I love a good chai tea, and this Pumpkin Chai Latte is a tasty and creative way to enjoy it. I brew chai tea and combine it with real pumpkin purée, maple syrup, and milk. It's perfectly sweet, with none of the flavors overpowering each other. It truly tastes just like heaven in a mug!
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You're not limited to making this drink in the fall. If you have a craving for a sweet pumpkin-flavored beverage, you can prepare this any time of year. Canned pumpkin can be found in the baking aisle all year, and I like to have a couple of cans in my pantry when I'm in a pumpkin spice mood. It's so much cheaper than going to a coffee shop.
Some other seasonal hot beverages that you would enjoy are Peppermint mocha, Pumpkin Spice Latte and Kahlua hot chocolate or try this delicious Pumpkin Spice Creamer!
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- It has natural sweetness: I use maple syrup as the sweetener in this pumpkin chai tea latte. The pumpkin is also naturally sweet, so you don't need to overdo it.
- It's a pumpkin spice coffee alternative: If you want less caffeine, and you don't enjoy coffee, this is the perfect substitute. You can still enjoy a hot pumpkin spice beverage and avoid coffee.
- It's only 6 ingredients: You don't need many special ingredients. I typically have milk, vanilla extract, and maple syrup. The other components aren't expensive, so you will save money by skipping Starbucks.
Ingredients
The main components of this pumpkin latte recipe are listed below. You can find them at any local grocery store, any time you want to prepare this chai tea.
- Pumpkin: Ensure that you grab pure pumpkin purée and not pumpkin pie filling. The pie filling is sweetened and spiced. I also added some pumpkin pie spice because it ties together the pumpkin and chai flavors.
- Maple syrup: Use pure maple syrup, not the breakfast stuff. If you don't have the real deal, I recommend that you try this pumpkin chai recipe with honey instead.
- Chai tea bags: Any variety of black chai tea bags will work great in this recipe. They have notes of cinnamon, clove, cardamom, black pepper, and more to balance the sweetness.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.
Variations
- Dairy-free: Use a non-dairy milk like almond, oat, or soy milk to make a dairy-free version of this chai pumpkin latte.
- Vanilla syrup: Swap the maple syrup for sweet vanilla syrup.
- Iced: Make an iced version by cooling the tea-infused milk and serving the latte over ice.
- Dirty chai: Pour in a shot of espresso to create a pumpkin dirty chai latte.
How to Make a Pumpkin Chai Latte
Here are the instructions you'll need to make a pumpkin latte at home.
Step 1: Prepare the pumpkin mixture. Grab a small bowl and add the pumpkin, pumpkin spice, syrup, and vanilla.
Step 2: Heat the milk and steep the tea. Heat the milk in a saucepan over medium heat until it reaches 205 degrees. Then, let the black chai tea bags steep in the milk for 5-6 minutes.
Step 3: Stir the pumpkin mixture. Mix the pumpkin and other ingredients until they are nice and smooth.
Step 4: Combine and serve. Whisk the warm milk tea into the pumpkin mixture until creamy. Enjoy hot with a rhubarb scone or top it with some pumpkin cold foam.
Recipe Tips
- Don't boil the milk: Watch the heat when you warm the milk. If it gets too hot, it can curdle. Keep the stove on medium heat.
- Squeeze the tea bags well: After you steep the tea bags, squeeze them really well when you take them out. This ensures you get as much flavor out as possible.
- Store extra pumpkin: You will likely have some extra pumpkin purée, so you may keep it in the refrigerator for up to 2 days or freeze it for up to 1 month.
If you love pumpkin flavor in your drinks, you should try this homemade pumpkin spice creamer or this Pumpkin Cold Foam!
Serving Suggestions
- Take the pumpkin experience up a notch by enjoying a slice of pumpkin pie, Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies or pumpkin bread with your hot pumpkin chai tea.
- Dip these toffee shortbread cookies into your pumpkin spice chai latte. The buttery flavor complements the sweet and spicy drink.
- A classic pairing with chai tea is a savory quiche. This salmon quiche is homemade and super delicious.
Recipe FAQs
Sure! Use ½ cup for every ½ cup of milk. I add it after the milk is warm and before I add the pumpkin mixture. Keep in mind that many are sweetened, so you may need to adjust the amount of maple syrup.
The word "chai" actually means "tea" in Hindi. It's used to describe masala chai, which is a tea spiced with aromatic spices like cardamom and cloves.
More Delicious Pumpkin Recipes
Do you like pumpkin recipes? Here are some recipes you may also like to try.
If you try this recipe and love it please leave a star rating in the recipe card below or even better, drop a review in the comment section. I always appreciate your feedback. Be sure to follow along with me on Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube for more easy recipes!
Pumpkin Chai Latte
Ingredients
- ½ cup canned pumpkin puree
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 2 cups whole milk
- 2 chai tea bags
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk well the pumpkin purée, maple syrup, pumpkin pie spice and pure vanilla. Set aside.
- Over medium heat, warm milk to 205F, stirring regularly.
- Place the tea bags into the warmed milk to steep for 5-6 minutes, and squeeze the bags out at the end.
- Pour into the pumpkin mixture and whisk well.
- Serve with whipped cream and a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg.
Notes
- Store extra pumpkin purée in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Try making this pumpkin latte using chai tea concentrate.
- Squeeze the tea bags well when you remove them from the milk to ensure that you get as much flavor out of them as possible.
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