When I started graduate school for organic chemistry, nearly everyone had a coffee cup permanently glued to their hand by the end of the second week. First year students were required to take two classes, teach two undergraduate lab sessions, and attend three seminars each week. Add in grading the lab reports for those lower division classes, as well as completing our own problem sets, and caffeine immediately became a necessity. We barely got any sleep!
There was a reason the Chemistry Department always offered both cookies and coffee at those required seminars… They started at 4 pm, and without them, the entire lecture hall would’ve started snoring by the time the guest speaker finished their introduction!
Most grad students brought their own coffee in the mornings, usually in a travel mug since nearly everyone biked to campus. Armed with a pencil in one hand and coffee in the other, they sat through the early morning classes while scribbling down notes from the old-fashioned blackboards. Even the professors brought their own coffee to class!
Many of the first years walked across the courtyard to the student center in the afternoons to grab another pick-me-up from Starbucks on the days without seminars. With our very small grad student income, the majority opted for inexpensive plain cups of black coffee instead of fancier frappuccinos, cappuccinos, or lattes, but every once in a while during the fall… Someone would splurge for a pumpkin spice latte.
Since my brother just moved into his new graduate school student housing, I started thinking about my own grad school days… And I started craving this copycat Ultimate Healthy Pumpkin Spice Latte as a result! It tastes — dare I say it? — even better than the original from Starbucks, and it costs just a fraction of the price!
Even better, it contains entirely wholesome, clean eating ingredients (along with a delicious dairy-free option!). Nothing artificial, no sugar or refined sweeteners or syrups… And yes, unlike the very first PSLs way back in the day, this homemade one actually does include real pumpkin!
HOW TO MAKE THE BEST HEALTHY HOMEMADE PUMPKIN SPICE LATTE
Our healthy homemade pumpkin spice latte (or PSL, for short!) starts with extra strong coffee. Yes, traditional lattes always use shots of espresso, but because most of us have regular coffee makers at home, not espresso machines, we’re using coffee. Since you’re adding more milk than coffee, it’s important to make the coffee extra strong so you can taste it. Besides, very few people turn down extra caffeine, right?
To that, we’ll add the hot milk mixture. You’ll make this by heating milk and pumpkin purée on the stove until they start to simmer. If you’d like, you can easily make this healthy homemade pumpkin spice latte vegan and by using your preferred dairy-free milk! Soy milk, almond milk, cashew milk, and coconut milk all work.
Next come the spices and sweetener. You’ll use a blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger to create the iconic pumpkin spice flavor. Since they can tend to clump, whisk them into the hot milk very well! As for the sweetener, we’ll use liquid stevia. Stevia is a no-calorie, plant-based sweetener, and this brand that I used can be found at most health-oriented grocery stores. (However, I typically buy it online at that link because it’s the cheapest price I’ve found!)
Then pour, sip, and enjoy your healthy homemade pumpkin spice latte! ♡
HEALTHY HOMEMADE PUMPKIN SPICE LATTE – RECIPE VIDEO
Ahhhhh. Pure bliss! And when you make your own, remember to snap a picture and share it on Instagram using #amyshealthybaking and tagging @amyshealthybaking IN the photo itself! (That guarantees I’ll see your picture! 🙂 ) I’d love to see your ultimate healthy homemade pumpkin spice latte!
The Ultimate Healthy Pumpkin Spice Latte
Ingredients
- 1 cup (240mL) nonfat milk or non-dairy milk (see Notes!)
- 1 tbsp (15g) pumpkin purée (not pumpkin pie mix!)
- 4 drops liquid stevia (or adjusted to taste)
- ⅛ tsp ground cinnamon
- tiny pinch ground nutmeg
- tiny pinch ground ginger
- ¾ cup (180mL) extra strong coffee
Instructions
- Add the milk and pumpkin to a small pot. Heat over medium-low heat, stirring constantly with a whisk, until the mixture begins to simmer. Add in the stevia, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger. Whisk the mixture until it becomes frothy.
- Add the coffee to a large mug, and pour the milk mixture on top.
Notes
View Nutrition Information + Weight Watchers Points
You may also like Amy’s other recipes…
♡ Healthy Pumpkin Spice Chai Latte
♡ Healthy Pumpkin Spice Hot Chocolate
♡ Healthy Chocolate Pumpkin Spice Latte
♡ Healthy Pumpkin Spice Latte Oatmeal Cookies
♡ Healthy Pumpkin Spice Latte Scones
♡ Healthy Pumpkin Spice Latte Cinnamon Rolls
♡ Healthy Mint Chocolate Chip Frappuccino
♡ Healthy Almond Joy Frappuccino
♡ Skinny Chocolate Covered Strawberry Frappé
♡ …and the rest of Amy’s healthy pumpkin recipes!
Tastes yummy!
I’m so glad you enjoyed this homemade pumpkin spice latte, Letha! Thanks for taking the time to let me know! 🙂
Ah, how gorgeous!! Just what my daughter and I needed this weekend, for a before Matric Exams, mother-daughter weekend bonding 🙂
Too lat bow, but we’ll definitely try this recipe in the morning. We both LOVE coffee and pumpkin 😉
Came over from Gina’s glorious blog.
Thank you!!
Pat xx
It’s my pleasure, Pat! I’m really excited to hear what you and your daughter think of this homemade pumpkin spice latte! 🙂
Thanks Amy, my wife gave me 5 stars on your pumpkin spice latte so that’s good. C.J.
That’s the best kind of compliment there is, Cody! Thank you so much for taking the time to let me know. It really means a lot! 🙂
Hi, Amy:), I am not one to make coffee drinks preferring my everyday coffee with cashew milk but this one piques my interest so I may give it a whirl and prep some of it the night before so my bleary eyed self can accomplish it first thing in the morning! And, I have to add, I love your stories. Even if I may not need the particular recipe at the time that goes with them I always read the story that goes with it! They bring back memories for me as well, especially the days of high school marching band and halftime shows! I played the flute. Loved it.
Have a good, safe, holiday weekend!
You’re just the sweetest, Susan!! Your kind words about my stories truly means the world to me. You just made my ENTIRE day — thank you so much!! ♡ I remember those high school marching bands days of my own and our halftime shows so well too… And I also played the flute! 🙂
You can definitely prep everything except the coffee the night before and just heat that milk mixture before adding it to your hot coffee! I completely understand; I rarely feel fully awake until after I’ve had my caffeine too! 😉 I’d love to hear what you think of this homemade pumpkin spice latte if you ever try making it!
What a great recipe! I agree – even better than Starbucks, and I like that I can customize the spice level. I eat low carb, so I used almond milk. I’ve got a big can of pumpkin, so I’ll be having this daily!
I’m SO honored that you think this homemade PSL tastes better than Starbucks’ too, Amy! That’s the best kind of compliment if you think you’ll be making this daily. Thank you for taking the time to let me know — that truly means a lot! 🙂
Nice one, easy quick with some brewed coffee and It helps my sweet tooth in a low calorie way. Thanks
I’m so glad you enjoyed this pumpkin spice latte, Frances! Thanks for taking the time to let me know! 🙂
I think this is among the most significant info for me.
And i am glad reading your article. But should remark on some general things, The site style is great, the articles
is really nice : D. Good job, cheers
Thanks so much! I’d love to hear what you think of this latte if you try making it. 🙂
I’m not a coffee drinker
I have a tea version of this drink here! Maybe you’d prefer that instead, Gladys? 🙂