If you're a huge fan of the Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte during the fall, then you'll love this much healthier homemade version. I love that now the kids can also enjoy this yummy drink since I've included a hot cocoa version for them, too!
Just in case you aren’t feeling the spirit of autumn yet here’s one more reason to get you in the mood. Every year there’s lots of talk about Starbuck’s famed “Pumpkin Spice Latte,” but why leave the kids out of all the fun? I don’t know about you, but my children have not graduated to lattes quite yet, which is why I came up with this “Pumpkin Spice Hot Chocolate” drink for them instead. And since it has cocoa in it you can easily add a shot of espresso to turn it into an adult “Pumpkin Spice Mocha” (or Latte) as well…which means there is something for everyone. Enjoy!
Pumpkin Spice Hot Cocoa (or Mocha or Latte)
If you're a huge fan of the Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte during the fall, then you'll love this much healthier homemade version. I love that now the kids can also enjoy this yummy drink since I've included a hot cocoa version for them, too!
Print Recipe
Servings: 1 cup
Ingredients
Hot Cocoa Version:
- 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup
- 1/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice found in baking aisle of most stores
- 1/2 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa powder or cacao (I personally love Hershey’s Special Dark, which can be found at most stores)
- 3/4 cup milk warmed
- whipped cream optional (see link below for recipe)
Instructions
- Mix together the honey, pumpkin pie spice, and cacao or cocoa.
- Add hot milk (and espresso if using).
- Top with optional homemade whipped cream and a dash of pumpkin spice. Serve immediately.
Notes
We recommend organic ingredients when feasible.
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition Facts
Pumpkin Spice Hot Cocoa (or Mocha or Latte)
Amount Per Serving
Calories 136
Calories from Fat 54
% Daily Value*
Fat 6g9%
Saturated Fat 3g19%
Cholesterol 18mg6%
Sodium 79mg3%
Potassium 242mg7%
Carbohydrates 15g5%
Sugar 15g17%
Protein 6g12%
Vitamin A 295IU6%
Calcium 207mg21%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Want weekly REAL FOOD meal plans made for you?→ WATCH THE VIDEO
I just made this using the latte recipe with maple syrup. It is an amazing recipe!! So yummy on a blustery Fall morning. Thank you for sharing this Lisa. :)
I put a little pureed pumpkin in mine too to boost the goodness.
Can you imagine, t’latte style? I can ;-P
O M freaking G!
I made this in my “pod” machine by mixing ground coffee w/ the cocoa and the spices (didn’t have PP spice per se so made my own w/ cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom), then loaded it into my DIY pod and pressed “GO!” I nuked the milk while the coffee brewed, and skipped the sweetener (learned from a barista that heating milk to 180’F caramelizes the milk sugars so it tastes sweeter & I can skip a LOT of the sugar).
LOVING this! It’s never really fall this far South but I can pretend!
I subscribe to Consumer Labs and they tested cocoa powders and dark chocolates and found high levels of lead and cadmium in many of them, including Hersheys Dark Cocoa. I stopped using it as a result and have switched to Bakers unsweetened chocolate bars which had the highest level of flavonoids and no lead or cadmium. I thought you might be interested in this information. I don’t think anyone wants to be exposing themselves or their families to lead and cadmium. It is very disappointing that so many of the chocolates and cocoa powders have lead and cadmium and are allowed to remain on the market. Consumer Labs is an independent lab that tests supplements and products that aren’t FDA regulated.
This is great! It would be great to get a healthier spin on some of their holiday drinks like peppermint mocha and gingerbread latte and would love to know your take.
I’ve made similar recipes and the spices are always gritty and and clump at the bottom of my cup. Any recommendations?
Blend it with a whisk!
I just made the hot chocolate for myself. Then made it for my husband. I was sooo jealous that he had a full cup to enjoy and I only had 1/2 cup left. I’m definitely making this again tomorrow. So good!
The kids don’t have to miss out on Starbucks! Starbucks actually sells Pumpkin Spice Hot Cocoa, too, and in the smaller (& cheaper!) kids sizes.
