Pumpkin Spice Lattes at Home

Did you know that a well known mega-chain coffee shop, the pumpkin spice lattes are chock full of fat, calories, and, should you choose to order them with non-dairy milk, they aren't vegan!? That's right, the PSL concentrate has milk in it. Even a tall, which is actually small, PSL with skim milk and no whipped cream has 200 calories, but even worse, 37 grams of sugar, that's about 3 tablespoons in a teeny 12 oz cup. Imagine what you get with 2% milk and whipped cream.

Normally, I would order a PSL without hesitation. However, I happened to have some leftover pumpkin puree after making muffins so I thought I'd create a homemade version of the classic fall drink. It just works out that it is also lower in fat, calories, and sugar.

For one latte:

2 oz espresso, or strong brewed coffee
2 tablespoons pumpkin puree
1 tablespoon real maple syrup
1/8 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
6 oz milk of your choice (I use cow's milk, but feel free to experiment) heated and frothed

You simply mix all of the ingredients into your favorite mug and garnish with a sprinkle of cinnamon. If you like it sweeter, you can add a few drops of stevia or a little more syrup. This was perfect for me. You can also make a big batch of concentrate to keep in the fridge. Just don't mix in the dairy or coffee. Do that fresh for the best flavor. Enjoy!