic light colored layer on top (called crema). Espresso machines use finely ground coffee beans. Espresso has a more intense flavor than coffee and it’s served on its own as a shot (in a tiny cup) or is added to milky coffee drinks such as cappuccinos or lattes.
Most grocery stores carry pumpkin pie spice in the spices aisle. I bought mine at Target and its their own brand. You can also get it online, for example on Amazon.
Yes. Place milk in a small pot and heat up to almost boil. Pour into your blender with all other ingredients and blend until forthy. Be careful with handling hot liquids in a blender – they tend to build pressure inside the blender. To avoid hot coffee splattering or spilling, it’s best to wait a couple minutes and then open the lid carefully. You can also froth milk in a frother and add to the espresso-pumpkin mixture. Mix well and serve.
Turn it into something delicious! Pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread, pumpkin cheesecake, the possibilities are endless! If you're looking for healthier ideas, try these Blended Pumpkin Baked Oats or this Healthy Pumpkin Mug Cake.
More fall ideas to try
- Fall Charcuterie Board
- Air Fryer Butternut Squash Fries
- Sweet Potato Banana Bread
- Sweet Potato Muffins with Chocolate Chips
- Butternut Squash Carrot Ginger Soup
If you make this Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte, be sure to leave me a comment and give this recipe a rating. Or better yet, send me a photo! I would love to hear from you and see how it turned out for you! You can also share and tag me on Instagram!
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Recipe
Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte
Ingredients
- 2 shots of espresso 2 fluid ounces or ¼ cup or strong brewed coffee
- 1 cup of milk of choice dairy, unsweetened almond, soy or oat
- 3 tablespoons pumpkin puree
- ½ tablespoon pure maple syrup or more, to taste
- ¼ teaspoon pumpkin spice
- Ice cubes
Instructions
- Pour milk and espresso into the jug of a standup blender. Add pumpkin puree, maple syrup and pumpkin spice.
- Blend on medium speed for 10 seconds until frothy.
- Place ice cubes in a pint glass and pour the pumpkin latte over it.
- Serve on its own or topped with whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon.
amy liu dong
An easy and delicious drink to make to help me boost my energy every morning 🥰.
Thanks for the tips and recipe 🥰
Tina
Loving this ice pumpkin spice latte recipe! Perfect for living in Florida!
Nora
So delicious! And the maple syrup gives the finishing touch!
Keri
I made this with oat milk, and it was delicious!
Giangi Townsend
That looks amazing and so yummy! Cannot wait to make it as I do love anything pumpkin.
Genevieve
I love a good pumpkin latte recipe and this iced version looks delicious!
Kristina
This was one of the best homemade pumpkin iced coffees I've made...and i've tried countless recipes!
Nancy
This is the perfect iced coffee PSL for fall. Thanks for the easy recipe