This Starbucks Style Pumpkin Spice Simple Syrup is made with real pumpkin puree and whole spices for a rich, bold syrup. Finished with sweetened condensed oat milk for a dairy-free version of the Starbucks syrup. Perfect for a homemade pumpkin spice latte or your favorite fall drinks and desserts.
Year after year Starbucks comes out with their pumpkin spice latte, and year after year it always contains dairy. Which is no good for those of us who are avoiding it.
Starbucks doesn't offer any dairy-free alternatives. You just have to hack it with a spice topping. Or choose a different flavor like apple crisp.
This year I'm on a mission to create homemade versions of my favorite foods, and Starbucks's PSL was high on the list!
The secret to a dairy-free syrup that's just as good as the Starbucks drink: a dairy-free sweetened condensed milk. I recently discovered the gem that is sweetened condensed oat milk, and I RAN to make this syrup.
This syrup is everything you love about the classic Starbucks syrup, just totally dairy free!
Once you've made a batch, grab some non-dairy milk and espresso, and make a pumpkin spice latte!
Jump to:
Why You'll Love This Pumpkin Spice Syrup
- Starbucks style, but dairy free - Starbucks' pumpkin syrup contains dairy. This syrup is just as creamy and totally dairy free
- Real Pumpkin - made with pumpkin puree
- Warm spices - whole spices create a deep, aromatic flavor and NO grittiness
- Coffee Shop Favorite - a homemade version of the fall classic
- Easy to Customize - Adjust the sweetness and spice to your taste. And chose your favorite sugar or sugar alternative
Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
- Water
- Sweetener of choice: brown sugar, maple syrup, agave, or equivalent sugar alternative. Any of these work! If you choose agave or another sugar alternative, I recommend adding 1 tablespoon of molasses to help deepen the flavor.
- Pumpkin Puree: not pumpkin pie filling
- Spices: cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, allspice, peppercorns. I am recommending to use whole spices because it prevents a grainy syrup - ground spices aren't easily strained out. That said, I've listed a recommended amount of ground spice for each of the spices. Feel free to use all ground, or mix and match based on what you have.
- Vanilla Extract: for an extra depth and creaminess. You can also use vanilla bean paste.
- Sweetened Condensed Oat Milk: this GEM of a product is what transforms the syrup from a regular pumpkin syrup to a creamy dreamy Starbucks style syrup. Choose sweetened condensed oat milk over sweetened condensed coconut milk to avoid a coconut flavor.
Step-By-Step Instructions
Step 1. In a saucepan combine the water, sugar, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, allspice, and peppercorns. Bring to a simmer and let cook for 10-15 minutes.
Step 2. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla. Let cool completely - this is necessary to infuse the flavor!
Step 3. Strain with a fine mesh strainer or cheese cloth.
Step 4. If desired, whisk in the sweetened condensed oat milk for Starbucks style syrup.
More Ways to Use Pumpkin Spice Syrup
Don't limit this syrup to lattes! Try it:
- in iced coffee or cold brew
- in fall mocktails
- in a spiced hot chocolate
- stirred into chai
- over oatmeal
- as a syrup for pancakes or waffles - my vegan apple pancakes are screaming for this syrup
- mixed into vegan yogurt
- as a syrup for vegan vanilla ice cream - it would be divine on vegan pumpkin pie ice cream
Elizabeth's Kitchen Notes
- Whole Spices: I absolutely think it's worth it to use whole spices in this drink. I've made several syrups with ground spices and there's just no way to strain out all the sediment.
- Pumpkin puree: you'd think that you'd want more pumpkin in this recipe, but I found that a larger amount of pumpkin made for a sludge texture that was not enjoyable to drink. Stick to a small amount - the flavor really comes from the spices!
- Sugar: I first tested this recipe with white sugar and it was just missing something. Brown sugar totally solved it! The difference between brown sugar and white is about 1 tablespoon of molasses per cup - so if using white sugar or a sugar alternative, I recommend adding molasses!
FAQ & Expert Tips
While they aren't necessary, whole spices make the syrup so much cleaner. You can easily strain out the spices and don't end up with grit at the bottom of the glass.
Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a month.
Yes! You can use agave, maple syrup, coconut sugar or even stevia instead of the brown sugar. Omit the sweetened condensed oat milk.
Recipe Prayer
Thank you God for this syrup that uses ingredients that honor your creation. Allow us to enjoy this syrup and the season of fall. Amen.
More homemade syrups
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📖 Recipe
Starbucks Style Pumpkin Spice Simple Syrup (Dairy-Free, Refined Sugar Free Option)
Ingredients
- 1 Cup Water
- 1 Cup Sweetener of choice brown sugar, maple syrup, agave, or equivalent sugar alternative*
- ¼ Cup Pumpkin Puree
- 4 Cinnamon Sticks or 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1" Piece Ginger peeled, or ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 Half Nutmeg or ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 3 Whole Cloves or large pinch ground cloves - about half of a ⅛ teaspoon measure
- 3 Whole Allspice or ⅛ teaspoon ground allspice
- 3 Peppercorns or small pinch ground black pepper
- 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- ½ Cup Sweetened Condensed Oat Milk optional - to make the creamy Starbucks-style syrup
Instructions
- In a saucepan combine the water, sugar, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, allspice, and peppercorns. Bring to a simmer and let cook for 10-15 minutes.
- Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla. Let cool completely - this is necessary to infuse the flavor!
- Strain with a fine mesh strainer or cheese cloth.
- If desired, whisk in the sweetened condensed oat milk for Starbucks style syrup.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is an estimate.
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