Who knew that anyone would become addicted to pumpkin spice lattes? For years, a latte was classic. Just a cup of espresso and steamed milk. No muss, no fuss. But then pumpkin season came along and changed everything.
Well that’s not really true. The folks at Starbucks came along and changed the game. The legend is that the team was drinking coffee and eating pumpkin pie when the thought of combining the flavors came together. And to think, I’d been adding cinnamon and nutmeg to coffee for years without much fanfare!
This Latte is Budget Friendly
So many of us are working from home in some kind of way. Remote has become a huge part of our work vocabulary. Since I started playing around with this recipe, I have saved lots of time and money by not hitting up the coffee shop on my way to the office every day.
When considering your budget, consider that these drinks ain’t cheap. The average cost of this hot and yummy beverage where I live is almost $6 bucks a serving. The pumpkin spice latte is usually popular from September through December. So you do the math!
If you are up for it, you will appreciate stepping up your own barista skills to make this fall fave. Did I mention how much time you would save by not having to actually go out and wait online for one of these tasty lattes? Come on! Grab a large mug, and a saucepan. Do you have a frother? Even better! Follow this recipe and make it your own.
That’s a Latte Sugar
If you need further argument for making your own pumpkin spice latte, consider the sugar. A medium PSL from Starbucks has 50 grams of sugar and the ones from Dunkin Donuts have similar sugar levels. Are you the customer that adds more caramel, vanilla and whipped cream? Consider that the general guideline asks women to consume 25 grams of sugar a day. Once again, I say…you do the math!
This recipe works for vegans and vegetarians alike and highlights the spices that we normally find in our pumpkin and sweet potato pies. Here are some final notes:
- I use oat milk but feel free to use whatever milk you like.
- This recipe makes one 14 ounce serving so choose a large coffee mug.
- Start with a really good and strong coffee. In NYC we like Cafe Bustelo.
- Don’t have a ready made blend? Try a mix of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves and even allspice.
LA Dunn is a plant-based advocate from the Bronx who enjoys helping people figure out how to get more fruits, grains and vegetables on their plate. This is a no judgement zone! Catch up with LA by subscribing to the Recipes & Random-Ish Newsletter. Follow her on Instagram @blackgirlseat and be sure to sign up below to stay connected.
Ingredients
- 8 oz Brewed Coffee
- 6 oz Oat Milk (Or Your Choice)
- 2 tsp pumpkin spice blend
- 2 tsp cane sugar
- 2 tsp vanilla
- Top with your fave whipped cream!
Instructions
- Place all ingredients into a small saucepan and stir on low. Allow the mixture to heat up but not boil. Pour into a large mug and top off with dairy or non-dairy whipped cream. Add a dash of your pumpkin spice blend.