Homemade Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Sauce
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Fall really is in full swing right now! How many of you are enjoying pumpkin spice lattes?
I gotta say over the past three days I’ve had 4! I’ve had 2 from Starbucks and two from home (you may want to see my Pumpkin Spice Latte if you want to make it too!). Not to mention that I’ve been having my fair share of pumpkin recipes to celebrate the month of October, as I’ve shared on my YouTube channel! I’ve not celebrated pumpkin much until now, and with this theme my eyes have truly opened!
If you need some kitchen inspiration, then check out my free guide Make Cooking Fun!, my 5 top tips to explore your potential in the kitchen! Working with what you have can certainly inspire you spark some creativity. If you make this simple Homemade Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Sauce, I guarantee this will channel your hidden barista, and you’ll want to try all of the Starbucks pumpkin drinks! That’s exactly what this is for! This Pumpkin Spice Sauce recipe for coffee definitely makes a generous amount, so feel free to delve into using this in plenty of exciting ways! Check out further down in the post for some ideas!
If you’re a pumpkin lover then you definitely need this sauce in your life! To accompany your favourite pumpkin recipes, this sauce will go a long way! Make something with your pumpkin sauce as part of the heart on a plate theme in the Live to Cook challenge! You can get your free goodies by signing up for my newsletter, and don’t forget to tag me on Instagram so I can see and share your tasty pumpkin goodness!
To fully grasp the concepts of this Homemade Pumpkin Spice Sauce, I definitely recommend you check out the video at the bottom of this post! I’d appreciate if you subscribe to my YouTube channel if you haven’t already and hit the bell button to get notified when new videos are released! I love to make video recipes along with the written ones so you’ve got a visual representation of what’s happening! Let’s get cooking!
What Is Pumpkin Spice Sauce?
At Starbucks, the Pumpkin Spice Sauce makes for the base that they add to the iconic pumpkin spice latte. Would you believe that when the Pumpkin Spice Latte officially launched in 2003, there was no actual pumpkin in the drink? Quite deceptive right! It took 12 years for the drink to revamp and have real pumpkin puree added to the recipe. Originally, the Pumpkin Spice Sauce was called Pumpkin Spice Syrup, but now with the actual pumpkin in there, it’s now called Pumpkin Spice Sauce. That’s the terminology I’ll use here. However, to avoid confusion, they do mean the same thing! If you’re interested in learning more about the history of the Pumpkin Spice Latte, check out this article by Seattle Melt!
According to Starbucks, 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]
source: Starbucks.com
See how there is condensed milk and pumpkin puree? Now I don’t know what the vegetable juice, “natural flavours,” and basically the rest of the ingredient list is for. This probably gives the slight artificial aftertaste you may notice when you drink a Pumpkin Spice Latte. I guarantee with this syrup we’re just going to have pumpkin and spice goodness, as if you’re enjoying a pumpkin pie!
WHAT TOOLS DO I NEED TO Make Pumpkin Spice Sauce?
You probably have all of the tools to make this easy Pumpkin Spice Sauce, but let’s just quickly go over what you’ll need so you you’ve got everything ready to go to make the syrup!
How to Use Pumpkin Spice sauce
Of course the staple way to use the Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Sauce is in the Pumpkin Spice Latte! However, you can use it as a sweetener in any recipe that calls for some pumpkin goodness! Here are some ideas:
Add a hint of pumpkin to transform your Cafe Mocha , White Chocolate Mocha, or Tim Horton’s French Vanilla
Hot chocolates like Decadent White Hot Chocolate or S’mores Hot Chocolate
Yogurt
Ice cream
Tie with a bow to give as a gift!
Ingredients for Pumpkin Spice Sauce
Time to review what’s needed for our Pumpkin Spice Sauce. We’ll only need a handful of ingredients that are pantry staples, so I’m sure you’ll be all good! Scroll to the bottom of this post for the FULL PRINTABLE RECIPE CARD to save the recipe for later and to see ingredient quantities. If you want to make more or less sauce, then all the individual ingredient quantities will automatically be adjusted for you in the recipe card!
Pumpkin puree: Please make sure it’s pumpkin puree and NOT pumpkin pie filling! There is a big difference! In the ingredient list of pumpkin puree, you’ll see it contains one thing: 100% pure pumpkin. On the other hand, the pumpkin pie filling is sweetened and contains lots of other things that will ruin our Pumpkin Spice Sauce!
Condensed milk: Not to be confused with evaporated milk. The condensed milk I’m using here is sweetened. If yours isn’t, you’ll need to add more sugar.
Table sugar: Just regular white sugar here is all you need.
Water: We’ll add water to dissolve the sugar.
Pumpkin spice: You can follow my Perfect DIY Pumpkin Spice recipe or you can use a store-bought one if you’d like. I recommend homemade, however!
Vanilla extract: This will further enhance the amazing spices in the Pumpkin Spice and the pumpkin puree.
How to Make Starbucks Pumpkin Sauce
In a saucepan, add the water and sugar and turn on the heat. Whisk well and warm the mixture until the sugar has completely dissolved.
Once dissolved, add the pumpkin puree, condensed milk, pumpkin spice and vanilla extract. Heat for 1-2 minutes and then turn off the heat.
Pour out the pumpkin syrup into a mason jar for storage in the refrigerator.
Tips for An Amazing STarbucks Pumpkin Sauce
The syrup only needs to be warmed through until the sugar is dissolved and the condensed milk, vanilla, pumpkin and spices are mixed thoroughly.
Use unsweetened condensed milk to control the amount of type of sugar to add to your sauce.
Use to sweeten tea, coffee or top on desserts for a sweet pumpkin flavoured kick.
Do I serve Pumpkin Sauce Hot Or Cold?
You can serve it however you’d want! However, I’ll be honest and admit that I’m not quite sure what use case you’d have to need the Pumpkin Spice Sauce to be hot! If you add the Pumpkin Spice Sauce to coffee, it’ll just get hot with the warm coffee anyway! Perhaps if you want it over ice cream? Not sure! Comment below if you’d have this sauce hot and in what way!
How to Store Starbucks pumpkin sauce
The best storage methods for Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Sauce are either in an airtight container or in a mason jar so that you can spoon out the desired portion when you serve. Store in the refrigerator.
To top desserts or drinks like a barista, then I recommend you transfer into a squeeze bottle. This can also give you more control of how much you add.
How Long Can I Keep Starbucks pumpkin sauce?
Because of the dairy in your Starbucks Pumpkin Sauce, you can keep it in the fridge for about 2 weeks.
How to Reheat Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Sauce
You can simply reheat your Pumpkin Spice Sauce in the microwave. Transfer the desired amount in a microwave-safe bowl or container and heat at 15 second intervals, stirring at each interval. If the sauce is in a squeeze bottle, then place the bottle directly in the microwave.
The best method to reheat a large amount of sauce would be in a saucepan over the stove on low heat.
Other Dessert Topping Recipes!
Watch How to Make Homemade Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Sauce Here:
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