TGIF y’all. We made it to another Friday. It’s also National Coffee Day! Lord knows I can’t get enough coffee in the morning. A direct line in my vein…yeah, that would be nice. In addition to it being National Coffee Day, fall is officially here. So, I combined the best of both of those things, and made a out-of-this-word, better-than-Starbucks-PSL (yes, I said it), also-mostly-healthy Pumpkin Spice Latte. It’s a little spicy, a little sweet, and a whole lot of pumpkin and coffee.
Milk Frother
Let’s talk about foam for a second. The delicious, amazing, wonderful top of a cappuccino or foamy latte. There are two kitchen tools I use to get amazing foam at home. This awesome Epica Carafe Frother. It heats or heats+froths. It nails it every single time. If you don’t want to invest $50 on a frother, opt for this little handheld guy. It’s under $10 and does the froth trick. Just don’t expect the handheld one to heat your drink. Either way, foam is a delicious part of a homemade latte, and I highly recommend investing in one. It’s worth noting that I have not had great experience getting carton almond/coconut milk to foam. So if you’re not into dairy, this might not be the best kitchen gadget for you (though the Epica Carafe Frother will heat your almond milk!).
Pumpkin Spice Latte Ingredients
The base of this drink has canned pumpkin puree (NOT pumpkin pie mix), milk/almond milk/half and half, pumpkin pie spices and a little bit of sweetener. It’s such a healthier alternative to a coffee shop latte. Especially because you can control everything about the milk (dairy v. non-dairy), sweetener, additives etc. When it comes to the milk choice, breve (half and half) will provide the most rich and creamy result. Keep in mind it’s super calorific, but if you are okay with dairy and want to treat-yo-self, this is a great choice. It’s also a great low carb option. Regular milk or almond/coconut milk (from the carton) will work just as well. If you use a sweetened almond or coconut milk, taste the pumpkin/milk blend before adding additional sweetener.
The Spices
The pumpkin pie spice mix I love has cinnamon, clove, ginger and nutmeg. It’s just the right amount of spicy for this drink. To make enough for three lattes, combine 1 tsp of cinnamon, 1/2 tsp ginger, and 1/8 tsp of nutmeg. Then add a pinch of nutmeg, give it a stir, and you’re all set.
The Coffee
If you have an espresso machine, by all means, espresso away! Alas, I don’t have an espresso machine, so I used my coffee pot, and just brewed extra strong coffee.
What’s your favorite PSL recipe? Do you have another fall latte you love? Please share in the comments!
Note – the nutrition facts below were prepared using Pyure Erythritol/Stevia sweetener and half and half. Please use MyFitnessPal or some other recipe builder for your nutrition based on ingredients used.
The Best Pumpkin Spice Latte
Do you want a Pumpkin Spice Latte that's perfectly sweet, perfectly pumpkin, and better than Starbucks? I've got the recipe for you!
Ingredients
- 6 cups brewed coffee, extra strong (6 oz cups)
- 1/2 cup half and half, milk, or almond milk , plus 1/4 cup to froth set aside
- 4 tbsp Libby's pumpkin puree
- 1 tsp cinnamon , ground
- 1/2 tsp ginger , ground and dried
- 1/8 tsp nutmeg , ground
- 1 pinch clove , a tiny pinch
- 1 tbsp Pyure , or other sweetener
Instructions
-
Get the coffee brewing in the coffee pot. Be sure to make it a little stronger than normal.
-
In a very small saucepan, combine the 1/2 cup of half and half/milk/almond milk, pumpkin puree, sweetener and spices over medium heat. Whisk constantly until milk mix reaches 130 degrees on an instant-read thermometer. (Don't boil it).
-
Divide the heated pumpkin mixture between three mugs. Add hot coffee until 3/4 full.
-
Froth some milk. Spoon foam on top of each drink, and top with a dash of pumpkin pie spice mix. Enjoy immediately.
Recipe Notes
Note - Pyure sweetener is a 1:2 ratio of Pyure to sugar. If you are using a 1:1 sugar substitute, bump up the sweetener to 2 tbsp.
Nutrition Facts: (prepared using half and half and Pyure sweetener):
Calories: 150; Total Fat: 12g; Total Carbohydrates: 6g; Fiber: 1g; NET CARBS: 5g; Protein: 4g
Leave a Reply