Easy Pumpkin Spiced Latte
This Easy Pumpkin Spiced Latte brings Fall to your doorstep without any hassle of all that extra equipment. You just need a few simple ingredients and a jar with a lid.
MOCKTAILS & SMOOTHIES
Lauren Vasnelis
8/30/2026
Easy Pumpkin Spice Latte
This Easy Pumpkin Spice Latte brings all the cozy fall flavors together without needing to make a trip to the coffee shop or use any fancy equipment. It just takes a few simple ingredients and a mason jar to make the perfect latte at home.
Espresso, real pumpkin, maple syrup, pumpkin pie spice, and creamy milk come together in just a few minutes for an easy homemade fall drink.
I made mine with instant espresso and almond milk to keep things especially simple and dairy-free, but this recipe is incredibly easy to customize. Freshly brewed espresso works beautifully, and a creamier milk like oat milk or whole dairy milk will give you an even richer latte.
Best of all, you don’t need a blender, milk frother, or any special coffee equipment. We’re making the entire thing right in a mason jar and shaking it until it’s cold and frothy.
This recipe makes one latte, but it can easily be doubled or tripled if you’re making drinks for more than one person.
Servings: 1 latte
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Assembly Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Equipment
Mason jar with a secure-fitting lid
Ingredient Breakdown
Espresso
Espresso gives this latte its strong coffee base and balances the sweetness of the pumpkin and maple syrup.
You can use freshly brewed or instant espresso. I used instant espresso because the whole idea behind this recipe is to make a homemade pumpkin spice latte as easily as possible.
If you’re using instant espresso, simply prepare enough for two shots according to the directions on your specific product. Different brands can have different preparation ratios, so there’s no need to measure a universal amount of instant espresso powder.
Pumpkin Purée
Real pumpkin purée gives the latte its pumpkin flavor and adds a little extra body and creaminess to the drink.
Make sure you’re buying 100% pumpkin purée and not pumpkin pie filling. Pumpkin pie filling already contains added sugar and spices, while this recipe lets us control the sweetness and spice ourselves.
Maple Syrup
Maple syrup sweetens the latte while adding another cozy flavor that works perfectly with pumpkin and warm fall spices.
Honey can also be substituted if that’s what you have or prefer. It will give the latte a slightly different flavor but works well as an easy alternative.
Pumpkin Pie Spice
Pumpkin pie spice gives you all of those familiar fall flavors without having to measure several different spices individually.
You can also sprinkle a little extra over the whipped cream before serving for more flavor and a coffee-shop-style finish.
Milk
I used almond milk to keep my latte dairy-free.
However, if I were choosing a non-dairy milk specifically for texture, oat milk would probably be my first choice. It’s generally thicker and creamier and would give the latte more of that rich coffee-shop texture.
If dairy isn’t an issue, whole milk would also be a great option.
Ultimately, use whatever milk works best for your preferences and dietary needs.
Ice
Ice turns this into a cold, refreshing pumpkin spice latte and gets everything nice and chilled during that final shake.
There’s no exact measurement needed here. Add as much or as little ice as you prefer.
Whipped Cream
Whipped cream is completely optional, but it gives the finished latte that fun coffee-shop look.
I used Reddi-wip Non-Dairy Almond Milk Whipped Topping to keep mine dairy-free.
Regular dairy whipped cream works perfectly well too, or you can leave it off entirely.
Ingredients
2 shots espresso
2 tablespoons pumpkin purée
2 tablespoons maple syrup
½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1 cup milk of choice
Ice
Optional Toppings
Almond milk whipped cream or regular whipped cream
Additional pumpkin pie spice
Instructions
Make the espresso. Prepare 2 shots of espresso using either freshly brewed espresso or instant espresso prepared according to the package directions.
Add the espresso to your mason jar. Pour the prepared espresso into a mason jar with a secure-fitting lid.
Add the pumpkin and flavorings. Add the pumpkin purée, maple syrup, and pumpkin pie spice to the mason jar.
Add your milk. Pour in your milk of choice.
Shake vigorously. Secure the lid tightly and shake the mason jar very well. You want all of the ingredients completely incorporated while also allowing the milk to start getting nice and frothy.
Add the ice. Remove the lid and add your desired amount of ice.
Shake again. Secure the lid and give everything another good shake. This gets the latte cold and creates a little more froth.
Add your toppings. Remove the lid and, if desired, top with almond milk whipped cream or regular whipped cream. Finish with an extra sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice.
Enjoy immediately! This latte is best served right away while it’s cold, creamy, and frothy.
Lauren’s Tips 💛
No Frother Needed
One of the best parts of this recipe is that you don’t need any special coffee equipment. Secure the mason jar lid and shake everything vigorously to mix the latte and create some froth at the same time.
