Why blow your diet and drain your wallet buying fancy coffee shop Pumpkin Spice Lattes when you can make your own skinny version at home!
I have a confession….I’m totally intimidated by Starbucks. I walk in there and freeze-grande what? Tall who? Mocha-latte-skinny huh? While I love a good pumpkin spice latte as much as the next girl I generally shy away from actually stepping into a Starbucks if I can help it (and when I do I usually have a Starbucks junkie as my guide!)
Add to that my cheapness and lack of desire to blow 300 calories on the glorious creation known as the Pumpkin Spice Latte (PSL for short) and I came up with this skinny version you can easily make at home!
How to Make a Pumpkin Spice Latte with Less Calories
While the Starbucks pumpkin spice latte has over 300 calories, my skinny version has just 114. How did I reduce the calories?
- used vanilla almond milk in place of milk or cream
- sweetened with a bit of brown sugar instead of coffee syrup
- used light whipped cream instead of full-fat
How to make a PSL at home
First, gather your tools: you’ll need a coffee maker or espresso maker and small saucepan.
You’ll also need strongly brewed coffee, milk, pumpkin pie spice, vanilla extract, brown sugar, and of course…pumpkin puree!
To make the latte, combine all ingredients other than the coffee and whipped cream in a small saucepan and heat until steaming, not boiling. While it’s heating brew the coffee.
Pour the steaming pumpkin mixture over the coffee to mix and top with whipped cream. If you want to get extra fancy, sprinkle a little cinnamon or nutmeg on top while you’re at it!
Easy enough?
This copycat Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte is sooooo good you may just skip the coffee shop all together this fall!
Variations
- Use your preferred milk: regular, almond, cashew, soy
- Skip the whipped cream
- Use stevia or other calorie free sweetener instead of brown sugar
- Sweeten with maple syrup instead of brown sugar
- Use instant coffee if you don’t have a coffee or espresso maker
- Allow to cool then serve over ice for an iced PSL
A grande PSL from Starbucks is 380 calories. This skinny version is about 114, saving you a whopping 266 calories! I’d say that’s a win!
Make your own by mixing 2 tablespoons cinnamon, 1 tablespoon ginger, 1 tablespoon nutmeg, and ½ tablespoon cloves.
If you have a milk frother
If you try this recipe, please comment and rate it below, I love hearing from you!
Print
Skinny Starbucks Inspired Pumpkin Spice Latte
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 5 mins
- Total Time: 10 mins
- Yield: 1 1x
- Category: Drinks
- Method: none
- Cuisine: American
Description
Why blow your diet and drain your wallet buying fancy coffee shop Pumpkin Spice Lattes when you can make your own skinny version at home!
Ingredients
- ¾ cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
- 3 tablespoon pumpkin puree
- 1 ½ tablespoon light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- ¾ cup strongly brewed coffee-I used Starbuck Veranda K-cup
- light whipped cream and cinnamon or nutmeg for garnish (if desired)
Instructions
- Brew coffee
- In a small saucepan combine pumpkin, almond milk, vanilla, sugar, and spice and heat over medium heat until steaming-do not boil.
- Pour pumpkin mixture over coffee and top with whipped cream and cinnamon or nutmeg if desired.
Keywords: pumpkin spice latte
Am I the only one on the planet intimidated by Starbucks? Are you one of those super savvy Starbucks addicts? Let me know in the comments!
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Katy Zappone says
I had to laugh at your description of what it’s like to walk into Starbucks, I am just like you… confusion at its best, lol. I am however working a weight watchers program and I’m wondering where this will fall on my point scale. Can you give me some insight on the carbs, fat, protein etc?
Melissa says
I don’t have that info Katy but I think there are online calculators that can figure the points for you if you input the ingredients!
Susan says
Wow, can’t wait to try this when it gets cooler. I LOVE pumpkin ANYTHING. And I too have issues with Starbucks. No 1 is price and No 2, it IS intimidating. Thank you for sharing.
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Joanna Palmer says
I am terrified of Starbucks. Too many choices!!! Thank you for the alternative!
Cara says
This looks amazing! What is the calorie content?
Melissa Riker says
I’m sorry Cara, I’m not sure…you’d have to plug it in to some sort of online calculator to figure it out.
Sybil Smit says
I used the recipe analyzer at calorie count.about.com to calculate nutrition facts for this recipe. Here are the basics for this single serving recipe (including 2 Tbsp. light aerosol whipped cream and a pinch of cinnamon as garnish):
Calories 125
Calories from Fat 30
Total Fat 3.3 g.
Cholesterol 3 mg.
Sodium 131 mg.
Carbohydrates 20.7 g.
Sugars 15.3 g.
Protein 1.6 g.
Melissa Riker says
Thanks Sybil!!
Jessica says
Can you make this ahead and keep as a coffee creamer?
Rachel Rockwell says
I am pretty sure that Pumpkin Spice Latte’s are my love language… this looks amazing!
keri @ shaken together says
Hello Fall in a mug! Cannot wait to make this for an early morning treat!!
Laura Beth says
So I tried this recipe this morning….absolutely amazing! Thanks for doing all the hard work and saving me the $5 I would spend treating myself to one of these each week!
Melissa Riker says
I’m so glad you liked it Laura Beth! I loved it too, I’m a fan of anything pumpkin!
Suzan says
My mother especially loves “fou fou” coffee drinks around the holidays. She will be so surprised when I offer her this version and don’t have to drive to a Starbucks!
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Laura @ The Turquoise Home says
Thanks so much for this, Melissa! I just saw an awful infographic with all of the nasty chemicals and poison that comes in a regular pumpkin spice latte. I’ll be staying home, saving $$ and using this version! 🙂
Courtenay @ The Creek Line House says
Yum! I bet it makes your house smell amazing too!
Emily @ Two Purple Couches says
This looks amazing, Melissa! I usually default to my regular old 2% latte at Starbucks. I’ve got most of their menu figured out, but I find a lot of their fancy drinks to be way too sweet, and like you, don’t want to ingest so many calories in one drink!
Regina says
Okay, me too on the Starbucks freeze. I always get so nervous when it’s my turn in line and I end up ordering something I don’t even want because I’m trying to hurry and say all the “coffee words” correctly.
Thanks for this recipe–almond milk is my obsession so, you’re like the best ever right now.
Melissa Riker says
You’re very welcome Regina! I’m totally addicted to your blog, thanks for stopping by!! ~Melissa
Mitzi says
wow- this looks delicious!
Thanks for sharing– I’m pinning and sharing, too 🙂
Melissa Riker says
Thanks so much Mitzi!