The first autumn breeze has made its way through town, and with it comes the arrival of every local cafe’s seasonal pumpkin spice latte. I still remember my love-at-first-sight experience in third grade, when I sipped the cozy drink for the first time after a chilly stroll in the neighborhood. The earthy, warm flavors combined with the luxuriously creamy milk felt like a comfy hug, completely transforming my view of coffee.
When it comes to my favorite fall beverage, the only negatives are its price and the overwhelming sweetness. Hence, I have developed a copycat recipe that you can modify depending on what you have available at home. For my demonstration, I sourced all of my ingredients from Trader Joe’s.
Ingredients:
- 1 tbsp pumpkin puree
- 1-3 tsp maple syrup (or other sweetener)
- ½ tsp pumpkin pie spice
- Or, DIY it with ¼ tsp cinnamon + pinch nutmeg, cloves, ginger (and pepper, for the adventurous).
- 1 cup milk
- For lactose intolerants: use soy, oat, or other milk alternatives. Please note that the creaminess may be affected.
- 1 espresso shot
- No espresso machine? Use 1 tsp instant espresso.
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Optional, but otherwise essential.
Stovetop Directions:
- Whisk all ingredients except espresso and vanilla extract in a small saucepan. Slowly heat the mixture over medium heat until steaming–nearly simmering, but not quite boiling.
- Add in the espresso and vanilla.
- Use an immersion blender or milk frother to aerate the drink.
Microwave Directions:
- Whisk all ingredients in a mug and microwave for 1 minute. If extra time is needed, microwave in 15-second increments.
- Blend with an immersion blender or use a milk frother to aerate the drink.
And with that, your hug-in-a-mug autumn drink is complete! Enjoy with a cloud of whipped cream if desired. Happy PSL Season!