• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

True North Kitchen

  • Recipes
  • Browse by Category
  • About Me
  • Contact/Work with Me
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • Browse by Category
  • About Me
  • Contact/Work with Me
×

Home » Recipes

Cozy Pumpkin Spice Latte

Published: Sep 10, 2020 · Modified: Jan 11, 2021 by Kristi · This post may contain affiliate links.

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
Pumpkin spice latte in a glass mug with fall leaves

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Can you feel it? Fall is almost here. I'm wearing a sweater today for the first time in months and couldn't be happier about it. This crisp, cool weather is indeed a welcome change.

One of the most anticipated events of autumn for those of us who love the combination of coffee and warm spices is the return of the the Pumpkin Spice Latte. While not Nordic in nature, it certainly the most hygge drink I know. It is the essence of cozy. Served by both national chains and local coffeehouses, the Pumpkin Spice Latte heralds the beginning of the fall season just as much as turning leaves, hay rides or a visit to the local apple orchard.

As much as I love a good Pumpkin Spice Latte, I do not love the way they make me feel. Too much sugar, especially in combination with coffee, has a tendency to leave me feeling great at first but then depleted of energy and shaky after a couple of hours. So while I love them as a delicious fall treat, I am careful to indulge only once or twice a season. It simply isn't worth the sugar crash I experience afterwards.

But those days are over, friends! Introducing the all-natural, super easy Pumpkin Spice Latte you can make at home in your very own kitchen! In fewer than 10 minutes (less time than it would take to get to the coffee shop and back) you'll be sipping on your own naturally sweetened, irresistible Pumpkin Spice Latte. No sugar crash necessary.

Pumpkin spice latte in a glass mug with fall leaves

The Ingredients

The ingredient list for this pumpkin spice latte is short and sweet with easy-to-find, natural ingredients:

  • Milk. It can be whole milk, 2% or skim (I use whole milk). Or almond milk. Or oat milk. Or soy. Any kind will do. Because we are adding sweeteners and flavoring to our latte mix, it's best to choose a milk that is unsweetened and unflavored.
  • 100% Pure Pumpkin Puree. Yes! The pumpkin flavoring in my Pumpkin Spice Latte comes from honest-to-goodness pumpkin puree. Nothing artificial here, but also easily accessible. Most grocery stores sell canned pumpkin puree in the baking isle.
  • Pure Maple Syrup. This makes an excellent sweetener here with its toasty caramel notes. A perfect pair with pumpkin!
  • Pumpkin Pie Spice. This is a convenient little mixture of all of the usual suspects you might find in a pumpkin pie: cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and cloves or allspice.
  • Cardamom. You knew that was coming, didn't you? I can't resist adding a little cardamom to bring in those Scandinavian vibes, and it is quite at home here with the warm spices mentioned above.
  • A pinch of salt. I've said it before and I'll say it again....a little salt brings out the sweet without allowing it to become cloying and over the top. It provides a much-needed balance that hits all the right notes.
  • Espresso or Strong-Brewed Coffee. Espresso is very nice here but if you don't have an espresso maker at home, a small batch of strong brewed coffee will work just fine. I have a Jura coffee maker that makes a perfect 2 ounce shots of espresso for this.
  • Whipped Cream (optional). At the coffee shop, your latte is likely to come topped with whipped cream. When I'm at home I'm inclined to skip this step but you do you! If whipped cream is what you need, so be it.
Pumkin Spice Latte mix in a saucepan

How to Make a Pumpkin Spice Latte at Home

The process for making a Pumpkin Spice Latte at home is quite simple:

  • Combine your ingredients (other than espresso or coffee) in a saucepan and heat gently on the stove until steaming, whisking frequently.
  • Make the coffee or espresso.
  • Divide the coffee/espresso between two mugs and top each with half of the milk mixture.
  • Top with whipped cream if desired.
  • Enjoy!

What to Enjoy with Your Pumpkin Spice Latte

The Pumpkin Spice Latte really stands on it's own but if you're looking for a little something to enjoy alongside your latte, homemade Swedish Gingersnaps or Pepparkakor make an excellent accompaniment. Other fall treats that pair nicely:

  • Swedish Apple Cake
  • Pear Cardamom Bundt Cake
  • Nordic Apple Strips

I hope that you will welcome this wonderful season by making your own Pumpkin Spice Latte at home! If you do, please let me know in the comments below. I love hearing from you!

