5 Minute Easy Vegan Pumpkin Spice Latte

This 5 minute easy vegan pumpkin spice latte tastes just like the real pumpkin spice latte, yet it’s entirely vegan, dairy free, a fraction of the sugar, and faster than ordering one out! Made with real pumpkin and maple syrup, this homemade pumpkin spice latte is the perfect cozy fall treat with cinnamon and pumpkin!

Is the Starbucks pumpkin spice latte vegan?

So once upon a time, the Starbucks pumpkin spice latte could have been made vegan by just swapping in dairy free milk and omitting the whipped cream.

Unfortunately, a few years back, they actually changed the formula for the pumpkin spice latte so that even switching out the dairy free milk won’t make this a vegan-friendly drink.

Here are the ingredients as listed on the Starbucks website:

Milk, Pumpkin Spice Sauce [Sugar, Condensed Skim Milk, Pumpkin Puree, Contains 2 Or Less Of Fruit And Vegetable Juice For Color, Natural Flavors, Annatto, Salt, Potassium Sorbate], Brewed Espresso, Whipped Cream [Cream(Cream, Mono And Diglycerides, Carageenan), Vanilla Syrup (Sugar, Water, Natural Flavors, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid)], Pumpkin Spice Topping[Cinnamon, Ginger, Nutmeg, Clove, Sulfiting Agents]

Per the Starbucks Website

I know. Bummer town.

Thankfully, we now have a recipe for a vegan pumpkin spice latte that you can easily make at home and at much better price too 😉

Why you NEED to make this easy vegan pumpkin spice latte:

This homemade pumpkin spice latte honestly beats out one that you would purchase in stores, personally. 

It’s an entirely vegan pumpkin latte full of real pumpkin, maple syrup, and warming spices that basically make this homemade latte autumn in a mug. 

Paired with a slice of this vegan pumpkin bread or vegan pumpkin coffee cake, you won’t even miss Starbucks (be sure to check out more bakery favorites in our vegan breakfast recipes section!). 

What’s more, this latte is entirely dairy free, dye free, refined sugar free, and quite literally a fraction of the sugar of a real PSL! Just like my vegan gingerbread latte (another holiday classic!), you’ll feel like you’re getting Starbucks at home!

Pumpkin Spice Latte Ingredients

To make this homemade latte, you’ll need:

• espresso
• dairy free milk
• maple syrup
• pumpkin puree
• pumpkin spice blend

Now, I will note that this homemade latte does require a bit of equipment. You’ll need an espresso maker, as this tastes best with espresso and not home brewed coffee.

You’ll also need to be able to foam the dairy free milk, either with a blender, handheld frother, or a steamer for milk.

How to make a homemade vegan pumpkin spice latte (overview)

For the full written instructions and ingredient measurements, see the bottom of this post in the recipe card. You can also hit the “jump to recipe” button at the top of this post! Here, we’ll go over a brief overview of the steps, along with providing visuals for a better understanding of the recipe.

Here’s how to make this vegan PSL in under 5 minutes:

Whisk the pumpkin spice “syrup” ingredients together. Add the pumpkin puree, spices, and maple syrup to a small bowl and whisk together.

Brew the espresso.

Spoon some of the pumpkin spice syrup into each mug. I use about 1 1/2 tbsp of mixture, but you can use more or less! Mix together.

Heat the dairy free milk and blend or use a hand held frother. I recommend unsweetened vanilla oat milk or soy milk for a super creamy texture.

Top with vegan whipped cream and more cinnamon. Sip and enjoy alongside a homemade vegan cinnamon sugar donut!

Ingredient Substitutions & Recipe Tips

• Use your favorite dairy free milk: Keep in mind that a lower in fat dairy free milk won’t foam as well as a high fat/creamy dairy free milk, but it can still work. I like using oat milk here or cashew milk. Almond milk, soy milk, or coconut milk are also great options.
• Can I make this pumpkin spice latte with brewed coffee? I personally don’t recommend this, but you can. This is because espresso is different from brewed coffee. Think of coffee as a very watered-down version of espresso, but even then it’s still different. Just keep in mind that the best version of this homemade pumpkin spice latte will be with espresso and not brewed coffee.
• Make your own pumpkin spice blend! This specific pumpkin spice blend is one that I use when I’ve run out of my store bought blend, and it’s wonderful!
• Use homemade pumpkin puree: Don’t skip the real pumpkin puree part, and it can taste even better with homemade pumpkin puree! In fact, the Starbucks version even includes pumpkin puree in it. If you want a homemade vegan pumpkin spice latte, including the pumpkin puree is the key!
• I used a Nespresso machine for making espresso- but you can use your favorite! You can also use a Calphalon espresso machine, Breville, etc.

This is going to be your new favorite vegan pumpkin spice latte! You won’t even believe it’s homemade.

If you make it, let me know down below in the comments section. As always, I absolutely love to see your beautiful creations on Instagram and Pinterest, so be sure to tag me there!

Happy pumpkin spice latte brewing!

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If you make this recipe, please be sure to leave a comment and a rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ below. This helps others to find the recipes! As always, I absolutely love to see your beautiful creations on Instagram and Pinterest, so be sure to tag me there as well!

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