10 Minute Starbucks Pumpkin Sauce For Coffee

​It’s that time of year, pumpkin spice season!

Starbucks pumpkin sauce stands as a quintessential symbol of all things autumn and cozy. It’s the key ingredient for pumpkin flavor during the fall season and it is easy to make your own more flavorful sauce at home.

You can use it to make your own at-home pumpkin spice lattes. Crafted with a blend of carefully selected ingredients, this sauce captures the essence of the season, bringing together the rich flavors of pumpkin, spices, and a touch of sweetness

You can even make a quick DIY Pumpkin Pie spice at home with pantry staples.

It can be used to make Pumpkin Chai with a dash of Chai Masala Powder.  Add it to an Iced Chai.

Or, it can be added to any coffee, drizzled on cheesecakes, in oatmeal, ice cream, yogurt, and more.  It tastes pretty yummy on its own too.

Why Make it At Home

1. Customization: When you create pumpkin sauce in your own kitchen, you have complete control over the ingredients and proportions. Adjust the sweetness, spices, and texture to suit your preferences.  

2. Ingredient Transparency: Homemade pumpkin sauce can be without preservatives or artificial additives. You can use high-quality, real pumpkin puree and hand-selected spices to ensure a more authentic and vibrant flavor. 

3. Vegan Option: Substitute condensed oat milk to make your own vegan pumpkin sauce for coffee.

4. Cost-Effective: Creating your own pumpkin sauce can be more cost-effective in the long run. You can make larger batches as well.

Ingredient Notes

Simple ingredients make this decadent syrup. I looked up the Starbucks pumpkin spice sauce recipe as the basis for this.

According to the Starbucks website, these are the ingredients in the Pumpkin Spice Sauce (you see this when ordering a Pumpkin Spice Latte):

PUMPKIN SPICE SAUCE [SUGAR, CONDENSED SKIM MILK, PUMPKIN PUREE, CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF FRUIT AND VEGETABLE JUICE FOR COLOR, NATURAL FLAVORS, ANNATTO, SALT, POTASSIUM SORBATE]

1. Pumpkin Puree: The star ingredient, pumpkin purée , is the driving force behind the sauce’s distinct flavor profile. Grab a can of this velvety puree and you are good to go.

2. Pumpkin Pie Spice: No pumpkin-flavored creation would be complete without the warmth and complexity of pumpkin pie spice. A blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves, this spice mix imparts a sense of nostalgia and comfort.  

Pick up some at your local grocery store or make a more flavorful spice blend at home.

3. Condensed Milk: Condensed milk brings a creamy texture to the Pumpkin Sauce. Its natural sweetness and rich consistency meld seamlessly with the other ingredients, contributing to the sauce’s decadence. The milk’s caramelized notes enhance the depth of flavor.

4. Sugar: The amount of sugar can be adjusted to your preference. Substitute with brown sugar or coconut sugar.  You can even try a bit of maple syrup.

5. Salt: While a seemingly small component, salt plays a pivotal role in enhancing the overall flavor profile of the pumpkin sauce. It acts as a flavor amplifier, heightening the sweetness of the sugar, intensifying the spices, and balancing the richness of the condensed milk.  

How to Make – Simple Recipe

1. Create a Sugar Syrup: Combine the sugar and water in a small saucepan. Heat the mixture over medium heat, stirring until the sugar fully dissolves. This will create a simple syrup base for the sauce.

2. Add Pumpkin Puree, Condensed milk, salt,  and pumpkin pie spice: Once the sugar has dissolved, add the pumpkin puree and pumpkin spice mixture to the saucepan. Stir well to combine.

3.Simmer and Thicken: Reduce the heat to low and let the mixture simmer gently. Allow it to cook for about 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally. This will help the flavors meld together and the sauce to thicken slightly. 

4. Cool and Store: Remove the saucepan from the heat and let the pumpkin sauce cool down. Once it’s at room temperature, transfer the sauce to a glass jar like a mason jar or airtight container for storage.

5. Serve with Coffee: When you’re ready to enjoy your pumpkin spice coffee, simply add a spoonful or two of the pumpkin sauce to your cup of coffee. Stir well to incorporate the flavors.

Remember that the pumpkin sauce can be quite concentrated, so you don’t need to use a lot in your coffee. Adjust the amount based on your taste preferences.

This homemade pumpkin sauce will add a cozy fall flavor to your coffee, making it perfect for those chilly mornings or festive occasions.

How to use it

While this is a key ingredient in Starbucks pumpkin spice latte, it can be used and drizzled on many things!

Drink: homemade lattes, cold brew, pumpkin chai

Breakfast: French toast, pancakes, or mixed with cream cheese as a spread.

Desserts: Cakes, cheesecakes, and more!

Use it to adjust to the strength of pumpkin spice flavor you prefer. Personally, I like more flavor than what you usually get at the local coffee shops.

Have you tried this Starbucks pumpkin spice syrup made with real ingredients? If so, I would greatly appreciate it if you could leave a comment and rate it with stars. It would mean a lot to me to hear how it turned out. If you’re on Instagram, please tag me so I can see your creation. Thank you for your support!