Pumpkin spice latte in a glass mug with fall leaves

Cozy Pumpkin Spice Latte

A delicious and simple homemade pumpkin spice latte made with all natural ingredients.  The essence of cozy for chilly fall days!
Print Pin Rate
Course: Drinks, fall
Cuisine: Nordic, Scandinavian
Keyword: easy latte, pumpkin spice coffee, spiced latte
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 2 lattes
Calories: 246kcal
Author: Kristi

Ingredients

  • 2 cups milk any regular milk or nut/oat milk will work just fine
  • ¼ cup pumpkin puree
  • 3 tablespoons pure maple syrup
  • ½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice plus more for sprinkling on top
  • ⅛ teaspoon ground cardamom
  • Pinch of fine salt
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ cup hot espresso or strong coffee
  • Sweetened whipped cream for serving optional

Instructions

  • Combine the milk, pumpkin puree, maple syrup, pumpkin pie spice, cardamom, salt and vanilla in a medium saucepan.  Cook over medium heat until mixture is hot and steaming, whisking frequently, about 2 minutes.  Remove from the heat ahd whisk vigorously until the mixture is frothy, about 30 seconds.
  • Divide the hot espresso or coffee and the milk mixture between two mugs.  Top with whipped cream and a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice if desired.  Serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 246kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 24mg | Sodium: 111mg | Potassium: 482mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 31g | Vitamin A: 5161IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 316mg | Iron: 1mg

More Nordic/Scandinavian Recipes

  • Shrimp smørrebrød on a wooden surface.
    How to Make Smørrebrød (Danish Open Faced Sandwiches) at Home
  • Featured image for Cardamom French Toast.
    Easy Cardamom French Toast
  • Featured image of Quick Pickled Shallots.
    Quick Pickled Shallots
  • Crackers topped with Vegetarian Mushroom Pâtë and pickled shallots and mustard seeds.
    Vegetarian Mushroom Pâté

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Welcome

Hi, I'm Kristi! Welcome to my cozy Nordic kitchen! More about me

SEARCH RECIPES:

The cover for Scandinavian Baking Favorites e-book

Enter your email below and receive a copy of my free ebook, Scandinavian Baking Favorites!



Scandi Breakfast Ideas

A close up of a berry smoothie topped with blueberries and lingonberries

Nordic Wild Berry Almond Smoothie

Close up of a glass of overnight oats topped wit bananas, blueberries and strawberries next to raw oats and a spoon.

Vanilla Overnight Oats with Cinnamon

Close up of Rye and Oat Muesli with Dried Cherries and Hazelnuts.

Rye and Oat Muesli with Dried Cherries and Hazelnuts

Oatmeal in a bowl with a spoon on a napkin

Simple Oatmeal with Brown Sugar and Cream

Close up of a bowl of Creamy Barley Breakfast Porridge with a spoon.

Creamy Barley Breakfast Porridge

Baked oat and rye porridge with blueberries and almonds in a pan

Baked Nordic Oat and Rye Porridge

Top Posts

Stack of flatbreads on a plate next to herbs and a spiked rolling pin.

Soft Swedish Flatbreads with Garden Herbs (Tunnbröd med Trädgårds Örter)

Sliced rye bread on a marble surface.

Easy Overnight Danish Rye Bread (Rugbrød)

Quick Swedish Pickled Cucumbers in a jar next to peppercorns and fresh dill sprigs.

Quick Swedish Pickled Cucumbers

Slice of bundt cake on a plate with a fork.

Swedish Cardamom Cake (Kardemummakaka)

Sliced Swedish Almond Cake on a marble plate

Simple Swedish Almond Cake

Swedish pancakes on a plate drizzled with lingonberries.

Swedish Pancakes with Lingonberries

Crispbread and a rolling pin and kitchen towel

Easy Sourdough Rye Crispbread (Knäckebröd)

Rye bread slices on a plate next to a loaf of rye bread and a wooden knife with butter

Sourdough Danish Rye Bread (Rugbrød)

Categories

Footer

^ back to top

About
Work with Me
Contact
Disclosure and Privacy Policy
Accessibility Statement

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2023 True North Kitchen