Enjoy this seasonal sweet drink in the comfort of your own home, saving you money and time spent popping into the café.
‘Tis the season for pumpkin spice latte: the leaves are beginning to fall, the days getting shorter and cafes nationwide are rolling out their autumn menu. Pumpkin spice latte (or PSL to beverage aficionados) symbolises the changing of the seasons just as much as the cooler weather and, in the past decade, has achieved an almost cult status for its spicy sweetness.
Much as we love that first warming sip, the ever increasing price can be enough to make you balk – in 2025, a Starbucks pumpkin spice latte will set you back between £4.90 and £5.50.
So, to ease your autumn wallet, here’s a recipe to make this autumnal icon at home.
Read more: Great British Bake Off star reveals her favourite simple recipes for autumn
How to make pumpkin spice syrup
Every pumpkin spice latte starts with a pumpkin spice syrup. The joy of making it yourself is tweaking the ratio of spices or sugar to get it exactly as you like it.
This recipe makes enough for eight lattes, so feel free to double or triple it if you have particularly strong PSL cravings. No judgement here.
Ingredients
- 360g sugar
- 355ml water
- 6 cinnamon sticks
- 1 tsp ground cloves
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- 2 tsp ground nutmeg
- 4 tbsp pumpkin purée, available at Tesco, Sainsbury’s and online at Amazon
Method
- Mix the sugar and water in a saucepan and bring to the boil until the sugar has dissolved.
- Next, add the rest of the ingredients and simmer for a further 20 minutes.
- Remove your syrup from the heat and immediately strain through a sieve or cheesecloth to get rid of any lumps. Store in the fridge for up to a week.
Read more: Wait, is oat milk actually bad for you?
How to make a pumpkin spiced latte
Now it’s time to turn your syrup into a drink. You won’t need any fancy barista kit, just some milk, a hob or a microwave.
Ingredients
- 240ml milk (dairy or plant-based)
- 14g instant coffee or a double shot of espresso (change to 7g of instant coffee or a single shot of espresso if you prefer)
- 3 tbsp of your homemade pumpkin spice syrup
- A squirt of whipped cream and a pinch of pumpkin spice/cinnamon for topping
Method
- Heat your milk on the hob or microwave until piping hot. If you’re using a barista-style coffee machine, froth your milk in a jug.
- For those using instant coffee, add a dash of boiling water to your coffee mug. If you have a coffee machine, press the espresso button and decant into your mug.
- Spoon your homemade pumpkin spice syrup into the mug with your hot coffee shots. Mix with a spoon until combined.
- Fill the mug with your heated, frothy milk until it’s three-quarters full.
- Top with a dash of whipped cream and sprinkle your preferred spice. Enjoy while hot.
Feature image: Canva
