It’s October and that means pumpkin-flavored everything EVERYWHERE. Real pumpkin is full of healthy nutrients, like vitamin A and fiber, but unfortunately, most of these pumpkin flavored treats are made with artificial flavors and colors that are a far cry from the real thing.
One of the most popular pumpkin flavored treats is the pumpkin spice latte, which is only available for a limited time during the fall season. It’s tempting to want to indulge, but it may be better to hold off. A single 16-ounce pumpkin spice latte, or PSL as it’s more lovingly known, packs 380 calories and 14 grams of fat – 8 grams of which are saturated. To add insult to injury, the same 16-ounce serving contains 52 grams of carbohydrates – 50 grams of which come directly from sugar. That’s more than twice as much sugar as the American Heart Association recommends for women for the entire day!
Fortunately, skipping the local coffee shop doesn’t mean you’ll have to forego the fall pumpkin spice latte tradition altogether. You can make your own version at home with fewer calories, less sugar, and much better ingredients.
This recipe serves 2.
What You’ll Need:
- 2 cups unsweetened coconut milk or almond milk
- 2 tablespoons pumpkin puree (this is unsweetened pumpkin puree, NOT pumpkin pie filling)
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- 1 tablespoon raw honey (optional)
- 1 cup strong coffee or ½ cup espresso (brewed)
What to Do:
- Combine coconut or almond milk, pumpkin puree, vanilla extract, and raw honey (if using) in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir frequently with a whisk until mixture starts to bubble.
- Remove from heat and whisk in pumpkin pie spice. If you have an immersion blender, use it to mix ingredients well and create froth.
- Divide brewed coffee or espresso evenly between two mugs. Pour milk mixture on top of coffee. Sprinkle with pumpkin pie spice, if desired.
- Enjoy!