Oh my gosh this was amazing. I will never buy a pumpkin spice latte again
Hi there, Jen. Yes, cocoa powder, milk and sweeten to taste with honey. ~Amy
To make real hot chocolate do you just use unsweetened cocoa powder and a little honey? Thanks!
Hi Lori. We’ve not tried that but I imagine you could. You might have to do some remixing before reheating. ~Amy
Can I make the hot cocoa “in bulk,” like a quart or two and keep it in the fridge to warm up in the morning?
I LOVE this thanks for posting. I just made a Pumpkin Spice Hot Cocoa. Awesome. I also realized if I travel with some cocoa and some pumpkin spice I could even have these on the road with just a cup of steamed milk. I too love the PSL however with all the chemicals i have gone with out this year. Thank you for this recipe list!
Homemade Pumpkin Pie Spice: http://www.parade.com/157763/lorilange/how-to-make-pumpkin-pie-spice/
test
Love this! I don’t have an espresso maker so I’ve been using very strong coffee and the smallest cup setting on my Keurig for the “shot.” Also, I made my own pumpkin spice mix using equal parts cinnamon, nutmeg, ground ginger and allspice. Delicious!
this recipe sounds yummy…however wondering if lisa has recommendation/suggestion for making a hot chocolate mix to put in some cute canisters for gifts? i love making things like that for neighbors, teachers, etc. as gifts. i’d love to have any ideas or suggestions! thanks!
I’d love to know this too! Following…..
Hello Erica and Betsy. It might be difficult to find a dry mixture that follows the rules. But, you could certainly improve upon what you typically would find in store bought mixes (many contain hydrogenated oils) with just good cocoa, organic sugar and maybe a bit of salt. You could do a real food hot cocoa kit which could include a good cocoa and some local honey. This blogger has some ideas: http://dontwastethecrumbs.com/2012/12/homemade-instant-hot-cocoa-made-with-real-ingredients-single-serve-and-frugal-gift-idea/. And, here are some other ideas Lisa has had in the homemade gift category: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2011/12/02/real-food-tips-12-homemade-holiday-gifts-that-aren%E2%80%99t-cookies/. Hope this helps. ~Amy
What’s a good espresso machine? Can this be done with a milk alternative?
Hi Jen. You can find Lisa’s machine here: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/my-kitchen-essentials/. And sure, you could use almond or coconut milk. ~Amy
I’m wondering if anyone has tips on how to get the pumpkin pie spice to dissolve?
I’m using freshly steamed milk and coffee but I still end up with a collection of spice at the bottom of my cup.
I’m using this pretty much every day now. :)
Hi Vanessa. I always have a bit at the bottom, too. I just stir often. :) ~Amy
I’ve started making my own pumpkin lattes at home a while now…alot cheaper and healthier as i can use all natural ingredients….I add a tablespoon or two of canned pumpkin ( not canned pumpkin pie filling) and to make pumpkin chai latte I heat a little water with my chai tea bag, with pumpkin then add steamed/hot milk and then add a dash of nutmeg, ginger and cinnamon
….voila perfect for fall
I’ve made this recipe before. I sub maple syrup for the sugar (and reduce the amount) and heat it on the stove rather than a crockpot. I LOVE it. I can’t wait for it to get cooler here, so I can make it on a Saturday afternoon.
http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/2008/10/crockpot-pumpkin-spice-latte-recipe.html
Ok really silly. I bought the same espresso machine as you but its used. I know how to make it but I dont know how much 1 shot or 2 shots is. Can u help???
When the shots come out and fill two small “shot glasses” – each shot glass is a shot
What if u do not have expresso??? Can u use reg perk
Hi Christine. You can ad lib with a really strong small cup of coffee. ;) ~Amy
I double brewed mine to make an ‘espresso’. What you do is brew a strong cup of coffee, and then pour what you just brewed back into where the water normally goes, and then brew another strong cup. It’s the closest thing I’ve been able to do at home to espresso. Hope that helps!
Great idea Lauren!!
