This classic Pumpkin Spice Chai Latte is quick and easy to whip together with just 5 simple ingredients so you can enjoy your favorite coffee house staple at home. Plus the homemade chai latte recipe is easy to customize to your preferences.
Last weekend, the weather was chilly and rainy, definitely one of those gloomy fall days where you just want to curl up with a cozy blanket, a good book, and a warm latte. With this homemade Pumpkin Spice Chai Latte recipe, you can enjoy your favorite coffee house staple without even having to leave the house (which, let’s be honest, nobody wants to do on a gloomy, cold day).
This homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte is my go to quick and easy recipe. I wanted to keep it simple. So with just 5 ingredients, it is perfect to whip up on a week day morning or as a quick afternoon pick me up. You can even make it caffeine free by using chai rooibos tea or a decaffeinated chai tea, so you can enjoy it in the evening or to cozy up before bed.
How Can I Customize my Homemade Pumpkin Spice Chai Latte?
The best part about this chai latte recipe is that it is easy to customize to your preferences. Prefer non dairy, use your favorite almond, coconut, or oat milk. Want it sweeter add a little more honey. You could even make a vegan Pumpkin Spice Chai Latte by substituting maple syrup for the honey and using non dairy milk. Or if you prefer coffee, just switch out the chai tea for an equal amount of your favorite brewed coffee.
My favorite Pumpkin Spice Chai Latte recipe uses:
- Chai Tea: Yogi brand Chai Tea is my absolute favorite. It has just the right amount of flavor and warming spice with notes of ginger, cinnamon, and a hint of sweetness. I also love the Yogi Chai Rooibos (pronounced ROY-boss), which combines the warm chai flavors with a caffeine free Rooibos herbal tea. So it’s perfect for evenings or other times when you just want to avoid caffeine. Rooibos tea is also really good for you. It contains antioxidants with anti-inflammatory properties as well as being rich in iron, potassium fluoride, and magnesium.
- Pumpkin Puree: Unlike some recipes using artificial pumpkin flavor, my homemade Pumpkin Spice Chai Latte recipe uses real pumpkin puree to give you a rich pumpkin flavor. The pumpkin also helps thicken the latte a little adding a nice richness. Just make sure you buy pumpkin puree that is just pumpkin, not the pie filling that is mixed with sweeteners and other spices. I always keep pumpkin puree in my freezer, frozen in little teaspoon size servings (Maggie gets a teaspoon with her breakfast each morning!). But this Pumpkin Spice Chai Latte recipe can also be a great way to use up extra pumpkin from other recipes. Or just crack open a whole can and then you can sip away on Pumpkin Spice Lattes all week.
- Pumpkin Spice Seasoning: I think just about everyone has a jar of pumpkin spice seasoning, or pumpkin pie spice in their spice cabinet these days, but if you don’t, get some! Pumpkin spice seasoning is a combination of warm pumpkin pie flavorings such as cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, ginger, and cloves. It’s great for adding pumpkin flavor to all kinds of recipes. You can also mix up your own pumpkin spice blend, such as with this DIY pumpkin spice blend recipe from Food Network.
- Honey: Honey adds just a little sweetness to this Pumpkin Spice Chai Latte. I don’t like my drinks too sweet, so I use just a ½ tsp of honey. But if you want it sweeter, feel free to add more. You could also substitute maple syrup or sugar. I like to use this Calhoun Hemp Honey from my good friends over at Spring Hollow Hemp, which is locally sourced honey mixed with full spectrum CBD. It’s so tasty and is the perfect addition to help you chill out and relax as you sip your tea, plus all of the other great benefits CBD offers.
- Milk: My favorite milk that I have been adding to my tea lately is unsweetened oat milk. It adds a nice richness to the tea like you would expect from whole milk, but without the dairy and fewer calories. You can also use regular milk or your other favorite non dairy milk – just be sure the milk is unsweetened or if not, you may want to cut back on the amount of honey added.
Can I Make a Pumpkin Spice Latte with Coffee?
Absolutely! I’m not a big coffee drinker anymore, but you can definitely use this same recipe to make a Pumpkin Spice Latte. Just substitute your favorite brewed coffee for the chai tea for a homemade PSL that will rival your favorite coffee shop.
This homemade Pumpkin Spice Chai Latte is like a warm and comforting hug in a mug. It will have you feeling all of the fall vibes. I know I sure was, so please don’t judge me for getting super cliché with my fall themed pumpkin photos. Here’s one more before I go!
Looking for another fall favorite? Check out my Apple Cider Moscow Mules or Roasted Delicata Squash and Onions with Apple Cider Reduction. What’s your favorite fall drink?
Easy Pumpkin Spice Chai Latte
Ingredients
- 1 cup chai tea (brewed according to tea bag directions)
- 2 tsp canned pumpkin puree (see note)
- ¼ tsp pumpkin spice seasoning
- ½ - 1 tsp honey
- ½ cup milk (see note)
- Whipped cream (optional, but sometimes you just need to treat yourself!)
Instructions
- Add ingredients to hot tea in a large mug. Whisk to combine.
- Top with optional whipped cream if desired.
- Enjoy!
Notes
- About the Pumpkin: Make sure you use regular pumpkin puree, not the pumpkin pie filling. I always keep pumpkin puree in my freezer, frozen in little teaspoon size servings (Maggie gets a teaspoon with her breakfast each morning). If you need to open a whole can, I recommend freezing the extras. You might be surprised how many random things you end up adding pumpkin to when you have it on hand. This Pumpkin Spice Chai Latte recipe can also be a great way to use up extra pumpkin from other recipes.
- About the Milk: My favorite milk to add to my tea lately is unsweetened oat milk. It adds a nice richness to the tea like you would expect from whole milk, but without the dairy and fewer calories. You can also use regular milk or your other favorite non-dairy milk – just be sure the milk is unsweetened or if not, you may want to cut back on the amount of honey added.