Jazz up your java routine with my quick and easy recipe for Pumpkin Spice Creamer. This sweet and warmly spiced coffee creamer is made with just 6 simple ingredients and about 10 minutes of effort. Plus, it tastes way better than store-bought!
If you’re someone who loves all things pumpkin spice, you’re in the right place. I’m even more committed to pumpkin spice season than good ol’ Charlie Brown! Whether it’s a classic pumpkin spice latte, a pumpkin cream cold brew topped with pumpkin spice cold foam, or a dreamy iced pumpkin cream chai latte, I don’t care. So long as it has caffeine and pumpkin, I’m all in!
Here I am, slurping down my iced pumpkin spice latte in the middle of August and I still can’t get enough. So, to streamline my hectic back-to-school mornings, I decided to get proactive and whip up a rich and creamy pumpkin-flavored coffee creamer. Now, when the alarm goes off, all I have to do is brew a few shots of French press espresso and pour in the autumnal vibes.
If you’re similarly obsessed with the warmly spiced, orange-tinted harbinger of fall, you’ve gotta try this copycat Starbucks pumpkin spice creamer recipe ASAP. It’s brimming with all the cozy warm spices and yumminess you crave, but is a snap to throw together. Better yet, my homemade coffee creamer is free from all the artificial flavors and junk you’d find in the store-bought stuff. As if that weren’t enough, it’s also cheaper, especially if you have some leftover pumpkin puree from another recipe!
Jump to:
- What is pumpkin spice coffee creamer?
- What does it taste like?
- Why You’ll Love This Pumpkin Spice Creamer Recipe
- Ingredients Needed
- Substitutions
- How To Make Homemade Pumpkin Spice Creamer
- Optional Variations & Dietary Adjustments
- Serving Suggestions
- Recipe Success Tips
- FAQs
- DIY Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte Creamer Nutrition
- Other Recipes You Might Like
- Homemade Pumpkin Spice Creamer
What is pumpkin spice coffee creamer?
If you’ve ever used something like Coffee Mate, Chobani, or International Delight, you’re already familiar with coffee creamers. They’re all-in-one coffee flavorings that include both the cream and sugar you’d normally put in your cup.
This pumpkin creamer is designed to turn your morning joe into a shortcut version of everyone’s favorite fall Starbucks drink. It features all the flavors of pumpkin pies and plenty of creamy dairy—exactly what your morning deserves.
What does it taste like?
Have you ever tried pumpkin-flavored ice cream? Well, this pumpkin pie coffee creamer is like a melted version of that. It’s got the earthy-sweet flavor of real pumpkin gussied up with spiced goodness from cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice, all wrapped up in a delightfully rich cream base. In other words, it’s autumn in a bottle!
Why You’ll Love This Pumpkin Spice Creamer Recipe
- All-Natural - Forget the “natural flavors,” high oleic soybean oil, and gellan gum that’s in Starbucks pumpkin spice latte creamer. My homemade version is made with only clean, natural ingredients including real pumpkin.
- Cheaper Alternative - I was absolutely gobsmacked when I saw that a bottle of store-bought pumpkin spice creamer was $6—and it doesn’t even have pumpkin in it! This DIY version costs about half as much but tastes twice as good. 😉
- Morning Assistant - Getting my eldest ready for kindergarten with my youngest underfoot and my hubby on a 4-day shift at the firehouse is…chaotic. This delicious pumpkin coffee creamer makes it so I can have my fancy coffee fix without any fuss!
Ingredients Needed
As promised, the ingredients for this simple DIY coffee creamer are pretty basic. Here’s what to grab:
- Half & Half & Heavy Cream - Using a double whammy of dairy ensures a luxurious mouthfeel.
- Granulated Sugar - White sugar has a neutral sweetness, allowing the fall-inspired flavors to shine more brightly.
- Canned Pumpkin Purée - Using actual pumpkin puree gives this pumpkin spice creamer Starbucks store vibes. (Their pumpkin spice lattes use real pumpkin but their at-home creamer does not.) Make sure you’re using 100% pure pumpkin, not canned pumpkin pie filling.
- Pumpkin Pie Spice - This warming spice blend contains all the coziness we need in one convenient bottle.
- Maple Extract - Adding a splash of maple extract gives this fall-flavored coffee creamer an extra hit of autumnal yum.
Substitutions
Missing something? Not to worry. Here are some easy ingredient substitutions to try:
- Half & Half - As the name indicates, this common dairy product is made with a 50-50 blend of whole milk and heavy cream. Feel free to make your own!
- Heavy Cream - Also known as “double cream” across the pond, this decadent addition has the highest milk fat of all the cream options, with a minimum of 36%. You’re welcome to swap in slightly lighter whipping cream, which ranges from 30-36% instead. You can also use non-dairy milk if desired!
- Granulated Sugar - If needed, you can use maple sugar, maple syrup, coconut sugar, or caramelly brown sugar instead.
- Canned Pumpkin Purée - Butternut squash purée or sweet potato purée are close substitutes.
- Pumpkin Pie Spice - If you don’t have a bottle on hand, you can easily make your own using ground cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice.
- Maple Extract - Feel free to omit this, or swap in vanilla extract or vanilla paste.
How To Make Homemade Pumpkin Spice Creamer
This DIY Starbucks coffee creamer comes together in just a few simple steps:
Step 1: Whisk together the half and half, heavy cream, and granulated sugar in a small saucepan.
Step 2: Add the pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie spice and whisk to combine. Heat over medium-low heat until the creamer starts to steam, the sugar has dissolved, and everything is well combined.
Step 3: Remove from heat and stir in the maple extract.
