Make your own Pumpkin Spice Latte

Fall is the season for picking pumpkins, carving pumpkins and drinking pumpkin spice lattes. The lattes are warm, cozy, inviting and intoxicatingly good. I recently woke up one cool morning and could not get out to buy one... so I decided to make it at home. I stumbled on a great recipe that’s reminiscent of Starbucks’ Pumpkin Spice Latte. Not only is this recipe healthier, it’s fairly easy to make using the following ingredients.

Serves 2
1 cup of water
2 tablespoons coffee
1 cup milk (regular, almond, rice, or soy)
2 tablespoons canned pumpkin puree 
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice blend
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons honey (or agave)
2 tablespoons Light CoolWhip or whipped cream 
1 pinch of ground nutmeg (optional)

Using the above ingredients, follow these steps to make your own Pumpkin Spice Latte:

1. Brew one cup of coffee using water and coffee.
2. In saucepan over low heat, whisk together milk, pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, vanilla extract and honey. (Optional: You can also mix these ingredients in a blender first and then pour the mixture into a saucepan for heating.)
3. Add in coffee and mix well.
4. Stir mixture for another minute or two until hot.
5. Pour half of the mixture into your favorite mug, top it off with Light CoolWhip or whipped cream and a dash of nutmeg. 

It will take less time than getting into your car, heading to your favorite coffee shop and waiting in a long line to buy one. You can also control the ingredients that go into your latte. Homemade versions are healthier, just as satisfying and practically free!

Try making them for your guests at your upcoming Halloween parties, along with the pumpkin spice-kissed chocolate chip oat cookie from my previous posted blog...your guests will love it!

Darien resident Janine Vairo is the founder of PartyStyle Box. She can be reached at partystylebox@gmail.com.

See also the Darien Food Blogs topics page, which you can bookmark.