Starbucks Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte Copycat

The flavors of fall in a delicious iced coffee drink, this copycat recipe recreates the Starbucks Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte. Get step-by-step instructions and tips to make this drink at home in 5 minutes!

Recipe Highlights

• Starbucks Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte (shortened to Iced PSL) is a seasonal fall drink that’s a cold version of the iconic Pumpkin Spice Latte (PSL). It’s a beverage that combines ice, espresso, milk, and pumpkin spice sauce. It’s topped with whipped cream and pumpkin spice topping.
• This copycat recipe recreates the Starbucks Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte using 7 ingredients, including the homemade whipped cream. It makes a grande size (16 ounces) drink.
• Store-bought or homemade pumpkin spice syrup or sauce can be used to flavor and sweeten this coffee drink.
• It’s a quick and easy drink to make at home using espresso made in an espresso machine or a Nespresso.

RELATED: Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte Copycat

What is Pumpkin Spice?

Pumpkin spice is a mix of ingredients that go into flavoring a pumpkin pie.

Ground cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and sometimes allspice, are combined to make the spice blend.

The Starbucks pumpkin spice topping is a blend of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and clove.

The Starbucks pumpkin spice sauce is a pumpkin puree made sweet, creamy with sugar, condensed skim milk, and flavoring.

RELATED: Pumpkin Spice Cold Foam

Ingredient Notes

• Espresso
  A drink can’t be called a latte unless it’s made with espresso. Use any light or dark roasted coffee you like to make espresso. Starbucks also sells their own branded espresso.
  Whole beans: Starbucks Espresso Roast
  Nespresso Original: Starbucks Espresso Roast
  Nespresso Vertuo: Espresso Roast
• Pumpkin spice sauce
  Instantly turns a coffee drink to a pumpkin flavored coffee drink. Add this sauce to hot and iced drinks to sweeten and flavor it with the taste of pumpkin pie.
• Milk
  Starbucks makes their lattes with 2% milk but you can use any kind of milk you like.
• Ice
  Use filtered water to make ice, if possible, since it’ll taste better than ice made with tap water.
• Heavy cream
  This is to make the homemade whipped cream.
• Vanilla syrup
  Starbucks uses vanilla syrup to sweeten their whipped cream and it’s what’s also in this recipe. Use store-bought or homemade vanilla syrup.
• Pumpkin spice
  Also called pumpkin pie spice, this is a blend of spices that uses the same ingredients that’s in Starbucks pumpkin spice topping. It’s used just for garnish.

Step-by-Step Instructions

For full ingredients and instructions, scroll down to the recipe.

1. Whisk heavy cream and vanilla syrup to make whipped cream. Set aside.
   Use a handheld milk frother to make whipped cream in seconds.
2. Put espresso, pumpkin spice sauce, and milk into a cocktail shaker. Shake.
   If you don’t have a cocktail shaker, use a jar with a tight lid.
3. Pour pumpkin spice latte into a cup. Add ice.
4. Top with whipped cream and garnish with pumpkin spice.
   Use a spoon to add the whipped cream on top of the drink. Sprinkle on a some pumpkin spice.

RELATED: Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino Copycat

Coffee Options

To make Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte just like Starbucks, you’ll need espresso, but if you don’t have an espresso machine or a Nespresso, here are some other coffee options to try.

• Strong brewed coffee made in a coffee machine
  Use 2-3 tablespoons of ground coffee and 1 cup of water to make coffee in a drip coffee machine that’s strong enough to make this drink. Pop the hot coffee in the freezer for 15 minutes to quickly cool it down. Combine the cup of coffee, pumpkin sauce, ice, and add milk or half & half to taste.
• Cold brew
  Cold brew coffee is a great option since it’s strong and concentrated, but it does require a bit more time. See how to make cold brew like Starbucks.
• French press
  Combine 2-3 tablespoons of ground coffee and 1 cup of hot water in a French press and steep for 4 minutes. Strain and cool down the coffee. Combine the cup of coffee, pumpkin sauce, ice, and add milk or half & half to taste.
• Keurig
  Brew strong concentrated coffee by using one pod to make just half a cup by adjusting the settings.

RELATED: Starbucks Iced White Chocolate Mocha Copycat

Expert Tips

• To whip cream for drinks, use a handheld milk frother for about 30-50 seconds until you get soft peaks. Don’t overwhip.
• Homemade vanilla syrup is easy to make since it requires only sugar, water, and vanilla extract, so I highly recommend making it instead of buying it. Make a batch and add it to vanilla whipped cream, vanilla sweet cream cold foam, and Iced Vanilla Latte.
• If you want a milder coffee taste, add only 1 shot of espresso or use blonde espresso. Note that blonde espresso has a little bit more caffeine than dark roast espresso.
• The cocktail shaker is used to make sure the pumpkin sauce is well mixed with the milk and espresso since it’s a little thick. If you don’t want to use one, or don’t have one, put espresso, pumpkin sauce, and milk into a cup and stir until well combined. Then add the ice.
• Don’t use freshly roasted coffee. Wait 2 weeks from the roast date to let the coffee de-gas, since the coffee will taste the best at that point. Always check the roast date, and if your coffee doesn’t have a roast date, it’s likely being sold stale.
• Grind coffee right before brewing to get the best flavor from the coffee bean.

Homemade Pumpkin Spice Topping

Make your own pumpkin spice topping by combining:

• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
• ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves

Questions You May Have

Related

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