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!
CONTENTS
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).
- 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 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
Use any light or dark roasted coffee you like to make espresso. Starbucks sells their own branded espresso.
Whole beans: Starbucks Espresso Roast
Nespresso Original: Starbucks Espresso Roast
Nespresso Vertuo: Starbucks Espresso Roast - 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.
Step-by-Step Instructions
For full ingredients and instructions, scroll down to the recipe.
- Whisk heavy cream and vanilla syrup to make whipped cream. Set aside.
Use a handheld milk frother to make whipped cream in seconds. - 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. - Pour pumpkin spice latte into a cup. Add ice.
- Top with whipped cream and garnish with pumpkin spice.
Use a spoon to add the whipped cream on top of the drink. Sprinkle on pumpkin spice topping.
RELATED: Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino Copycat
Using a Nespresso
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.
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.
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
Pumpkin spice sauce is made with dairy and pumpkin syrup doesn’t. Both contain pumpkin puree.
Yes! Pumpkin spice is just a shortening of pumpkin pie spice.
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.
Related
- 13 Starbucks Pumpkin Drinks (Including Secret Menu)
- Starbucks Salted Caramel Cream Cold Brew Copycat
- Starbucks Iced Honey Oatmilk Latte Copycat
- Starbucks Iced Caramel Macchiato Copycat
- Starbucks Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew Copycat
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Starbucks Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte Copycat
INGREDIENTS
Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte
- 2 capsules Nespresso espresso (or 2 espresso shots)
- 3 tablespoons pumpkin sauce or syrup
- ¾ cup 2% milk
- 1 cup ice
Whipped Cream
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon vanilla syrup
INSTRUCTIONS
- Whisk heavy cream and vanilla syrup to make whipped cream. Set aside.Use a handheld milk frother to make whipped cream in seconds. Whisk for 30-50 seconds until you get soft peaks. Don't overwhip.
- Put espresso, pumpkin spice sauce, and milk into a cocktail shaker. Shake 10 times.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.
- Pour pumpkin spice latte into a cup. Add ice.
- Top with whipped cream and garnish with pumpkin pie spice.Use a spoon to add the whipped cream on top of the drink.
EQUIPMENT
NOTES
- 1 shot of espresso = 1 Nespresso espresso capsule
- To make a 16 ounce (grande) Starbucks drink, you’ll need 2 Nespresso espresso or ristretto capsules. You can also use 1 Vertuo double espresso.
- With the Vertuo machine capsules, only use espresso capsules and not the coffee capsules that make 7.77 ounces.
- Starbucks makes their lattes with 2% milk but you can use any kind of milk you like.
- 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.