Pumpkin Spice Latte or Pumpkin Spice Creamer

Before fall even really gets started you start to see it…PSL. Starbucks has made this drink synonymous with fall. I believe that there may be a disorder associated with it. Pumpkin Spice Latte Addicts Anonymous groups will probably start popping up soon!

I have to admit though, I too love a good PSL. However the lattes you get at your local coffee shop are good for one thing only; beginning the holiday weight gain season! I want to “have my latte and drink it too” so there has to be a healthy alternative. Well here it is! You can make your own PSL at home and know that not only are you not drinking something that is going to spike your blood sugar, but you are also avoiding any less than ideal ingredients.

First, I want to let you in on a little secret…A true latte is MOSTLY milk. The amount of coffee is very small compared to the amount of milk. So a latte made with milk is very high carb. High, liquid carb which shoots straight to your bloodstream, spiking your blood sugar, which is what we are trying to avoid. I am going to give you a few different options for this recipe. The first is going to mimic the “authentic” PSL the closest. It is however very calorie dense and should definitely not be indulged in every day. It is a THM S recipe. The second option will be a lighter option and is actually a THM FP recipe. The final option will kind of meet in the middle. It will still be a THM S, but a lighter version of the first.

THM Friendly Pumpkin Spice Latte
Makes 2 servings

Ingredients (Heavy S version):
2 cups half and half
2 tablespoons canned pumpkin
2 tablespoons xes sweetener or gentle sweet
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1/2 cup strong brewed coffee (or 1/4 cup of espresso)

Ingredients (FP version):
2 cups almond or cashew milk
2 tablespoons canned pumpkin
2 tablespoons xes sweetener or gentle sweet
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1/2 cup strong brewed coffee (or 1/4 cup of espresso)

Ingredients (S version):
1 cup half and half
1 cup almond or cashew milk
2 tablespoons canned pumpkin
2 tablespoons xes sweetener or gentle sweet
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1/2 cup strong brewed coffee (or 1/4 cup of espresso)

Directions: In a saucepan stir together half and half, pumpkin and gentle sweet. Stir over medium heat until steaming. Remove from heat, stir in vanilla and pumpkin pie spice, transfer to a blender and process for 15 seconds or use a hand held frother or whisk to blend well. Pour into two large mugs and stir in the coffee or espresso.

**Bonus party recipe instructions: Choose your recipe above. Multiply that recipe to the number of servings you wish to make, (example, if you want to serve 8 people, multiply the recipe by 4). Put all of the pumpkin, sweetener, vanilla and pumpkin pie spice into a blender with 2 cups of liquid (either coffee or “milk” option). Blend well. Then pour that mixture along with the rest of the liquid for the recipe into a saucepan and heat over medium heat, stirring often, until steaming. Pour the warmed mixture into a crockpot set on warm. Now your party guests can have access to a pumpkin spice latte without you having to play barista!

Pumpkin Spice Creamer

Honestly, as good as a pumpkin spice latte it is, it’s truly a bit much especially to have very often. And honestly for me it’s not enough coffee flavor. I prefer my coffee to be in a larger proportion to my cream. Thankfully, you don’t have to change this recipe at all to turn it into a creamer.

For making the creamer the only change I make is to double the amount of pumpkin. Because you are only using tablespoons of this at a time you will want more pumpkin flavor in it. So using 4 tablespoons of pumpkin instead of two, put all of the ingredients, except the coffee, into a blender. No need to heat them. Blend the ingredients together and put them in a jar and keep it in the fridge. No matter which recipe you choose you can have up to 2 tablespoons in any fuel setting. More than that and you’ll want to keep the heavy s version in an s setting. The regular s version recipe could be used up to 4 tablespoons in any setting.

Be sure to keep checking back. I will be posting all of the recipes that I like to have on hand to keep me on track during the upcoming holiday season. I will eventually compile them all into a Holiday Menu post to be published on November 1st.