Healthy homemade pumpkin spice milk is a festive fall treat that’s easy to make. It’s a fun, kid-friendly drink that can be enjoyed warm or cold.

A mug with pumpkin spice milk topped with whipped coconut cream and sprinkled with cinnamon is viewed from the top. Three decorative pumpkins, made from striped and plaid fabrics, are beside it outdoors.

I went to Starbucks almost every day my first year in college. Sometimes, I went twice a day. Usually, I ordered a caramel frappuccino, but when it was fall, I couldn’t get enough of those warm pumpkin spice lattes.

I haven’t had Starbucks — or coffee, for that matter — in years. I don’t miss it a single bit; however, when summer starts blending into fall, I still get excited about blended pumpkin spice drinks.

Now I know how incredibly easy it is to make a healthy version of the seasonal staple at home. Not to mention, it’s better for your pocketbook.

Perhaps more importantly, this simple homemade pumpkin spice milk tastes remarkably better, in my opinion, than the average pumpkin spice latte. It has all the classic flavors of autumn, without the dairy, refined sugar, or caffeine found in similar drinks.

Why You Will Love Plant-Based Pumpkin Spice Milk

In less than the amount of time you could spend waiting in line at a coffeehouse, you can mix up your own vegan fall drink at home. You can make enough for the whole family in minutes.

Because it has real pumpkin puree, instead of artificial flavors, you can feel good about sharing it with your kids. Pumpkins are packed with vitamins and minerals.

Little Bear can be picky when it comes to eating his veggies, but he sure loves drinking pumpkin. (Pumpkin is actually a fruit, so maybe that explains why he likes it so much.) Sometimes I’ll add an extra tablespoon or two of the pureed pumpkin because it’s so incredibly nutritious. It’s packed with vitamin C and beta-carotene.

There are countless ways to play with the recipe and spice it up — or make it even sweeter.

A sugar pie pumpkin is beside a glass container of homemade oat milk. Both objects are in front of a large pine tree and a clear blue sky.

Pumpkin Spice Drink Variations

Occasionally, I’ll add a tablespoon or two of raw cacao powder and make a chocolate pumpkin spice milk. Sure, it might have a small amount of caffeine, but this superfood also provides antioxidants, iron, and magnesium.

While on the topic of antioxidants, try adding turmeric. (This anti-inflammatory spice is great for healthy skin!) Use about half a teaspoon of turmeric powder and a pinch of freshly ground black pepper to make a golden pumpkin spice milk.

If I’ve been making lots of sourdough pancakes and am out of maple syrup, I’ll add the other ingredients to a blender with a couple soaked dates. I love an easy blender drink! I’ve even added a banana, which makes it more like a smoothie. You could also use honey.

On that note, you can enjoy this drink hot or cold. It’s just as delicious served over ice, but it’s especially cozy simmering it on the stove and drinking it warm on a cool day.

If you are a coffee drinker, you can definitely add a cup of your favorite brew or a shot of espresso.

Make it extra creamy by adding a heaping spoonful of almond or cashew butter. It adds even more flavor and nutrients. If you add nut butter and cacao, it’s like a dessert in a glass.

A mason jar is filled with pumpkin spice milk over ice and topped with cinnamon. A ceylon cinnamon stick garnishes the glass. It is outdoors on an orange linen napkin, on a log in the grass.

Tips for Making Pumpkin Spice Milk at Home

You can use homemade pumpkin puree or canned pumpkin. Besides homegrown heirloom pumpkins, the small sugar pie pumpkins are my top choice because I think they are easier to prepare and taste sweeter.

If you go the store-bought route, I recommend buying an organic option that comes in a can with a BPA-free lining. Just make sure it’s pumpkin puree and not pumpkin pie filling mix, which contains sugar.

Similarly, you can use store-bought plant-based milk or make your own. I’ve made this with homemade cashew and almond milk, but oat milk is my favorite. It seems to make it even creamier.

Speaking of oats, you can pour this pumpkin milk over a bowl of hot oatmeal or homemade granola. I also think it’s a delicious drink to enjoy with a sourdough banana oat muffin fresh from the oven.

I encourage you to make your own pumpkin spice. Of course, you can use one that comes pre-blended, but it’s super easy to make. Plus, you can use ceylon cinnamon, which is considered true cinnamon and is healthier than cassia. In addition to cinnamon, combine ground cloves, ginger, nutmeg, and if you’d like, allspice.