How to Make Pumpkin Sauce for Coffee

Easily make pumpkin sauce for coffee in five minutes with only four ingredients so you can enjoy your favorite fall coffee shop drinks at home for a fraction of the price all season long. 

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My favorite time of year is here… Pumpkin Spice Season!!

I’m not ashamed to admit that, every year, I’m all about Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Lattes. 

They’re my favorite way to celebrate the fall season, especially an Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte with whipped cream. 🤤

BUT, they’re so darn expensive. And just a regular coffee with pumpkin flavor from a local coffee shop isn’t much cheaper. 

In an effort to save money, I’ve been making a lot of homemade lattes and coffees, like this Starbucks’ Iced Chai Tea Latte, this Iced Matcha Latte with Oat Milk, and this Homemade Matcha Coffee Recipe. 

I even make my own Chai Concentrate from Tea Bags for Chai Lattes. 

So it was time to start making a homemade pumpkin spice syrup too. 

It’s such an easy recipe with only four simple ingredients that I wish I started making it sooner. I would have saved so much money!

And it tastes SO good. This pumpkin spice sauce is perfectly cozy with all the warm flavors of fall. 

It may even be better than Starbucks pumpkin spice syrup. 

Use this Pumpkin Sauce to make Pumpkin Cold Foam!! Check out this Iced Chai Latte with Pumpkin Cold Foam Recipe.

Pumpkin Spice Syrup Recipe

This simple recipe only includes four real ingredients that you probably already have at home or can easily pick up at any local grocery store.

They are water, brown sugar, pumpkin purée, and pumpkin pie spice. 

The first two ingredients - water and brown sugar - are used to make a homemade simple syrup. 

The last two - pumpkin purée and pumpkin pie spice - are the main ingredients. They make this recipe special. They make it a pumpkin spice coffee syrup. 

Real Pumpkin Puree

This homemade pumpkin spice sauce for coffee has actual pumpkin in it. A lot of pumpkin spice recipes don’t, which is surprising. 

For this recipe, I use canned pumpkin. It’s important to make sure that it is pure pumpkin and NOT pumpkin pie filling. 

I think Libby’s 100% Pure Canned Pumpkin has the best flavor, but I’ve used store brands before and the coffee syrups were still delicious.

You are more than welcome to use a homemade pumpkin puree instead of canned pumpkin. As long as it’s pure pumpkin, it should work in this recipe. 

If you have dogs in your life, you could make these Pumpkin Treats with the leftover pumpkin. Dogs absolutely love them!

Pumpkin Pie Spice

I like to use store-bought pumpkin pie spice in this homemade pumpkin syrup and in my pumpkin spice cake because it’s so much easier than buying and juggling different spices.

It’s also quicker to add pumpkin pie spice than wait for cinnamon sticks and other whole spices to infuse into the pumpkin sauce for coffee. 

You can make your own pumpkin pie spice at home though. 

I’ve had to do this when I didn’t have any left in the wee hours of the morning and all the stores were closed. I had every ingredient except for one (allspice) and it still worked. 

A homemade version of pumpkin pie spice is made with:
- 3 Tablespoons of Ground Cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons of Ground Ginger
- 2 teaspoons of Ground Nutmeg
- 1 ½ teaspoons of Ground Cloves
- 1 ½ teaspoons of Ground Allspice

Just combine all the spices in a small bowl. Mix well. Then store in an airtight container. 

It’s convenient to have, at home, for all the great recipes of the autumn season, especially pumpkin recipes. 

For more pumpkin recipes, check out:
- Pumpkin Spice Chai Latte
- Pumpkin Spice Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
- Easy Pumpkin Peanut Butter Dog Treats

How to Make Pumpkin Sauce for Coffee

It’s insanely simple to make pumpkin sauce for coffee. 

The first thing is to combine the brown sugar and water in a pan on medium heat. Stirring until the sugar completely dissolves. 

Next, stir in the pumpkin pie spice. It won’t dissolve completely, but I like to make sure it’s evenly distributed throughout the simple syrup. 

Then, add the real pumpkin puree. Mix until completely combined and smooth. Remove from heat. 

No straining is usually needed. If you would like to do it, you can use a fine mesh strainer. I personally like seeing the specks of spices in my own pumpkin spice drinks. 

Finally, allow the pumpkin sauce for coffee to completely cool to room temperature before transferring it to an airtight container. 

How to Store Homemade Pumpkin Spice Sauce

I like to store mine in a mason jar. I bought the bottle-shaped one in the photos from Wegmans in their canning section. Unfortunately, I can’t find it online. 

This pumpkin spice latte syrup can also be stored in another type of glass jar, like one from this 17 oz Glass Bottle Set with Airtight Swing Top Stoppers or these 16 oz Glass Sauce Bottles.

This recipe, as written, makes about two cups of pumpkin sauce for coffee. 

It can be stored in the fridge for up to two weeks. 

Looking for more coffee syrups? Check out this Vanilla Coffee Syrup Recipe.

How to Use this Sauce

One of the best things about fall is how easy it is to make everything pumpkin spice, especially with this homemade sauce/syrup. 

- Add 1-2 Tablespoons to a hot cup of coffee. 

- Use it for at home pumpkin spice lattes. Full recipe available below. 

- Make this delicious, homemade Pumpkin Chai Latte. 

- Add it to hot milk to make caffeine-free pumpkin spice drinks for kids (or adults).

- Add it to hot chocolate for a pumpkin spice hot cocoa. 

- Use it instead of maple syrup over French toast or to make pumpkin pancakes. 

- Pour it over ice cream. 

Pumpkin Spice Latte Recipe

Making a pumpkin spice latte at home is a perfect way to use this decadent syrup. 

If you have an espresso machine, you can make a PSL with a shot of espresso or two. 

If you do not have an espresso machine, you can use strongly brewed coffee. I like to make a coffee concentrate with instant coffee.

I mix 2 teaspoons of instant coffee with 2 Tablespoons of water for this pumpkin spice latte. If you would like less caffeine or less of a coffee taste, I suggest using just 1 teaspoon of instant coffee in your concentrate. 

To whichever coffee you choose (espresso, strongly brewed coffee, or coffee concentrate), add 2 Tablespoons of this homemade pumpkin sauce and 1 cup of your milk of choice (whole milk will create a creamier latte). Mix well. 

If you would like a hot latte, heat the drink on the stove or in the microwave. 

For iced, add ice cubes.

Whipped cream is always a delicious, optional topping. 

If you make this recipe and love it, please remember to rate it below and/or add a comment. 

Other recipes you may love:
- Iced Chai Latte with Pumpkin Cold Foam
- How to Make Chai Concentrate from Tea Bags
- Pumpkin Spice Chai Latte