The Ultimate Healthy Pumpkin Spice Latte

 
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.
 

 
When my brother 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, this homemade pumpkin spice latte contains entirely wholesome and clean eating ingredients (along with delicious dairy-free options!). 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

Let’s go over how to make the best healthy homemade pumpkin spice latte! It’s really quick and easy to whip up, and you only need a few ingredients.

This healthy 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 pumpkin spice latte vegan and by using your preferred dairy-free milk! Soy milk, almond milk, cashew milk, and coconut milk all work.

Tip: My favorite non-dairy milk is unsweetened cashew milk. It’s thick and creamy with a very neutral flavor, and it’s a great way to make this copycat pumpkin spice latte dairy-free, sugar-free, and low calorie too!
 

 
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!

Hint: “Pumpkin spice” is short for “pumpkin pie spice…” As in the spices used to make pumpkin pie! I like to make my own blend so I can control the ratio and amounts. (I’ve found some pre-made, store-bought jars rely too much on cinnamon and include far less of the other spices than I prefer!)
 

 
As for the sweetener, I like liquid stevia. Stevia is a no-calorie, sugar-free, plant-based sweetener, and it contains nothing overly refined or artificial (aka it’s clean eating friendly!). This brand that I use can be found at most health-oriented grocery stores, but I typically buy it online here because it’s the best price I’ve found! (And you’ll use it in all of these recipes of mine too. I promise it’s not a “one-time use” ingredient!)

Hint: Many stevia brands and products have different sweetness levels, so they’re not necessarily 1-for-1 substitutes for one another! If adding a different stevia product than the one I used, you may need to tweak the amount to suit your tastes.

Tip: If you’re not a stevia fan, then many other sweeteners work too! Pure maple syrup, monk fruit, sucralose, sugar-free maple syrup, coconut sugar… If it can dissolve in liquids, you should be able to substitute it! Again, just remember that you may need to adjust the amount to suit your tastes.

Once you’ve whisked the hot milk mixture until it’s frothy (which shouldn’t take very long at all!)… Then pour, sip, and enjoy your healthy homemade pumpkin spice latte! ♡
 

FAQS ABOUT THE ULTIMATE HEALTHY PUMPKIN SPICE LATTE

Is this homemade pumpkin spice latte sugar-free, dairy-free, vegan, clean eating, or low calorie?
Yes — to everything! This healthy PSL is naturally sugar-free and clean eating. If you use dairy-free milk (I’m obsessed with unsweetened cashew milk!), then your pumpkin spice latte will also be vegan!

Aren’t lattes made with espresso, not coffee? So can I use espresso instead?
You’re right! Since many people own traditional coffee makers, I opted for double-strength coffee, but you can easily use two shots of espresso instead.

Would decaf coffee work?
Absolutely!

I don’t like coffee. Can I substitute tea?
You bet! Brew double-strength black tea instead… Or try my healthy pumpkin spice chai latte! (← I love it just as much as this traditional PSL!)

Can I use a different sweetener?
Yes again! I’ve included some different options and tips in the Notes section of the recipe, so check there. Almost any type will work, so feel free to substitute your favorite one!

What about pumpkin pie spice, instead of the trio of spices?
Definitely! You’ll need a generous ⅛ teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice to replace the cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger.

Can I make this pumpkin spice latte iced, rather than hot?
You sure can! Where I live, the weather often remains around 80°F until October, so… I completely understand craving iced coffee, rather than hot!
 

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 pumpkin spice latte!

The Ultimate Healthy Pumpkin Spice Latte

© Amy's Healthy Baking

Yields: 1 latte

I may be biased, but… This is the BEST healthy pumpkin spice latte! It’s made with wholesome ingredients, real pumpkin, and no sugar. (Delicious dairy-free options too!) This Starbucks copycat PSL is simple to make, extra cozy, and perfect for fall! This recipe is also easily doubled or tripled to serve more.

4.78 from 27 votes

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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

IMPORTANT FLAVOR NOTE – READ BEFORE BEGINNING: If you'd prefer a sweeter latte, increase the liquid stevia.

 

MILK ALTERNATIVES: Any milk, including all dairy-free varieties, may be substituted for the nonfat milk. My favorite non-dairy milk options are unsweetened cashew milk (it's so thick and creamy!) and unsweetened vanilla almond milk.

 

SWEETENER NOTES + ALTERNATIVES: Many stevia brands and products have different sweetness levels, so they're not necessarily 1-for-1 substitutes for each other. I buy my liquid stevia online here because that's the best price I've found, and you'll use it in all of these recipes of mine too! If substituting a different stevia product, you may need to adjust the amount to suit your tastes.

 

Any sweetener that easily dissolves in liquids may be substituted for the liquid stevia (ie pure maple syrup, sugar-free maple syrup, coconut sugar, granulated sucralose, etc!). Adjust the amount to suit your tastes. I recommend starting with your sweetener's equivalent of 2-3 teaspoons of granulated sugar.

 

SPICES ALTERNATIVE: If you prefer, a generous ⅛ teaspoon of store-bought pumpkin pie spice may be substituted for the cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger.

 

COFFEE NOTES + ALTERNATIVE: To prepare the extra strong coffee, add twice the amount of coffee grounds to the coffee maker as is required or recommended. Decaf coffee is fine to use! Two shots of espresso may be substituted for the extra strong coffee. 

 

DAIRY-FREE + VEGAN OPTION: Use your preferred dairy-free milk. My favorite non-dairy milk options are unsweetened cashew milk (it's so thick and creamy!) and unsweetened vanilla almond milk.

 

{gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free, vegan, clean eating, low fat, sugar-free}

DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?I'd love to hear what you think of it in a comment below! If you take a picture, tag @amys.healthy.baking on Instagram or use the hashtag #amyshealthybaking.

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
♡  Healthy Chocolate Covered Strawberry Frappé
♡  …and the rest of Amy’s healthy pumpkin recipes!