Isn’t this missing the pumpkin portion?? Isn’t that what makes it a PUMPKIN spice latte? Otherwise, it’s just like buying/brewing flavored coffee?
Pumpkin pie spice is in the recipe
There’s no pumpkin in the popular Pumpkin Spice Lattes at the famous coffee shot either–it’s a “pumpkin spice” flavor coming from the spices traditionally used in pumpkin pie, plus sweetener.
That’s taking it too literally, I think. “Pumpkin pie spice” is a tasty thing (mix) on it’s own. Personally, I don’t want pumpkin in my coffee.
But if you insist?
This is delicious. I made have to drink this everyday now.
Made mine with native forest coconut milk and a cup of coffee, so delicious!
I used apple pie spice in place of the pumpkin and it was delicious! Subtle flavor but very nice.
Just read the answer in a previous comment! Thanks!
would LOVE to know where to find the super cute mug you put that latte in!
This tasted like warm spiced milk. No cocoa taste at all. I love Starbucks Pumpkin Lattes and this was not even close. What in the world did I do wrong? Is that really correct to only put 1/4 tsp. of cocoa in 3/4 cups of milk?
Hi Amy. You need to adjust it to your taste…add more cocoa if you like it a little more “cocoa-y”. Jill
Made myself a “latte” using this today. Made some substituions (maple syrup instead of honey, unsweetened, plain almond milk instead of milk), added more than a shot of coffee and left off the whipped topping. It was very tasty; might try the “mocha” from a different post tomorrow! :)
How do I change this to just make delicious home made hot chocolate…leave out the pumpkin spice, double up on cocoa instead and leave out honey?…Also would vanilla almond milk be a good substitution for milk?
Hi Dawn. You can try this recipe for hot cocoa…https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2010/12/14/budget-day-57-baby-it’s-cold-outside/. I would substitute plain, unsweetened almond milk for the milk. Jill
This looks so delicious! I’m going to have to make some this evening after work. Yum!
Coffee shop pumpkin drinks taste like pumpkin, which this won’t. It will just be a spiced hot chocolate or mocha.
There are other recipes that actually add pumpkin puree. They make it a bit sludgy, IMO, but they are still tasty and still real food.
Nutrition info would be awesome, if you could find a way to compile it quickly. I know those nutrition builders are clumsy, though.
Hi Melissa. Sorry, we don’t calculate the nutrition information for our recipes. Jill
Do you have a caloric guide?
Do you have any clean recipes for an iced coffee? I like hazelnut, but anything healthier than the kind I get now (McDonald’s hazelnut iced coffee), would be great :)
Hi Christal. Check out this recipe…you could always make it chilled…https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2011/03/04/recipe-maple-mocha/. Jill
I am thinking about making a batch of this “syrup” to share at my MOPS group. Is it ok if I print out the recipe to share?
Of course! As long as people give credit I do not mind them sharing. :)
I havent been able to find Pumpkin spice over here. Is it a US thing? I read somewhere, probably on this site somewhere, that it has cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger & cloves in it, all items that I keep in the cupboard. What sort of ratios should I use to make my own?
Here’s a recipe for it! http://www.5dollardinners.com/2011/10/erins-homemade-pumpkin-pie-spice.html
I’m really starting to get sick of the way processed grains make me feel, to the point where I’m feeding the leftover donuts my husband bought this weekend to the squirrels (and don’t get me started on the Halloween candy). Meals I can do the real way, but snacks, for my 18-month-old especially, have been hard to navigate. I’m going to try treating him more like a grown-up and offering him this hot chocolate now that it’s the season.
I know I’ve said this before, but whenever I think of real food I think of you — you’re the angel on my shoulder!
In addition to the recipe.. I really like that mug!! Where is it from?
Thank you! I got it at Pier 1 last year (part of a set), but I think they still sell them.
I made this yesterday for myself and my kids after playing outside in our first snow of the year, and we all loved it! How great that we can enjoy hot chocolate with barely any sugar! Thanks!
