Better than Starbucks! DIY Pumpkin Spice Latte

It’s Pumpkin Spice Season! That means it’s time for everyone’s favorite Starbucks treat…Pumpkin Spice Latte. A lot of us like to buy this daily at Starbucks but that can be expensive and the Starbuck’s drink is packed with sugar. You will love this recipe for Pumpkin Spice Latte Recipe. It’s a lot cheaper than Starbuck’s and we have cut back on the sugar by using maple syrup as a natural sweetener instead.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup coffee
1 cup almond milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tbsp maple syrup
2 tbsp pumpkin puree
1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice

Directions:

  1. In a small pot or saucepan mix the almond milk, vanilla extract, maple syrup, pumpkin puree, and pumpkin pie spice.
  2. Heat on low until the pan begins to simmer.
  3. Remove from heat and add the coffee.
  4. To create a froth either blend with an immersion blender or put into your regular blender. If you put this into a regular blender make sure you vent the top of the blender so that the steam doesn’t build up and “explode” on you.
  5. Pour into a coffee mug and top with optional nutmeg.
  6. Enjoy.
Better than Starbucks! DYI – Pumpkin Spice Latte

Click here for recipe for vanilla extract.

Click here for recipe for almond milk.

Click here for recipe for pumpkin puree.

Hand held pumpkin pies also known as pumpkin empanadas

Hand held pumpkin pies, also known as pumpkin empanadas are a great treat any time of year, but especially in the fall when we crave pumpkin flavored desserts. You can make them in the traditional half moon shape, or to get more into the season you can use a pumpkin shaped cookie cutter to make pumpkin shaped hand held pies. These delicious little pies are super simple to make. Join us to learn how.

Ingredients:

Ingredients:
dough:
2 sticks butter
1/2 package cream cheese
2 1/2 cups flour

egg wash:
white from one egg

filling:
1 1/2 cups pumpkin puree
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions:

  1. In a mixing bowl combine the butter and cream cheese and mix together.
  2. Once butter and cream cheese are mixed add the flour and mix together. Once mixed together remove and refrigerate until ready to use.
  3. Separate the egg white and yolk from one egg. Using a fork beat the egg white until it is smooth and runny. Set aside until ready to use.
  4. In a mixing bowl combine pumpkin puree, brown sugar, pumpkin pie spice and vanilla extract. Mix together and then set aside until ready to use.
  5. remove dough from refrigerator and make a ball the size of a golf ball. Roll the ball flat to 1/8 of an inch thickness with a rolling pin.
  6. Using a cookie cutter or lid cut the dough into a circle, or use a cookie cutter to shape as a pumpkin. Place cut dough onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.
  7. Place a table spoon of pumpkin onto the dough.
  8. Using your finger you can place egg wash around the edge of your dough. If you are using a dough cut into a circle you can fold over the dough onto itself so that it forms a 1/2 circle. If using dough cut into a pumpkin you will need to place another piece of dough cut as a pumpkin on top of the first piece.
  9. Using a fork press around the edges of the dough to seal it up.
  10. Place egg wash over the dough. Optional step is to add cinnamon sugar on top of dough.
  11. Repeat steps 5 through 10 until all the dough is used up.
  12. Place cookie sheet in a preheated oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown.
  13. Enjoy!
Hand held pumpkin pies also known as pumpkin empanadas

How to make pumpkin puree

It’s that time of year when we make everything we can that is pumpkin flavored and to do that we need pumpkin puree. Unfortunately with the pandemic it seems a lot of stores have a hard time keeping enough pumpkin puree in stock. Have no fear, because we can make homemade pumpkin puree, it is super easy and you only need a pie pumpkin to make it.

Ingredients:

Pie Pumpkin also known as a sugar pumpkin

Directions:

  1. Cut pumpkin in half and remove the seeds
  2. Lay pumpkin halves on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper
  3. Cook in a 400 degree preheated oven for 35 minutes
  4. Remove from oven and let cool
  5. After pumpkin has cooled remove the skin and then slice into chunks
  6. Place chunks in a food processor and run until pumpkin is a smooth puree
  7. Remove and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to use.
How to make pumpkin puree