Homemade Pumpkin Spice Creamer
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 10
Ingredients:
1 ½ cups half & half **see notes for dairy-free
½ cup heavy cream **see notes for dairy-free
1 cup granulated sugar ***see notes for sugar-free
2 tablespoons canned pumpkin puree
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1 tablespoon maple extract
Directions:
Whisk together the half and half, heavy cream, and granulated sugar in a medium saucepan.
Add the pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie spice and whisk to combine. Heat over medium-low heat until the creamer starts to steam, the sugar has dissolved, and everything is well combined.
Once your creamer is smooth and everything appears to be combined and dissolved, remove from heat and stir in the maple extract.
Allow to cool for about 10 minutes at room temperature, then pour into a mason jar or container with a lid and store in the fridge for up to 7 days.
Notes:
Dairy-Free & Vegan: Substitute 1.5 cups full-fat coconut milk and ½ cup oat milk, eliminate the half-and-half and heavy cream.
Sugar-Free: Substitute 1 cup monkfruit sweetener and eliminate the granulated sugar.
Lactose-Free: Enjoy this coffee creamer recipe without any tummy troubles! Just swap in lactose-free heavy cream and lactose-free half-and-half for their traditional counterparts.
Substitutions:
Missing something? Not to worry. Here are some easy ingredient substitutions to try:
Half & Half - As the name indicates, this common dairy product is made with a 50-50 blend of whole milk and heavy cream. Feel free to make your own!
Heavy Cream - Also known as “double cream” across the pond, this decadent addition has the highest milk fat of all the cream options, with a minimum of 36%. You’re welcome to swap in slightly lighter whipping cream, which ranges from 30-36% instead. You can also use non-dairy milk if desired!
Granulated Sugar - If needed, you can use maple sugar, maple syrup, coconut sugar, or caramelly brown sugar instead.
Canned Pumpkin Purée - Butternut squash purée or sweet potato purée are close substitutes.
Pumpkin Pie Spice - If you don’t have a bottle on hand, you can easily make your own using ground cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice.
Maple Extract - Feel free to omit this, or swap in vanilla extract or vanilla paste
Optional Variations & Dietary Adjustments:
The best pumpkin spice creamer is one that works for you and your diet. Here are some easy ways to tweak the recipe to fit your needs:
Vegan/Dairy-Free Pumpkin Spice Creamer: Substitute 1 ½ cups full-fat canned coconut milk and ½ cup oat milk for the half-and-half and heavy cream.
Sugar-Free Pumpkin Spice Creamer: Substitute 1 cup monkfruit sweetener for the granulated sugar to make a diabetic-friendly version.
Lactose-Free: Enjoy this coffee creamer recipe without any tummy troubles! Just swap in lactose-free heavy cream and lactose-free half-and-half for their traditional counterparts.
Recipe Success Tips:
Warm, don’t boil. When milk reaches a boil, the proteins begin to unravel (a process known as denaturing) and it takes on a scalded flavor. Keep the mixture over medium-low heat and remove it before it reaches this stage for the best results.
Invest in smart storage. There are clever pour-spout lids and other attachments for mason jars that make using your creamer much less sticky! At the very least, choose a container with some kind of spout to prevent splashing your countertops or refrigerator shelves.
Shake before use. Since we’re using real pumpkin and spices in our coffee creamer, you’ll likely see some sediment in the jar before use. Give it a quick shake to redistribute all the yumminess before pouring it into your cup.
FAQs
Can you get pumpkin spice coffee creamer year-round?
Generally speaking, no, pumpkin spice is considered a seasonal item. It usually shows up sometime in August and stays in stores until November or December. But now that you know how to make your own, you can mix some up whenever you get a hankering for it!
Is pumpkin spice creamer gluten-free?
It’s always a good idea to check your labels, but most pumpkin-flavored coffee creamers I’ve seen (including my homemade version) are indeed gluten-free.
What is the closest flavor to pumpkin spice?
The primary ingredients in pumpkin pie spice are cinnamon and ginger, plus nutmeg and allspice. That said, you can mix and match any of these with other warming spices (think cardamom, star anise, or cloves) to create a delightful blend. Alternatively, use another warming spice blend like chai masala, haiwaj, or apple pie spice.
What is pumpkin spice creamer made of? What are the ingredients in Starbucks’ pumpkin spice latte creamer?
The nutrition label on a bottle of Starbucks pumpkin coffee creamer reads: nonfat milk, sugar, heavy cream, buttermilk, vegetable oil (high oleic soybean oil), natural flavor, gellan gum. My homemade version is decidedly more approachable—it’s made with just cream, half n half, pumpkin, pumpkin pie spice, sugar, and maple extract.
Nutritional Facts:
Serving: 0.25cups | Calories: 172kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 9g | Sodium: 26mg | Sugar: 22g
Recipe courtesy of Coffee Copycat.com
