DIY Pumpkin Spice Latte!

Fall is here, and us ladies know what that means! Leggings with knee-high boots, lovely scarves in every color (seriously, though, the fashion is wonderful), and pumpkin-flavored EVERYTHING never gets old. Even pumpkin-flavored lip gloss is a thing now… Please tell me I’m not the only one intrigued?

There has been a staple in every 20-somethings diet come every Autumn, the wonderful Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte. It never gets old. But did you know that you can actually make this DIY in your apartment/dorm for way less and yummier (with real pumpkin)!

This recipe from “The Kitchn.com,” has been tested and is so approved….

DIY Easy Pumpkin Spice Latte for Two: 

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons canned pumpkin
• 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice, plus more to garnish
• 2 tablespoons sugar 
• 2 tablespoons pure vanilla extract
• 2 cups whole milk
• 1 to 2 shots espresso, about 1/4 cup
• 1/4 cup heavy cream, whipped until firm peaks form

Instructions

1. Heat the pumpkin and spices: In a small saucepan over medium heat cook the pumpkin with the pumpkin pie spice for 2 minutes or until it’s hot and smells cooked. Keep stirring!
2. Stir in the sugar: Add the sugar and stir until the mixture looks like a bubbly thick syrup.
3. Warm the milk: Whisk in the milk and vanilla extract. Warm gently over medium heat, watching carefully to make sure it doesn’t boil over.
4. Blend the milk: Carefully process the milk mixture with a hand blender or in a traditional blender (hold the lid down tightly with a thick wad of towels!) until frothy and blended.
5. Mix the drinks: Make the espresso or coffee and divide between two mugs and add the frothed milk. Top with whipped cream and a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, or nutmeg if desired.

To Make it “Skinny:”

• Substitute Whole Milk for Nonfat or Soy
• Use Splenda instead of Cane Sugar
• Choose to not include Whipped Cream
• Look for Organic canned pumpkin in the Natural Food Aisle

Enjoy!

• Autumn
• diy
• drink
• fall
• GMU
• pumpkin
• yummy