The recipe looks wonderful and one I will most certainly make. However rather than use milk, I will use a milk substitute such as coconut mile or almond milk. I’m surprised to see the use of milk in the recipe given the studies that are out there about the use of growth hormones given to cows and that we ingest through milk consumption. Follow any of Dr. Mercola’s writings on the concerns with milk and also GreedMedingo.com
GreenMedInfo.com
Conventional milk contains the recombinant bovine growth hormone, designed to dramatically increase milk production. As far back as 1937, the administration of bovine growth hormone was shown to increase the milk yield in lactating cows by preventing mammary cell death in dairy cattle. As cancer is the immortalization of the cell, you can understand why interfering with mammary cell death may increase the risk of breast cancer (and others).
IGF-1 in rBGH milk is a potential risk factor for both breast and gastrointestinal cancers. | GreenM
http://www.greenmedinfo.com
This toxicological article on GreenMedInfo.com concerns – Unlabeled milk from cows treated with biosynthetic growth hormones: a case of regulatory abdication.
We drink milk from cows that have not been treated with hormones.
this is such a delicious recipe—I had it both saturday & sunday morning!! I used organic agave nectar from trader joes mixed with the ghiradelli unsweetened cocoa. I made like a syrup on the bottom of my mug. I also put the pumpkin pie spice over my coffee grounds to enhance the flavor while brewing. If you mostly make it a coffee treat, with low fat milk—it ends up only being around 100-120 calories.
My pumpkin pie spice has sugar in it. Is this the same as your’s?
No, mine does not have sugar in it. Here’s how you can make your own from the $5 Dinner Mom: http://www.5dollardinners.com/2011/10/erins-homemade-pumpkin-pie-spice.html
I didn’t have any pumpkin spice i made hot chocolate. We use the real COCOA it’s very strong , taste much better, we get it from Haiti. We don’t use hot chocolate powder. we broiled the water with cinamon stick ,put milk , vanilla extrat and the cocoa. Delicieux !!!!!!
I just made this. I used agave syrup instead of honey and it was delish. Just thought I would let people know since there was only one comment on how the recipe actually was. Yum!
Hi Lisa,
Do you have a pumpkin bread recipe? My youngest daughter loves baking with me and I think this would be a great way to spend a cold Sunday after church. Lil cocoa and baki
Thanks,
Steph
Yes, here you go! https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2010/09/28/recipe-pumpkin-bread/
Try adding an 1/8 cup pumpkin puree per serving! Just whisk it in or blend together… it makes the texture a bit thicker, but it’s soooo good and adds nutritional value and boosts the drink to the next level. The only way I’ll make a pumpkin spice drink now, even with the extra step- it’s worth it!
Just found your site and really commend you for all your efforts– especially your effort to share your learnings, your enthusiasm, and your commitment to teaching your children and all the others who will visit your web site about the value of eating ‘real food’. The recipe for the Pumpkin Spice sounds fabulous and I can’t wait to make a few for our kids later this week. I will, however substitute the Hershey’s Chocolate for a ‘fair trade’ brand. If you are not familiar with Hershey’s child/slave labor practices . . . you might want to investigate. As Michael Pollan states, we vote with our fork.
I just made this for my 7 year old daughter and myself as it is a very cold, windy day here in Wisconsin. This is wonderful!! I got out our snowman mugs and made a batch for us to sip in front of the fire. Who says eating real food isn’t delicious?
I liked the sound of this until I read that it has only 1/4 tsp of cocoa. Really, how can you call this hot chocolate? I’ll make my hot chocolate and add the other ingredients. Do like many of your recipes.
This sounds so delicious can’t wait to try it with my kiddos!!
OH YUM!!!! This is wonderful especially this time of year.
Do you have any idea how to make a Carmel Latte? Would this recipe maybe act as a starting point?
Thank you SO much for your blog and completely LOVING the new print function.
I am not sure about a carmel latte exactly, but I imagine it would be a carmel sauce (check Deliciously Organic’s blog for that) mixed with espesso and hot milk. Good luck!
