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This Easy Pumpkin Chai Latte is so simple to make at home, you just need a few ingredients and a few minutes! It’s fall-bliss in a mug!
Adding pumpkin to a chai latte isn’t something I considered until I started wondering how I could make my regular seasonal chai latte a little more–pumpkin-y?
I started by grabbing my homemade pumpkin spice simple syrup, a can of pumpkin puree, and off to the kitchen I went!
What I came up with is frothy, creamy, fall-bliss in a mug! And it pairs especially well with some freshly baked chocolate chip cookies, or dark chocolate m&m cookies! You must give this recipe a try!
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Ingredients
- Chai tea bag - just use your favorite chai tea bag, I used Bigelow brand, but any brand of chai will work!
- Hot water - for steeping.
- Pumpkin spice syrup - for flavor, you can make your own or use store bought (it’s easy to find during the holidays).
- Pumpkin purée - pumpkin puree really adds something to this latte - it makes it thicker and gives it more of a decadent feel.
- Cinnamon stick - deepens the chai flavor.
- Star anise -for a bold, licorice flavor.
- Frothed milk - you can either use a hand frother, a counter frother, or just whisk it. Whole milk, half and half, or 2% works best.
- Whipped cream - this is optional for topping.
Instructions
Step 1: Add the chai tea bag, pumpkin spice syrup, and pumpkin puree (real pumpkin puree or canned) to a mug (I only used the pyrex so that you can see how the process looks, feel free to go through this entire process in a single mug).
Step 2: Add the cinnamon stick and star anise. Allow it to steep for about 5 minutes.
Step 3: Discard the tea bag, cinnamon stick, and star anise.
Step 4: Froth your milk and add it to your mug. Then, garnish with whipped cream, and a cinnamon stick if you'd like!
Substitutions
- Chai tea bag - you can use any chai tea bag that you like, but a vanilla chai tea bag will also work.
- Pumpkin spice syrup - if you don’t have pumpkin spice syrup, stir 1 tsp of brown sugar and ¼ tsp of pumpkin pie spice into the chai tea while it’s steeping.
- Cinnamon stick - if you don’t have a cinnamon stick, just leave it out.
- Star anise - if you don’t have a star anise, or don’t like the flavor, just leave it out.
Variations
- Vanilla Chai Latte - make it a vanilla chai latte by using a vanilla chai tea bag or adding ½ tsp of vanilla extract to your tea!
- Vegan or Plant-based - to make it vegan - simply swap the milk with coconut milk, almond milk, or any plant-based milk that you like. And for the whipped cream, use coconut whipped cream!
- Refined sugar free - making this refined sugar free is easy, just use maple syrup to sweeten it instead of the pumpkin spice syrup. Just be sure to add ¼ tsp of pumpkin spice blend to your drink to give it that pumpkin-spice flavor!
- Make it an iced pumpkin chai latte - Just let it cool, pour it over ice, and top with whipped cream and cinnamon or nutmeg!
Equipment:
- A hand frother: A hand frother is super *handy* because it doesn’t take up a lot of space and you can froth both hot and steamed liquid. I actually use it all the time for many things in the kitchen, not just for frothing milk. I also use it for hollandaise sauce, whipped cream, and aioli; these are just a few!)
- Counter frother: This frother is great for cold and hot frothing. I love having it, it’s a slight splurge but if you make a lot of coffee and tea at home, it’s totally worth it!
Electric kettle: An electric gooseneck kettle with a temperature gauge is nice to have if you’re a big tea drinker. This is the one I have (and it looks great on the counter).
Storage + make ahead
If you’re going to make this ahead of time, I recommend putting the leftovers or the contents of the drink (minus the whipped cream and no need to froth anything) in an airtight mason jar and storing it in the fridge for no more than 2 days.
When you’re ready to serve it, use a hand frother or whisk to heat it over medium heat, while whisking continuously until it’s emulsified and warm. Pour it into a mug and top with whipped cream before serving!
FAQ
I’ve only had their iced chai latte with a pump of PSL syrup, and it does taste just like it!
Fancy equipment like an espresso machine with a steam wand would make the process a lot easier. However, people don’t have these machines in their homes.
For that reason, my recipes will give you a more DIY-approach to making lattes at home. You can use a whisk or a handheld frother to make frothy foam, and with a little creativity you can create a latte that rivals any coffee shop.
Related recipes
Level up your Easy Pumpkin Chai Latte by adding homemade PSL syrup, pumpkin whipped cream, and/or pumpkin cold foam!
Easy Pumpkin Chai Latte
Ingredients
- 1 chai tea bag
- ½ cup hot water
- 2 tsp pumpkin spice syrup
- 1 tbsp pumpkin purée
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 star anise
- ½ cup hot frothed milk
- Whipped cream (optional) for topping
Instructions
- Add the chai tea bag to hot water. Stir in the pumpkin spice syrup and pumpkin puree.
- Add the cinnamon stick and star anise. Allow it to steep for at least 3 minutes.
- While the tea steeps, froth the milk.
- Discard the tea bag, cinnamon stick, and star anise. Top with the frothed milk.
Notes
Nutrition
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