Skip the coffee shop and try this easy mocha pumpkin spice latte recipe! Pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie spice guarantee that this homemade version packs plenty of pumpkin flavor. One of my favorite pumpkin recipes to make on a chilly fall day!

Mocha Pumpkin Spice Latte Recipe

Pumpkin spice lattes are a quintessential fall tradition… right up there with apple picking and pumpkin carving! And while I’m not personally a huge fan of Starbucks pumpkin spice lattes (I know, I know…!), I do love this homemade mocha version. The mocha flavor is my little twist on the classic fall latte, and one I know my fellow chocolate lovers will go crazy over! If you can imagine a pumpkin spice latte/hot chocolate hybrid… you can imagine what this drink tastes like.

Real Pumpkin Flavor

I despise artificial flavorings, which is why I’ve never been a huge fan of Starbucks pumpkin spice latte. And why I prefer to skip the coffee shop and make my pumpkin spice lattes at home. But packing real pumpkin flavor into my homemade version proved more difficult than I thought! And it took me several dozen “test lattes” to finally figure out how to pack my homemade version with pumpkin flavor.

The answer? A whole can of pumpkin puree + pumpkin pie spice + molasses! Molasses are sort of my secret ingredient when cooking or baking with pumpkin! They enhance the pumpkin flavor and make it a 100% more cozy and delicious.

Ingredients for Pumpkin Spice Latte Recipe.

Pumpkin Spice Latte Recipe Ingredients

Pumpkin Puree: Be sure to use pure pumpkin puree and not pumpkin spice mix, which are not the same thing.
Milk: I go over some milk options below, but for the creamiest latte, I suggest using whole cow’s milk.
Sugar: Light brown sugar adds sweetness and enhance the pumpkin flavor. I don’t suggest subbing this for liquid sweeteners such as honey or maple syrup.
Cocoa Powder: Use unsweetened cocoa powder, not hot cocoa mix. Natural cocoa or Dutch-processed cocoa will both work. Dutch-processed with yield a much darker and richer mocha flavor.
Dark Chocolate: For the best flavor, use a high-quality dark chocolate, 70% cocoa or above. I don’t suggest using chocolate chips.
Molasses: Mild molasses work best here, not blackstrap or robust molasses.
Pumpkin Pie Spice: Feel free to make a pumpkin spice blend at home using ground cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, ginger, and all-spice. You can search for recipe and find your perfect pumpkin pie spice combination.
Vanilla Extract: Pure vanilla or a bourbon vanilla will work great in this recipe. Do not use artificial or imitation vanilla extract.
Salt: A tiny dash of salt balances sweetness and enhances all the other delicious flavors in this recipe.
Espresso Powder: You can read my notes espresso powder versus brewed coffee below. But at the end of the day, espresso powder works best. Delallo Espresso Powder and King Arthur Espresso Powder are my two favorite brands.

Choose your Milk

I developed this recipe using whole milk, and found it to yield the richest and creamiest latte. But if you can’t tolerate cow’s milk, feel free to sub oat milk, almond milk, or coconut milk instead. No milk frother required!

Obviously this swap will change the taste and texture, but you’ll still have a delicious pumpkin latte. You choose whatever milk you want in your Starbucks pumpkin spice latte… so why not do the same with this recipe?!

Espresso VS Brewed Coffee

To make a latte, you’ll need espresso. But since not everyone owns a fancy espresso machine (myself included), I developed this recipe using espresso powder. Espresso powder provides a strong coffee flavor and enhances the delicious chocolate mocha flavor.

Can you sub strong coffee instead? Yes. I’d use a 1/3 cup of strongly brewed coffee per latte. But the flavor and overall drink will not be the same.

Top with Whipped Cream

One of the best parts about making a pumpkin spice latte at home? You get to control the toppings and garnishes! Obviously, you should top it with a giant swirl of homemade whipped cream. Of course, store-bought whipped cream will work, too!

But why stop there, right? I love to add pumpkin pie spice, a drizzle of chocolate syrup, and a cinnamon stick for extra pizzaz. These are all optional garnishes! But will make your homemade pumpkin spice latte feel extra special.

More Pumpkin Recipes