Pumpkin Spice Sauce for Coffee (Simple & Homemade)

Skip the drive through and create your own pumpkin spice lattes at home with this delicious homemade pumpkin spice sauce.

It’s pumpkin spice season, which means it’s pumpkin spice latte season, or PSL as the kids call it these days. I feel like this coffee drink was never a thing when I was growing up, but boy is it now one of the most anticipated drinks every year. Of course Starbucks created and coined the PSL, but you can get one at most coffee shops these days. And while I absolutely love going to and supporting my favorite local coffee shops and enjoying delicious coffee made by someone else, the $6-$7 daily coffee isn’t sustainable for me. So what’s the alternative? You make coffee at home of course!

But most of us really want that coffee shop experience and have a hard time achieving that at home. However, I’m here to tell you that you can absolutely make coffee shop quality drinks at home that are better for you and a fraction of the cost. Homemade pumpkin spice sauce is simple, easy to make and perfect for creating pumpkin spice lattes or pumpkin spice flavored coffee in general. It also is great to use on goodies like pancakes and even ice cream.

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FAQs

Is there a way to make pumpkin spice sauce with no sugar?

You can absolutely make pumpkin spice sauce with no sugar added. In place of traditional sweetened condensed milk, there are options for a Splenda sweetened condensed milk. You can also easily make your own homemade sugar free condensed milk following recipes like this one.

How long does homemade pumpkin spice sauce last?

Pumpkin spice sauce can last up to two weeks in the refrigerator if it’s stored properly in an airtight container. I like to use mason jars with an airtight screw top lid to store this sauce, but condiment bottles and other dispenser can work well too.

What’s the difference between pumpkin spice sauce and pumpkin spice syrup?

Pumpkin spice sauce is made using real pumpkin and sweetened condensed milk, making it richer in flavor and thicker in texture. Pumpkin spice syrup on the other hand is made with a simple syrup and pumpkin flavoring and tends to be thinner in texture. Both work great for creating pumpkin spice lattes and other pumpkin drinks. It just depends on your preference. The syrup is going to contain less sugar overall though.

Can I use homemade pumpkin puree to make pumpkin spice sauce?

You can absolutely use homemade pumpkin puree to make pumpkin sauce. Just note that this recipe was created using traditional canned pumpkin puree that typically contains less water. If you’re using homemade pumpkin puree that’s watery, you may want to lessen the amount of sweetened condensed milk used, or cook the mixture down further to ensure more of the water in the puree is evaporated.

Ingredients

Brown sugar: You can use light or dark brown sugar for this recipe. I prefer to make my own brown sugar because the flavor is richer and I can get a nice medium brown sugar, but store bought is absolutely okay to use!

Water: Water is water of course, so use what you usually use. I prefer to use filtered water for drinking and baking, so that’s what I use.

Sweetened condensed milk: It’s important to use sweetened condensed milk, as opposed to evaporated milk for this pumpkin spice sauce. The two cans look similar, but they are most certainly different. If you’re dairy free, you can use coconut or almond condensed milk or other lactose free options, although they may alter the taste a bit.

Real pumpkin puree: I recently noticed that the Libby’s pumpkin puree uses pumpkins that are grown in the US, whereas store brands tend to be grown in other countries. So even though Libby’s is a bit more expensive, I do like to buy Libby’s when I can. However, any pumpkin puree will do, even homemade, although that can tend to be a bit more watery. Just be sure to use pumpkin puree and not pumpkin pie filling because pumpkin pie filling contains extra sugar that we don’t need in this recipe.

Cinnamon & pumpkin pie spice: You can’t forget the second most important ingredients, which are the spices. I LOVE cinnamon, so even though pumpkin pie spice does contain cinnamon, I like to add in more to give this pumpkin spice sauce a bit more of that warm fall flavor. Use your favorite blends or make your own DIY pumpkin spice recipe.

How to Make Pumpkin Spice Sauce

TOOLS YOU MAY NEED

• Medium sauce pan
• Whisk
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Airtight storage container

INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 water
• 1 can sweetened condensed milk
• 3/4 cup canned pumpkin puree
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice

DIRECTIONS

Add brown sugar and water to a sauce pan and whisk until the sugar is dissolved into the water.

Turn the heat to medium and allow the mixture to reduce about 1/3.

Whisk in the sweetened condensed milk, pumpkin puree, cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice until they’re fully incorporated.

Remove the pan from the heat and use the pumpkin pie sauce immediately or allow it to cool to room temperature before storing it.

NOTES

• Store bought pumpkin puree will yield a result like that shown in this recipe, but you can also use your own homemade pumpkin puree.
• For a lower sugar option, opt for sugar-free condensed milk.
• Store the homemade pumpkin spice sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
• Use 2-3 tbs to create a homemade pumpkin spice latte or drizzle over pancakes, ice cream or even yogurt.
• If you find the pumpkin spice sauce to be gritty, you can strain it before using it.

How to Enjoy Pumpkin Spice Sauce for Coffee

1. Add 2-3 tbs of pumpkin spice sauce to the bottom of a cup, add in hot or cold espresso and mix, then add your favorite milk, ice if desired, and you’ve got yourself a homemade pumpkin spice latte.
2. Pour pumpkin spice sauce on top of pancakes and waffles in place of maple syrup to give your breakfast an autumnal vibe.
3. Mix the pumpkin sauce into Greek yogurt, then add some granola and even berries on top and enjoy!
4. Drizzle over vanilla ice cream to create a pumpkin spice ice cream.

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR MORE COFFEE SYRUP RECIPES?

Looking for more coffee syrup recipes like this pumpkin spice sauce? Check these out!

• Cinnamon Apple Syrup
• Toasted Marshmallow Coffee Syrup
• Brown Sugar Coffee Syrup
• Homemade Pumpkin Spice Coffee Creamer

Did you make this pumpkin spice sauce? If you enjoyed it, I’d really appreciate if you came back and gave the recipe a five star rating! Tag me on Instagram (@thesimplehomeplace) to show me your own recreation of this recipe!