Now that it's officially October, I'm sure you've seen pumpkin and other fall flavors taking over your Instagram feed. Once the butternut squash mac and cheese hits the Trader Joe's shelves, that means summer's over, folks. I don't make the rules.
The arrival of autumn means that pumpkin spice season is back in the coffee world! That includes the iconic and show-stopping Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew at Starbucks, which first hit the menu last year and is back in 2020. But sadly, the joy that PCCB brings to my soul is not shared by my wallet. Getting multiple drinks out per week can really add up.
So in an effort to save some funds and get back on my home coffee grind (and to cut down on trips out, because we're still in a pandemic), I decided to try a variety of recipes found online for making fall favorites at home, from Starbucks copycats to healthier PSL alternatives. I rounded up a list and gave you the scoop on each of the recipes so you can try it at home.
Most of these recipes call for pumpkin puree (grab a can now if you haven't already), some kind of coffee (cold brew, an espresso shot, etc.), some kind of sweetener (sugar, maple syrup, etc.) and some kind of milk (oat is my personal fave). You could modify them any way you'd like, but I recommend following the recipes as close as you can the first time so you can make sure the ratios are good before you go into freestyle barista mode.
Without further ado, here are the recipes I tried!
Pumpkin Spice Whipped Coffee
Source: Once Upon a Pumpkin
Once Upon a Pumpkin is one of my favorite food blogs for its plethora of recipes for all things fall. (I highly recommend following on Instagram for cute fall vibes and major recipe inspo @OnceUponaPumpkin.) When this twist on whipped coffee was posted in September, I knew I had to try it. I absolutely adored whipped coffee, or dalgona coffee, when it was sweeping the nation a few months ago, bringing us a delicious solace in that odd era of quarantine when we were all watching Tiger King and tie-dying all our clothing. The frothy texture and rich coffee taste is completely worth it even though when making whipped coffee I literally look like that gif of the kid stirring chaotically and crying:
Anyway, I was psyched to revisit the drink, this time with a pumpkin twist. Basically, you take the classic whipped coffee recipe: two tablespoons instant coffee, two tablespoons of sugar, and two tablespoons of hot water, and also add two tablespoons of pumpkin puree. (The Once Upon a Pumpkin recipe calls for coconut sugar as a healthier alternative, but I just used regular sugar because that's what I had on hand.) You can also add collagen, which is optional. Then you whip it with more gusto and enthusiasm than you've ever shown in your life. Just go to town on it. (I don't have a hand mixer so that's why I do it by hand with a whisk, but if you have a hand mixer this step will be MUCH easier.)
It usually takes me about 10-15 minutes of relentless whisking to give my whipped coffee a thick texture, and this recipe was about the same. Then it was time to pour it over a glass of iced milk (I used Planet Oat vanilla, my favorite milk, especially for whipped coffee - the super-sweet taste really balances out the bitter coffee) and add some pumpkin pie spice on the top for a dash of flare.
This really was SO GOOD. It tasted like classic whipped coffee, but with a light autumnal twist. The pumpkin flavor definitely wasn't too overwhelming (you could probably add more puree if you really wanted to go hard on it), and the rich flavor of the coffee reminded me why I loved this drink so much a few months ago. If you're a whipped coffee fan, or if you've always wanted to try it, this is a great recipe to start with for a fun fall version.
Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew
The other drink from Once Upon a Pumpkin on this list is a DIY version of the one and only Starbucks Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew. I was drawn to this drink because finding a homemade alternative to the drink that has me a slave to Starbucks would save me some dollar bills, and also because it's a more nutritious version, with less sugar overall and using vanilla extract rather than vanilla syrup.
This drink takes a little more time, so save it for a cozy fall morning when you can take things nice and slow. You put together the foam mixture (basically pumpkin puree, vanilla extract, milk, sugar, pumpkin pie spice, and a dash of salt) on the stove, let it steam, then remove it so it can chill for a bit in the fridge.
After about 10 minutes, you froth the foam mixture (I have the Nespresso Aeroccino frother), then pour it over your iced cold brew. (I used the Dunkin' cold brew packs to make my cold brew, which steeped in the fridge overnight, because I had them on hand, but Starbucks also has bottled cold brew you can buy at the store. I've heard Califia Farms is also a good brand. You could also make regular black coffee and let it chill, but it might not taste as strong as cold brew.)
For some reason, I couldn't get my foam mixture super frothy and cloud-like, and it sunk into the cold brew pretty fast rather than sitting on top, but it was still absolutely delicious. I think the vanilla extract is the key here. It makes it sweet but not overly so, and you can still taste the rich coffee flavor of the cold brew. I highly recommend trying it if you're a Starbucks PCCB devotee like myself.
And yes, I saved my Starbucks cup from a few days prior so I could put this drink in it. Don't worry, I washed it out - I'm not an animal!
Pumpkin Spice Latte
This wouldn't be a list of pumpkin coffee without the classic PSL. The internet is loaded with DIY PSL recipes - sugar-free versions, dairy-free versions, iced versions. The recipe I decided to take for a test run was this one from a blog called Clean and Delicious. It includes the classic pumpkin drink ingredients - pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice - as well as almond milk, vanilla extract, maple syrup, and of course, espresso.
I diverged from the recipe a little bit at the part when you mix it all in a blender. Instead, I opted to put the pumpkin milk mixture in my frother, then pour that into a cup filled with ice and the espresso shot.
I feel like making it iced might have been a mistake because it tasted a little watered down and not as sweet as I expected. I ended up adding a little more pumpkin pie spice and vanilla extract to give it some extra flavor. I would recommend trying this hot for a cozy fall drink - with pumpkin, vanilla, maple and coffee, you really can't go wrong.
Overall, it's a fun experience to put on your barista hat and try DIY recipes, and there's no shortage of ideas thanks to ye old internet. When looking up recipes, I came across a ton of fun ideas I can't wait to cook up (like a coconut matcha, and a honey lavender latte - yum!). But they do take some extra time and ingredients, so I know I won't be giving up Starbucks for good anytime soon.
Bonus recipe!
UT Caffeine Queen Autumn Maple Latte
It was fun trying different recipes online, but I also made my own coffee concoction this fall that I've been loving. I've had a theory for years that maple (particularly maple pecan) is gaining steam and might even one day dethrone pumpkin spice as our integral fall flavor. To try it out yourself, you need three ingredients:
Two shots of espresso (or strongly brewed coffee)
Maple flavor of choice (I used the maple donut-flavored Skinny Syrup, but maple syrup works too)
Trader Joe's Non-Dairy Maple Oat Beverage (any oat milk will do, but this seasonal variety really seals the deal)
Brew your espresso shots or black coffee, and let it chill in the fridge for about 20 minutes if making it iced. Pour your desired amount of syrup at the bottom of your glass (I usually do enough to cover the whole bottom of the glass, but no more than a half-inch or so). Add your desired amount of milk, depending on how strong you want the latte (less milk, stronger drink). Stir well so the syrup and the milk are combined. Add ice at this point, if you're going that route. Finally, pour the espresso or coffee over the top, and stir again. Take a sip and let the autumnal vibes wash over you. Bon appetit!
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