I am LOVING the “print recipe” button! Thanks! I have been enjoying your blog for over a year and it just keeps getting better!
Heather in San Diego!
I don’t drink coffee and so the one time a year I go to Starbucks I just order a pumpkin spice hot chocolate! I really don’t think there is a better combination than pumpkin and chocolate. So I will definitely be trying this recipe out at home! Thanks!
I didn’t even realize they had a hot chocolate version…good to know!
It isn’t on the actual menu, but they will make it if you ask for it. :D
I used to love starbucks pumpkin spice latte, but it tastes different this year, and now after reading your website and I am more aware of what I eat, I am less likely to drink it. I will be trying this recipe out, although I am not a hot chocolate fan. I wish I knew how to make my own pumpkin spice latte. :)Thank you for this recipe.
For this to be a latte, make the “mocha” version, leave out the cocoa and add milk foam. I believe that’s the main difference, although I am certainly not a coffee drink expert!
I used to love Stbx pumpkin spice lattes…then I found out what the “pumpkin spice syrup” was made of:
Sugar, Condensed Nonfat Milk, Sweetened Condensed Nonfat Milk, Annatto (E160b, Colour), Natural and Artificial Flavours, Caramel Colour (E150D), Salt, Potassium Sorbate (E202, a preservative).
Do you see pumpkin in that list of ingredients? Gross. And definitely not real food. Now I make my own and it is worlds better (and cheaper) than their version.
oh wow! You know, I never thought about the syrup ingredients! Thanks for the info
There is no pumpkin in pumpkin pie spice. It’s a blend of spices (cinnamon, clove, nutmeg) that gives pumpkin pie it’s unique flavor.
This just sounds yummy! I am going to try this and share it too.
Thank you so much for this recipe!!! Now that it’s been getting cooler, my husband asked how we are going to get through the winter without our swiss miss! :-) Now I have the perfect solution. Can’t wait to try it! I already have all the ingredients on hand! yay :-)
This sounds delicious! I often give my daughter cinnamon ‘lattes’, I don’t know why I didn’t think to make a non-caffeine version of one of my favorite fall drinks for her!
I find Starbucks pumpkin lattes way too sweet, but I love Dilworth coffee’s pumpkin latte. They don’t use the syrup, instead they make the spice blend themselves. It is fantastic!
This recipe looks delicious! I want to try it just for the fact that I won’t have to pay starbucks prices for a delicious warm fall drink!
This sounds amazing! Thanks for sharing.
This looks amazing! I despise paying soo much for Starbucks pumpkin spice latte’s but they are so yummy. I am trying this tonight!
WOAH. You are making my LIFE right now!!! I’m obsessed with pumpkin, pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin bread…pumpkin anything!
Almost every day I want to write on here about how much I LOVE this website and your recipes (Been eating real since the Yahoo article was published). This one did it for me. We are going to the pumpkin patch today and can’t wait to get home and make this for my little one!! (And myself, of course!)
Loved hearing that! :)
Consider dehydrating your pumpkins & having the powder available all year.
There is no pumpkin in pumpkin pie spice.
I love this idea! I’m seeing so much fuss about the Starbuck’s pumpkin whatever and I feel left out because I don’t drink coffee. I already add pumpkin pie spice to my white hot chocolate, but that comes from a mix, which is definitely not healthy. And on top of that I add extra sugar. I’ll try your version soon!
I’ll have to try this. I’m not really a fan of flavored lattes, but I’ll get a mocha on occasion, so perhaps this will put me on the pumpkin spice bandwagon. ;0)
This qualifies as a latte in most coffee bars and it is not far from a hot chai tea either. Just add ginger and a tea bag. Sounds yummy; can’t wait to try it :)
My understanding was that the addition of the chocolate (cocoa/cacao) turns it into a mocha…I am certainly no expert though!
“Mocha” is a mix of coffee and chocolate, so if you have a cup of coffee, you make mocha by adding chocolate. And if you have a cup of hot chocolate, you make mocha by adding… coffee! :)
I love you guys!
:)