Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Chai Latte Recipe

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Nothing welcomes the fall season like a comforting creamy pumpkin drink drizzled with some pumpkin spice. And this Starbucks pumpkin spice chai latte is the perfect drink to get you started. It has all the fall flavors in one cup!

A Starbucks pumpkin spice latte in a glass with a straw.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

We can think of so many reasons why you’ll love this copycat version.

For starters, we are certain you’ll enjoy making it right in the comfort of your kitchen because of how easy the recipe is.
You only need a handful of ingredients that are most likely in your pantry and this few-step recipe.
Plus, the copycat version tastes just as great as the one you buy at Starbucks, and you can always make it customized to your liking: creamier, less sugary, or completely vegan – it’s all up to you.

Even better, you can make your spice cream ahead of time, froth it, and add your pumpkin spice topping when ready to indulge. For the tea concentrate, you can opt for the store-bought ne or make yours from scratch.

A glass of iced coffee with a straw, topped with a dollop of whipped cream and drizzled with chocolate syrup.

What is a Chai Latte?

A chai latte is a popular hot beverage made by combining spiced tea (Chai) with steamed milk and topped with foam. The term “chai” is Hindi for word the word “tea”, and in this context, it refers to a blend of black tea with various aromatic spices, such as cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, cloves, and black peppercorns.

The spices may vary from recipe to recipe. Like in our Starbucks version of the pumpkin spice chai latte, we use pumpkin spice.

To make a cup of chai latte, tea concentrate is typically mixed with steamed milk and sometimes sweetened with sugar or a sweetener like honey or syrup. The result is a creamy, flavorful drink with a good balance of flavor.

A Starbucks pumpkin spice latte in a glass.

What is Chai?

On the other hand, Chai is a sweet, milky, and spicy drink made by steeping black tea with milk and spices. Chai is at least thousands of years old and is believed to have been first made in Hindustani and made popular by the British colonials in India.

A variety of spices and herbs can be added to chai, such as cloves, ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, peppercorns, and so much more. This combination makes masala chai which is a more common variation of Chai (or Tea as you might know it).

Ingredients Needed

You only need a few ingredients to make this delicious pumpkin spice chai latte.

Ingredients you’ll need for this recipe

Strongly Brewed Tea. This is what forms the base of your drink, so you want it brewed to perfection. This is the chai portion of the drink.
Regular milk, oat milk, coconut, almond, or any milk of choice.
Pumpkin Puree adds thickness and gives the drink the authentic pumpkin taste and flavor.
Cream for that creamy texture.
Condensed Milk for a sweetened, thick, and creamy texture.
Vanilla Extract for an added layer of a sweet flavor.
Pumpkin spice enhances the natural pumpkin flavor.
Maple Syrup for a bit of sweetness.

A group of bowls with different liquids on to make the pumpkin spice chai latte recipe.

Equipment Needed

To create our delightful latte, you’ll need some basic kitchen equipment:

A Pyrex Measuring cup to combine ingredients.
A Glass for serving.
A Whisk or Spon for mixing.

Having these items on hand will ensure a smooth and enjoyable latte-making experience.

Tools you’ll need

Pyrex Prepware 6001075 Measuring Cup, Red Graphics, Clear

Zulay Kitchen Powerful Milk Frother Wand - Ultra Fast Handheld Drink Mixer - Electric Whisk Foam Maker for Coffee, Lattes, Cappuccino, Frappe, Matcha, Hot Chocolate & Coffee Creamer - Milk Boss Black

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases through our affiliate links at no additional cost to our readers.

Step-By-Step How to Make A Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Chai Latte At Home

Here’s a step-by-step visual guide to make your homemade version of the Starbucks spice chai latte

An orange liquid reminiscent of Starbucks' pumpkin spice chai latte, gently poured into a glass pitcher.

Step 1: Prepare Pumpkin Cold Foam

In a bowl or measuring cup, mix together 3 tbsp pumpkin puree, 1 tsp pumpkin spice, and 1 tsp condensed milk.

A glass pitcher filled with a Starbucks pumpkin spice chai latte on a white surface.

Step 2: Whisk in Cream

Add 3 tbsp cream to the pumpkin mixture and whisk until slightly frothy.

A glass with ice in it, perfect for enjoying a refreshing Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Chai Latte.

Step 3: Assemble the Drink

Fill a tall glass with ice.

A person pouring Starbucks pumpkin spice chai latte into a glass.