Try Oat Milk for an Extra-Creamy Dairy-Free Version
I used almond milk because that’s what I had on hand, but if I were choosing specifically for texture, I’d probably use oat milk. It’s thicker and creamier and would make this feel even more like a coffee-shop latte.
Notes
This recipe makes one pumpkin spice latte.
The recipe can easily be doubled or tripled by increasing the ingredients proportionally.
Freshly brewed or instant espresso can both be used.
If you’re using instant espresso, prepare enough for 2 shots according to the package directions rather than relying on a universal measurement of espresso powder.
Make sure you’re using 100% pumpkin purée, not pumpkin pie filling.
I used almond milk, but oat milk is a great dairy-free option if you want a thicker, creamier texture.
If you’re using dairy, whole milk will give you an especially rich latte.
Honey can be substituted for maple syrup if desired.
The amount of ice can be adjusted according to your preference.
I used Reddi-wip Non-Dairy Almond Milk Whipped Topping as my dairy-free whipped cream.
Regular dairy whipped cream works perfectly well if dairy isn’t a concern.
Whipped cream and the additional sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice are completely optional.
Make sure the lid on your mason jar is securely tightened before shaking.
Leave enough empty space in the mason jar to actually shake the drink. Don’t fill it all the way to the top.
If you’re doubling or tripling the recipe and your mason jar isn’t large enough, make the lattes individually or shake them in batches rather than overfilling the jar.
This latte is best enjoyed immediately after making it.
Always check packaged ingredient labels to make sure the products you’re using work for your individual dietary needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use instant espresso?
Absolutely. That’s what I used because it makes this recipe especially easy.
Prepare enough instant espresso to equal 2 shots according to the directions on your specific product.
Can I use freshly brewed espresso?
Yes. If you have an espresso machine or another way to make fresh espresso, use two freshly brewed shots in place of the instant espresso.
Can I use regular coffee instead of espresso?
You can experiment with strong brewed coffee, although the finished latte won’t have quite the same concentrated coffee flavor.
Regular coffee also adds more liquid than espresso, so you may need to adjust the amount of milk to keep the drink from becoming too diluted.
What is the best non-dairy milk for a pumpkin spice latte?
I used almond milk because that’s what I had on hand, but oat milk would probably be my first choice for the creamiest dairy-free version.
Its thicker texture makes it particularly good for lattes.
Can I use dairy milk?
Absolutely. If dairy works for you, whole milk would be especially good because it will create a rich, creamy latte.
Can I make this completely dairy-free?
Yes. Use your favorite non-dairy milk and a dairy-free whipped topping.
I used almond milk in the latte and Reddi-wip Non-Dairy Almond Milk Whipped Topping on top.
Can I substitute honey for maple syrup?
Yes. Honey works well as an alternative sweetener.
It will change the flavor slightly, but it still pairs really well with pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice.
Do I need a milk frother?
No! That’s one of the reasons I make this recipe in a mason jar.
Shaking everything vigorously incorporates the ingredients while also helping the milk become a little frothy.
Why do I shake the latte before and after adding the ice?
The first shake thoroughly combines the pumpkin, espresso, maple syrup, spice, and milk and helps create some froth.
The second shake gets everything nice and cold once the ice has been added and gives the drink another chance to froth up.
Can I make this without a mason jar?
You need some type of container with a secure-fitting lid if you want to use the same shake-and-froth method.
A mason jar is especially convenient because you can prepare, shake, and serve the latte in the same container.
Can I use pumpkin pie filling instead of pumpkin purée?
I wouldn’t recommend it.
Pumpkin pie filling already contains sweeteners and spices, which makes it harder to control the flavor of the latte. Use plain pumpkin purée and add the maple syrup and pumpkin pie spice separately.
Can I add more pumpkin?
You can experiment with it, but adding significantly more pumpkin will make the latte thicker and can make it more difficult to fully incorporate just by shaking.
Can I change the amount of pumpkin pie spice?
Absolutely. If you love a heavily spiced pumpkin latte, add a little more. If you’re sensitive to fall spices, start with less.
Can I make this hot instead?
The recipe as written is specifically designed as an iced pumpkin spice latte, but the same flavor combination can be adapted into a hot version.
For a hot latte, you’d skip the ice and use heated milk. The mason-jar shaking method would also need to be changed because you should not vigorously shake hot liquid in a sealed container.
Can I double or triple the recipe?
Yes. Everything can be increased proportionally.
Just make sure your container is large enough to leave plenty of room for shaking. Otherwise, prepare the drinks in separate batches.
