FINALLY! The best time of the year is upon us! It’s pumpkin spice latte season!!! If there’s one thing you do for yourself today it’s this: pull out those cozy sweaters and blankets, put on some soothing jazz music and enjoy this pumpkin spice latte in peace. We promise it’ll be your new favorite fall tradition.
Pumpkin Spice Latte Ingredients:
Coffee- An essential ingredient for a latte. Coffee is rich in antioxidants and the caffeine content helps boost your metabolism as well as enhance your exercise performance. Why not make a cup before a barre or pilates class?
Pureed Pumpkin- Pumpkin is rich in vitamins and fiber and low in calories, making it a great addition to any meal or treat.
Maple Syrup- A more natural sweetener than standard table sugar, to give this latte a bit of sweetness.
Pumpkin Pie Spice- Absolutely necessary to bring that fall flavor to the drink. Check out the notes section for the recipe to make your own.
Unsweetened Almond Milk- Or the milk of your choice, however unsweetened almond milk is one of the lowest calorie milk options, if you’re watching your weight.
Vanilla Extract- This really ties the whole recipe together, you don’t want to forget it.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup Coffee
- 2 tbsps Pureed Pumpkin
- 1 1/2 tbsps Maple Syrup
- 1/2 tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice *see notes section for recipe*
- 3/4 cup Unsweetened Almond Milk (or milk of choice)
- 1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract
Directions:
- Brew your coffee and set aside.
- In a saucepan over medium heat, stir the pumpkin, maple syrup and pumpkin pie spice until combined. Slowly whisk in almond milk. Bring mixture to a low simmer, stirring occasionally and remove from heat. Stir in vanilla extract.
- Transfer milk mixture to a blender and pulse several times until foamy and frothy. (You can also use a hand-held immersion blender instead.)
- Add milk mixture to your hot coffee. You may want to use a spoon to gently hold back the frothy top layer while pouring. Top your latte with this remaining froth.
- Top with a dollop of homemade whipped cream or coconut whipped cream (optional) and sprinkle with additional pumpkin pie spice. Enjoy!
Notes:
- No Blender- Whisk vigorously by hand when the milk mixture starts to simmer on the stove. FYI, this will not create the same froth as a blender or immersion blender but still tasty!
- Pumpkin Lover- Add an extra 1 tbsp of pureed pumpkin per serving.
- Homemade Pumpkin Spice- Mix 1/4 cup ground cinnamon, 4 tsp ground nutmeg, 4 tsp ground ginger and 1 tbsp ground allspice. Store in an air-tight container.
- Caffeine Free- Replace coffee with additional almond milk.
- Not a coffee lover? Try replacing coffee with chai tea for an additional boost of fall flavor!
Health Insights:
- Antioxidants- The coffee in this recipe is a great source of antioxidants, which can help protect your body from damage by harmful molecules called free radicals. Additionally, pumpkin is also known for its antioxidant content, particularly beta-carotene, which is converted into vitamin A in the body.
- Bone Health- The almond milk and pumpkin in this recipe provide a good amount of calcium, which is essential for bone health. Additionally, the vitamin D present in the recipe helps in the absorption of calcium and other minerals.
- Heart Health- This recipe is low in saturated and trans fats, which can help maintain healthy cholesterol levels and promote heart health. The monounsaturated fats present in almond milk are known to be heart-healthy. Moreover, the potassium content in coffee and pumpkin can help regulate blood pressure.
