Alisa’s recent pumpkin spice columns (Trader Joe’s Dairy-Free Pumpkin Goods, 33 Other Dairy-Free Pumpkin Spice Products, and Pumpkin Spice Waffles) inspired me to make a dairy-free version of one of the most popular pumpkin spice items: the Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte. This dairy-free pumpkin spice latte took me longer to perfect than I expected, but I’m very pleased with the final result.
Since I am able to eat dairy, I went to my local Starbucks and purchased a small Pumpkin Spice Latte for comparison. My first surprise was the price! Making these at home enables dairy-free coffee drinkers to enjoy them, but it also saves everyone some money. The Pumpkin Spice Latte was very thick and very sweet with strong spice flavors. It also had a pretty orange pumpkin hue and a fun whipped cream and pumpkin pie spice topping.
I looked at the ingredients on their website and used that as a starting point. Then I looked at the many copycat recipes online. None of them were exactly what I was looking for, so I made my own recipe. I also cut down the measurements to make them suitable for one small latte. But the recipe is easy to double for a larger latte.
Recipe Tips: Dairy-Free Pumpkin Spice Latte
To achieve the flavor and texture of a Starbucks pumpkin spice latte, follow the directions below. For a lighter beverage, you can omit the coconut milk and increase the dairy-free milk beverage to 1/2 cup, but it won’t have the thick consistency of a Starbucks pumpkin spice latte.
If you would like a dairy-free pumpkin spice latte with less sugar, you can reduce the amounts of vanilla simple syrup and Pumpkin Spice Sauce to 1 tablespoon each and omit the whipped cream topping. For an even lower-sugar option, you can try another one of my favorite fall coffee drinks, the Vegan Pumpkin Frappuccino.
Special Diet Notes: Dairy-Free Pumpkin Spice Latte
By ingredients, this recipe is dairy-free / non-dairy, egg-free, gluten-free, grain-free, optionally nut-free, peanut-free, soy-free, vegan, and vegetarian.
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup full-fat coconut milk
- ¼ cup dairy-free milk beverage (I used plain almond milk)
- ½ cup fresh-brewed strong black coffee or 1 shot espresso
- 2 tablespoons vanilla simple syrup
- 2 tablespoons Dairy-Free Pumpkin Spice Sauce
- Dairy-free whipped topping (I used Reddi-Wip Non-Dairy Almond Milk)
- Pumpkin pie spice, for garnish
- In medium saucepan, whisk together the water and sugar and bring them to a boil over medium-high heat. Cook until the mixture thickens slightly, about 3 minutes.
- Remove the syrup from the heat, and stir in the vanilla. Let cool to room temperature.
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
- In a glass canning jar, whisk together the coconut milk and milk beverage. Heat, uncovered, in the microwave until warm.
- Use a milk frother to froth the milk, or screw a lid onto the jar and shake until the milk is frothy.
- Pour the coffee into a mug, and add the warmed dairy-free milk, vanilla syrup, and Pumpkin Spice Sauce. Stir until combined.
- Top with dairy-free whipped topping and dust with pumpkin pie spice.
Fun Supplies to Make a Dairy-Free Pumpkin Spice Latte
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20 Comments
Can not wait to give this a try. Especially since my Mom & Friends make our own Maple Syrup, boiled in a cast iron kettle like it used to be in “the Olde Days”. Which means it’s as Organic as you can get!! ?
Now…A request please? Do you think you could do a version of Starbucks’ Gingerbread Latte? I LOVE that thing!!! Can only get it once in a blue moon due to where I live, very Rural Canada, & it would be so much better & cheaper too. If you can do, I don’t think I’d be the only one singing your praises to Santa. ??
Thanks so much for all the hard work you do.
Hi Denise, it’s too bad Starbucks didn’t bring back the Gingerbread Latte, since you could order it dairy-free! There is a kosher pareve / dairy-free gingerbread syrup made by Monin -> https://amzn.to/36M6ES4 but if we get the chance to work on a homemade version, we will!
We make our own pumpkin spice lattes at home because Starbucks can’t or won’t make theirs without milk. Boo! You’re right, it’s a lot cheaper, and much better for us because we use maple syrup instead of sugar.
I think that would be scrumptious with maple syrup!
An awesome drink made infinitely better by using ingredients we can all read!! Looks so delicious!
Thank you, Tessa! It’s nice to be able to customize recipes, isn’t it?
Thanks so much for taking the time to put this together! I would have this all day long (with whipped creme).
You’re welcome, Jules! I hope you like it.
OMG that recipe for the pumpkin sauce looks incredible!
Thanks, Erica! It makes a really good dairy-free pumpkin spice steamer.
Thanks so much for sharing this! It’s so sad that the pumpkin spice latte from starbucks isn’t vegan. However who needs to pay $6 for a latte if you can make a better, healthier one at home! Thanks so much for this recipe! Pinning it now so I don’t forget!
It’s a good reminder to check all of the ingredients, isn’t it? Who would guess there is milk in the pumpkin sauce they use? I hope you enjoy the recipe!
I’ve never had a pumpkin spice latte, but I know people are obsessed with them. Your dairy-free version sounds very festive!
Thanks, Cadry! I’d never had one either until very recently. It’s a fun special treat!
I usually drink my coffee black, but I’m such a sucker for the pumpkin spice lattes this time of year! This looks incredible!
Thank you, Jenn! I agree–this time of year calls for special lattes. 🙂
I’m not a big coffee drinker, but I could really go for a mug of this right now!
It’s very comforting on a cold day. I like it with decaf coffee, too!
That looks absolutely amazing! I love being able to my my own fancy coffee drinks at home, too. 🙂
Thank you, Raia! It’s nice to be able to customize coffee drinks at home–and save money!