Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte (Starbucks Copycat Recipe)

Name: Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte (Starbucks Copycat)
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: 2 capsules Nespresso espresso ((or 2 espresso shots)); 3 tablespoons pumpkin sauce or syrup; ¾ cup 2% milk; 1 cup ice; ¼ cup heavy cream; 1 tablespoon vanilla syrup

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The flavors of fall in a delicious 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!

Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte in a cup with whipped cream.

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.

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.

Recipe Highlights

Iced PSL is a beverage that combines ice, espresso, milk, and pumpkin spice sauce. It’s topped with whipped cream and pumpkin spice topping.
This recipe takes the same ingredient measurements to recreate the drink at home so it tastes just like the one at Starbucks.
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 with an espresso machine or a Nespresso.

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 and their pumpkin spice sauce is sweetened pumpkin puree, condensed skim milk, and flavoring.

RELATED: Pumpkin Spice Cold Foam

Ingredient Notes

Espresso: Use any light or dark roasted coffee you like to make espresso. Get Starbucks espresso to get the flavor closer to theirs.
Pumpkin spice sauce: Instantly turns a coffee drink to a pumpkin flavored coffee drink. Use homemade or store-bought.
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 topping: 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.

For full ingredients and detailed instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Whisk heavy cream and vanilla syrup to make whipped cream. Set aside.

Use a handheld milk frother to make whipped cream in seconds.

Espresso, pumpkin spice sauce, and milk in a cocktail shaker.

Step 2: Put espresso, pumpkin spice sauce, and milk into a cocktail shaker. Shake.

Use 2 Nespresso espresso pods or pull 2 shots from an espresso machine. If you don’t have a cocktail shaker, use a jar with a tight lid.

Step 3: Pour pumpkin spice latte into a cup. Add ice.

Step 4: Use a spoon to add the whipped cream on top of the drink. Garnish with pumpkin spice topping.

Nespresso Notes

To make Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte just like Starbucks, you’ll need espresso and the easiest way to make espresso at home is with a Nespresso machine.

My Nespresso Pick

This Nespresso model makes espresso and brewed coffee and costs around $200. Tip: Skip the Aeroccino and get a bigger milk frother.

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1 shot of espresso = 1 Nespresso espresso capsule

A grande size Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte is made with 2 shots of espresso, so you’ll need 2 Nespresso espresso capsules or 1 double espresso capsule.

To make the drink taste more like the one at Starbucks, use Starbucks branded Nespresso capsules:
Nespresso Starbucks Espresso Vertuo capsules
Nespresso Starbucks Espresso Original capsules

Instead of the regular Starbucks espresso, try making it with their Blonde Espresso capsules which are more popular and better reviewed.

My Nespresso Starbucks Pod Pick

To recreate Starbucks drinks at home, go for this popular blonde espresso.

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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

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.
If you don’t have an espresso machine or a Nespresso, you can use instant coffee. Combine 1 tablespoon of instant coffee and ¼ cup hot water to replace the 2 shots of espresso in the recipe.
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.
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.

Questions You May Have

What’s the difference between pumpkin spice sauce and pumpkin spice syrup?

Pumpkin spice sauce is made with dairy and pumpkin syrup doesn’t. Both contain pumpkin puree.

Is pumpkin spice the same thing as pumpkin pie spice?

Yes! Pumpkin spice is just a shortening of pumpkin pie spice.

What’s in Starbucks Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte?

A grande Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte at Starbucks is made with ice, 2 espresso shots, 2% milk, and 4 pumps of pumpkin spice sauce. It’s topped with vanilla whipped cream and pumpkin spice topping.

Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte drink in a cup with whipped cream.

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