Step 4: Cool & store. Allow to cool for about 10 minutes at room temperature, then pour into a mason jar or container with a lid and store in the fridge for up to 7 days.
Optional Variations & Dietary Adjustments
The best pumpkin spice creamer is one that works for you and your diet. Here are some easy ways to tweak the recipe to fit your needs:
- Vegan/Dairy-Free Pumpkin Spice Creamer: Substitute 1 cup oat milk and 1 cup full-fat canned coconut milk for the half-and-half and heavy cream.
- Sugar-Free Pumpkin Spice Creamer: Substitute 1 cup monkfruit sweetener for the granulated sugar to make a diabetic-friendly version.
- Lactose-Free: Enjoy this coffee creamer recipe without any tummy troubles! Just swap in lactose-free heavy cream and lactose-free half-and-half for their traditional counterparts.
Serving Suggestions
Wondering how to use this DIY version of the pumpkin spice coffee creamer from Starbucks? Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Coffee Companion. Add a splash to your cold brew or conventionally brewed coffee for an instant upgrade.
- Lazy Latte. Warm up the pumpkin spice latte creamer and use a milk frother to add foam. Pour over a few shots of espresso for the fastest darn PSL you’ve ever tried!
- Breakfast Buddy. Use it in place of milk for a bowl of unsweetened cereal like bran flakes, grape nuts, or fiber one. It’ll make you feel like a kid again!
- Porridge Perfection. Replace half of the water or milk you’d usually use to make a bowl of oatmeal, cream of wheat, or muesli for a fun fall twist.
- Dessert Dress-Up. Drizzle a bit over warm bread pudding for a pop of pumpkin flavor.
Recipe Success Tips
- Warm, don’t boil. When milk reaches a boil, the proteins begin to unravel (a process known as denaturing) and it takes on a scalded flavor. Keep the mixture over medium-low heat and remove it before it reaches this stage for the best results.
- Invest in smart storage. There are clever pour-spout lids and other attachments for mason jars that make using your creamer much less sticky! At the very least, choose a container with some kind of spout to prevent splashing your countertops or refrigerator shelves.
- Shake before use. Since we’re using real pumpkin and spices in our coffee creamer, you’ll likely see some sediment in the jar before use. Give it a quick shake to redistribute all the yumminess before pouring it into your cup.
FAQs
Generally speaking, no—pumpkin spice is considered a seasonal item. It usually shows up sometime in August and stays in stores until November or December. But, now that you know how to make your own, you can mix some up whenever you get a hankering for it!
It’s always a good idea to check your labels, but most pumpkin-flavored coffee creamers I’ve seen (including my homemade version) are indeed gluten-free.
The primary ingredients in pumpkin pie spice are cinnamon and ginger, plus nutmeg and allspice. That said, you can mix and match any of these with other warming spices (think cardamom, star anise, or cloves) to create a delightful blend. Alternatively, use another warming spice blend like chai masala, haiwaj, or apple pie spice.
The nutrition label on a bottle of Starbucks pumpkin coffee creamer reads: nonfat milk, sugar, heavy cream, buttermilk, vegetable oil (high oleic soybean oil), natural flavor, gellan gum. My homemade version is decidedly more approachable—it’s made with just cream, half n’ half, pumpkin, pumpkin pie spice, sugar, and maple extract.
DIY Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte Creamer Nutrition
Each serving of this this yummy pumpkin spice coffee creamer packs about 172 calories and 9 grams of fat, so it’s definitely on the indulgent side. Carbohydrate-wise, you're looking at 23 grams, with 22 of those coming from sugar to sweeten up your coffee just right. If you’re worried about added sugars, consider making my sugar-free variation.
You’ll also get a small protein boost, about 2 grams per serving. It's not a lot, but it's a nice little addition. As for sodium, it’s quite low at only 26 milligrams per serving, which is pretty negligible. Overall, it's a treat worth indulging in now and then, especially when you need a little cozy pick-me-up in your coffee!
Total nutritional content per serving is:
- Calories: 172 calories
- Total Fat: 9 grams
- Protein: 2 grams
- Sodium: 26 mg
- Carbohydrates: 23 grams
- Sugar: 22 grams
*This nutritional information is an estimate and calculated based on the ingredients used to create the recipe. The nutritional value of your ingredients may differ slightly. Furthermore, this food is not intended to prevent, diagnose, cure, or treat any disease.
Other Recipes You Might Like
Homemade Pumpkin Spice Creamer
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups half & half **see notes for dairy-free
- ½ cup heavy cream **see notes for dairy-free
- 1 cup granulated sugar ***see notes for sugar-free
- 2 tablespoon canned pumpkin puree
- 2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- 1 tablespoon maple extract
Instructions
- Whisk together the half and half, heavy cream, and granulated sugar in a medium saucepan.
- Add the pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie spice and whisk to combine. Heat over medium-low heat until the creamer starts to steam, the sugar has dissolved, and everything is well combined.
- Once your creamer is smooth and everything appears to be combined and dissolved, remove from heat and stir in the maple extract.
- Allow to cool for about 10 minutes at room temperature, then pour into a mason jar or container with a lid and store in the fridge for up to 7 days.
Notes
-
- Dairy-Free & Vegan: Substitute 1 cup oat milk and 1 cup full fat coconut milk and eliminate the half-and-half and heavy cream.
- Sugar-Free: Substitute 1 cup monkfruit sweetener and eliminate the granulated sugar.
- Lactose-Free: Enjoy this coffee creamer recipe without any tummy troubles! Just swap in lactose-free heavy cream and lactose-free half-and-half for their traditional counterparts.
Nutrition
xoxo Megan
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