Step 4: Add tea

Pour ½ cup of strongly brewed tea over the ice.

A person pouring milk into a glass to prepare a Starbucks pumpkin spice chai latte.

Step 5: Add milk as the next layer.

Gently layer ½ cup milk over the tea. Pick the milk of your choice! Cow’s milk, oat milk, or almond milk all work great!

A Starbucks pumpkin spice latte on a table next to pumpkins.

Step 6: Add Cold foam Mixture. Sprinkle with spices

Spoon the prepared pumpkin cold foam on top of the milk. Sprinkle extra pumpkin spice for garnish.

A Starbucks pumpkin spice latte with whipped cream and pumpkins.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

This is a new menu item for Fall 2023! To order a pumpkin chai latte from Starbucks, you can simply ask for it by name. Ask to order a “Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai Tea Latte.”

Yes, Starbucks makes pumpkin spice chai. You can find it on their menu as an iced pumpkin chai latte. The drink is made with tea concentrate, milk, pumpkin spice, and pumpkin cold foam.

The pumpkin chai latte from Starbucks contains:

2% dairy milk
Chai tea concentrate, which is made of black tea and spices ( cloves, star anise, ginger, cinnamon, black pepper and cardamom)
Pumpkin spice cold foam
Pumpkin spice sauce made of pumpkin puree, sugar, condensed milk, natural flavors, and fruit and vegetable juice to add color and salt
Pumpkin spice

The base of the Pumpkin cream chai latte is a tea concentrate so it contains caffeine. However, not as much caffeine as you’d find in coffee. A grande iced pumpkin cream chai tea latte only contains 95 mg of caffeine compared to the 165 mg in a grande iced coffee.

It depends on the size of the drink, but ideally, you’d have three pumps for a tall, four for a grande, and five for a venti.

No. Pumpkin spice chai latte does not contain any coffee despite what many people assume because of the word Latte. Latte simply means milk and not a type of coffee, and in this recipe, it refers to the milky spiced black tea.

However, it’s not uncommon for people to add a shot of espresso to their pumpkin spice chai latte to make what is known as a “dirty chai latte. This version would then contain both chai tea and espresso, giving it a coffee element.

If you want a coffee version, you’d have to order a pumpkin spice latte, which is made of espresso instead of tea concentrate.

A pumpkin spice latte (PSL is the OG fall drink that combines the sweet and warm flavors of pumpkin spices, steamed milk, espresso, or a stronger coffee and pumpkin. PSL is typically ordered hot, but you can always request for an iced version.

Chai latte, on the other hand, is a kind of beverage made from black tea, a blend of spices and herbs, milk, and sweeter (optional).

Ready To Enjoy Fall With This Latte?

Nothing screams fall like a creamy taste of pumpkin and pumpkin spice, and this Starbucks copycat Pumpkin Spice Chai Latte recipe is a legit fall drink that you can make right at home.

And you know what? You don’t have to wait with bated breath for the fall season to indulge. You can make yourself a cup to sip any time of the year.

Iced Pumpkin Spice Chai Latte (Starbucks Copycat!)

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Author: The Solo Spoon
Prep Time: 6
Total Time: 6 minutes
Yield: 1
Category: Drinks

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Description

A refreshing and flavorful beverage combining the warmth of pumpkin spice with the richness of chai. This recipe features a homemade pumpkin cold foam layered over ice, followed by strong brewed tea and milk, creating a visually appealing and deliciously spiced latte.

Ingredients

1/2 cup of Strongly Brewed Tea
1/2 cup of Milk
3 tablespoons Pumpkin Puree
3 tablespoons Cream
1 teaspoon Condensed Milk
1 teaspoon Vanilla
1 teaspoon Pumpkin Spice
1 tablespoon Maple Syrup

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Instructions

Prepare Pumpkin Cold Foam: In a bowl, mix together 3 tbsp pumpkin puree, 1 tsp pumpkin spice, and 1 tsp condensed milk.
Whisk in Cream: Add 3 tbsp cream to the pumpkin mixture and whisk until slightly frothy.
Assemble the Drink: Fill a tall glass with ice.
Add Tea: Pour ½ cup of strongly brewed tea over the ice.
Add Milk: Gently layer ½ cup milk over the tea.
Top with Cold Foam: Spoon the prepared pumpkin cold foam on top of the milk.
Garnish (Optional): Sprinkle extra pumpkin spice for garnish.
Enjoy!