cooking · Drinks · Gluten-Free · Plant Based Diet · Vitamix Recipes

Pumpkin Spice Season: Pumpkin Spice Lattes

Pumpkin

Starbucks really jumped the season this year – Pumpkin Spice syrup in August? Guess they figured if Costco has Christmas up on August 1st, they can push their seasons as well. I loved the “secret” get-it-early push. Oh please. Come on, give me to at least the 1st. I wanna pretend it is sweater weather….I was trying on sweaters yesterday and sweating to death in the tiny changing room.

Truthfully, I could have pumpkin treats year round. But…SB’s PSL isn’t something I can drink every day. It is worse than drinking a caramel latte made with the sauce. Not exactly lightweight in calories, fat or sugar content. A grande, made with whole milk and whip cream? Over 400 calories, nearly 50 grams sugar, and ouch…I gotta not look at nutritional stats. I had a free one yesterday, and after a third of my drink I tossed it. It was way too sweet. I couldn’t taste the coffee at all. It was just numbing sugar. And more so, isn’t vegan – even with soy milk, if you care. We can do better!

PumpkinSpiceLatte4

Fall is coming, so let’s celebrate with 5 Days of Recipes, all featuring the heavenly aromas of Pumpkin Spice! And up first? Pumpkin Spice Syrup and Pumpkin Spice Lattes (ooh, bonus day – you get two recipes!)

pumpkinspicesyrup

Pumpkin Spice Syrup

Ingredients:

  • 1½ cups water
  • 1½ cups organic sugar
  • 4 cinnamon sticks (about 4″ long each)
  • 1 tsp freshly ground nutmeg
  • ½ tsp ground ginger
  • ¼ tsp ground cloves
  • ¼ cup pumpkin purée

Directions:

Add the water, sugar and cinnamon sticks to a tall saucepan. Heat over medium, stirring, until sugar is dissolved. Add in remaining spices and pumpkin, stir in. Cook for 5 minutes more, stirring often, do not let boil.

Let cool for 30 minutes, then strain through a Jelly Strainer Bags. Transfer to a glass storage container, seal and refrigerate. A tall olive oil bottle with pour spout works great.

Note:

Don’t press hard on the jelly bag, or too much solids will pass through. I rest my bag in a fine mesh strainer, over a bowl. Discard the pulp and cinnamon sticks left in bag.

Pumpkinspicelatte

Pumpkin Spice Latte

Ingredients:

  • 2 to 3 Tbsp pumpkin spice syrup
  • Milk, of choice
  • 2 shots espresso
  • Whip cream, if desired
  • Pumpkin spice blend, for topping

Directions:

For a grande latte, steam about 1½ cups milk to desired temperature. I go for about 150° to 160° personally.

pumpkinspicelatte3

Pour syrup into mug, add in about half the milk, while pouring shots:

pumpkinspicelatte2

Add in shots, down the center of mug, top with remaining milk. Decorate top as desired.

Notes:

When using non-dairy milks, use unsweetened and organic for best results. Almond often steams easiest, with little carry-over taste. I find that soy fries on the steaming wand, so have a wet rag ready when you take the wand out of the pitcher.  Rice tends to be watery, coconut is delicious, but has a very pronounced flavor when warm. As always, if you drink dairy, whole tastes best.

Brev

I realize of course that not every one has an espresso machine on hand. I was a barista in my 20’s for 9 years. This is the machine we run on: Breville BES870XL Barista Express Espresso Machine. No, it isn’t cheap. It runs beautifully – and is pretty user-friendly (also easy for the non-barista to master).

So…the other thing is yes, you can warm milk in a saucepan and use double strength brewed coffee – but that isn’t a true latte. Please, consider an espresso machine if you love lattes. Find a barista who is nice, and ask them to teach you the basics. I did this for many customers. Once you learn how…next thing you know, you’ll have a showcase machine and all the tools to go with it 😉 And a tip jar on your counter! Your machine will pay for itself quickly if you are a daily drinker!

See you tomorrow and have a wonderful Labor Day!

 

10 thoughts on “Pumpkin Spice Season: Pumpkin Spice Lattes

    1. I was trying to find “clothing for a woman of my age for a blogger conference” … lord that was painful. And it was like 80* out. Sigh!
      Oh yeah, you NEED an espresso machine. Just sayin’.

      1. Now that would be a great Google search… I’m at “that age,” too. Where to shop?? Which is why I mostly avoid buying clothes these days. Thank goodness I rarely have to look “nice!” Kel and I are debating the purchase. I’m thinking I might get one w/ my Amazon points! Then I won’t feel guilty about it!

        1. I live in cotton comfy, I have one dress. I feel sooo underdressed, but it is the PNW where my once East Coast proper husband now lives in shorts and sandals year round 😉
          As for where…anywhere that doesn’t stock only animal prints and screams “Cougar Haven!!!!” 😉 Thankfully my local Fred Meyers actually has a nice selection and doesn’t break my savings.

  1. That looks really yummy! I was thinking about making some of my own coffee syrup (and though we might be in the market for a new coffee maker, I don’t think I could justify an espresso maker…). I can do this! Thanks for the recipe.

    1. Jennifer, have you seen all the syrup recipes I made last year? I did quite a few! Most of the commercial ones have preservatives and high fructose corn syrup 🙁 which I am sure you know all too well about.

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