This vegan pumpkin spice latte gets its flavor from real pumpkin puree and a simple homemade spice blend instead of a flavored syrup, which is why it tastes like actual pumpkin rather than sugar water. A few pantry spices and a can of plain pumpkin puree are all it takes, and the whole drink comes together in about ten minutes.
Everything happens in one saucepan. You whisk the oat milk, pumpkin puree, maple syrup, and spices together on the stove, and by the time it’s steaming you have a spiced oat milk base ready to pour over coffee. There’s no machine to set up and nothing to strain, and you skip the coffee-shop line entirely. On a cool morning this is my usual pairing with a slice of my vegan banana bread, and it’s also the drink I want next to a plate of vegan chocolate chip cookies in the afternoon.
Vegan Pumpkin Spice Latte
Ingredients
Method
- Whisk the oat milk, pumpkin puree, maple syrup, pumpkin pie spice, vanilla extract, and salt together in a small saucepan, making sure the pumpkin puree breaks up completely and doesn't clump.
- Warm the mixture over medium heat, whisking now and then, until it's steaming hot but not boiling, about 4 to 5 minutes. A gentle boil will make the oat milk separate, so keep the heat low enough that it just steams.
- While the oat milk warms, pour the strong brewed coffee or espresso into your mug.
- Froth the warm spiced oat milk with a hand frother, a whisk, or a few pumps of a French press, then pour it over the coffee.
- Dust the top with a little extra pumpkin pie spice if you like, and drink it warm.
Notes
Picking the plant milk for the foam
| Plant-based milk | What it gives the latte |
|---|---|
| Oat milk | Creamiest body and the best foam, and it steams without splitting |
| Soy milk | Good foam and a neutral flavor that lets the pumpkin spice come through |
| Almond milk | Lightest texture and almost no foam, so the drink turns out thinner |
| Coconut milk | Rich and naturally sweet, but it can separate if it gets too hot |
FAQ
Do I need an espresso machine?
No, use a strong brewed coffee or stir a rounded teaspoon of instant espresso into the warm spiced oat milk. The drink tastes best when the coffee is strong, because the oat milk and pumpkin mellow it out.
Can I use pumpkin pie filling instead of pumpkin puree?
No, stick with plain pumpkin puree. Pumpkin pie filling already has sugar and spices added, so it throws off the sweetness and makes the drink taste flat. Look for a can that says 100% pumpkin on the label.
Is pumpkin pie spice vegan?
Yes. Pumpkin pie spice is just a blend of ground cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves (sometimes allspice), so there are no animal products in it. You can also make your own blend with two parts cinnamon to one part nutmeg and one part ginger, plus a pinch of cloves.
How do I make it iced?
Let the warm spiced oat milk cool completely, then pour it over ice with the coffee and give it a good stir. The oat milk may settle a little once it’s cold, so a quick shake in a sealed jar fixes that before you pour.
