How to Make a Pumpkin Spice Latte at Home, According to Starbucks

Crisp fall mornings practically beg to be started with a PSL. The only downside? Leaving the house to get it. Luckily, Starbucks has a recipe on its website for a homemade pumpkin spice latte, starring from-scratch pumpkin spice syrup. Call it a sweater season miracle. 

The pumpkin spice syrup will last you eight drinks (and would probably taste great in cold brew, too…), but this recipe only makes one 12-ounce pumpkin spice latte. So, be sure to store the leftover syrup in your fridge for future deliciousness; it’ll be good for a week.

Homemade Pumpkin Spice Syrup

• 1½ cup sugar
• 1½ cup water
• 6 cinnamon sticks
• 1 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 2 teaspoons ground nutmeg
• 4 tablespoons pumpkin purée

Pumpkin Spice Latte

• 1 cup whole milk
• 1 ounce Starbucks Espresso Roast or 1 shot of espresso
• 3 tablespoons homemade pumpkin spice syrup
• ½ cup whipped cream
• 1 pinch pumpkin pie spice (garnish)

Homemade Pumpkin Spice Syrup

Step 1: Combine sugar and water in a saucepan and bring to a simmer.

Step 2: Once sugar is dissolved, add cinnamon sticks, ground cloves, ginger, nutmeg and pumpkin purée. Let simmer for 20 minutes.

Step 3: Remove from heat and immediately strain through cheesecloth. (Try a fine wire sieve or coffee filter if you don’t have cheesecloth.)

Pumpkin Spice Latte

Step 1: Heat and froth milk using your favorite method. (If you want an iced PSL, skip this step and add the ice before the whipped cream in Step 4.)

Step 2: Brew the espresso roast.

Step 3: Pour pumpkin spice syrup into a mug, followed by the hot espresso. Stir together.

Step 4: Fill mug with frothed milk until ¾ full, then top with whipped cream.

Step 5: Sprinkle with pumpkin pie spice and enjoy.

Need a recipe for pumpkin pie spice? Use ours.