Enjoy the fall coffeehouse favorite at home with this homemade maple pumpkin coffee syrup! The flavors of maple and pumpkin pair perfectly together in this easy coffee syrup that’ll save you serious $$.
There are certain things I have crazy strong willpower around, and other things where I pretend like I don’t even know the word “willpower” exists. Heavy hitters in the second category are pumpkin spice latte ice cream, Pringles, Chex Mix, and especially Utz Pub Mix. Whose idea was it to make that pub mix in super gigantic Costco-sized tubs, anyway? When one of those is around, look out. I’ll just be over here, crunching away and pretending there are only eight servings per tub. Because there are, right? 😬
On the other end of the spectrum there are things I most definitely love but hardly ever indulge myself with. Flavored lattes for one! I live within walking distance to a totally awesome coffee shop that probably couldn’t make a bad coffee beverage if they tried, but I hardly ever go. Of course the price tag has something to do with that, but I routinely pass it up for a plain old cup of coffee, made at home or at work. So I guess I have frou-frou caffeine willpower if you will. I’ll take it (and it certainly makes my wallet happy too…)
On those occasions that I do splurge and order something, however, I go b-i-g. Multiple flavors, special milk, the works. A few weeks ago I noticed a pumpkin maple latte on their menu board and promptly knew I needed one of those in my life. I ordered one before work and sipped and savored that pumpkin maple almond milk latte alllll morning long. Seriously…I think I made it last until it was time for my early afternoon coffee.
That latte was so good that I couldn’t resist the urge to stop back in a few days later for another. And then I knew I needed to get my booty in gear and try my hand at a homemade version before this indulgence went the way of the pub mix. So this maple pumpkin offee syrup was born! It comes together quickly on the stove top, and is made with real pumpkin puree, maple extract, brown sugar, and all of those warm pumpkin pie spices. It’ll be ready for your flavored lattes (or steamers) in no time!
Now I know I just admitted I haven’t had an actual Starbucks pumpkin spice latte in years, so my comparison point for this syrup are the independent coffee shop versions I’ve been enjoying way more than normal this time of year. As written below this syrup is sweetened with brown sugar, but feel free to experiment with your sweetener(s) of choice. And then there’s the matter of pumpkin pie spice flavoring. A quick Google or Pinterest search will bring you about fifty million different pumpkin pie spice recipes, so you can for sure adjust the quantities/ratios of the different components to your liking. I’m not a huge fan of nutmeg (as in, if I add even a smidge too much it’s ALL I can taste) so I kept that quantity small, instead going for a bolder cinnamon/ginger flavor. You do you though!
Peeping around online I’ve seen a few homemade coffee syrup recipes calling for the mixture to be strained prior to storing, but I skipped that step and didn’t mind. The ingredients dissolve pretty well while on the stove top, and then thin out even more once it’s stirred into to a hot beverage. Maybe I should have called this the lazy girl’s maple pumpkin coffee syrup. 🙂
I used maple extract in this syrup instead of actual maple syrup because I find it has a much more concentrated maple flavor, so just a small amount will do the trick. Plus it adds maple flavor without the additional sugar of maple syrup, so there’s that. I use this maple extract by Frontier
- 3/4 cup water
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup pumpkin puree
- 1 3/4 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground ginger
- 1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/8 tsp ground cloves
- 1/2 tsp maple extract, or more to taste
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- Set a small saucepan over medium to medium-high heat and add water, brown sugar, pumpkin puree, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves. Whisk so that sugar dissolves and the mixture becomes smooth. Let mixture heat until just barely boiling, but not reaching a full boil. Reduce heat to medium-low.
- Continue to cook mixture for 2-3 minutes, or until it has thickened just a little bit. Remove saucepan from heat and whisk in maple and vanilla extracts. Store syrup in the refrigerator.
Recipe adapted from Gimme Some Oven's Pumpkin Spice Latte
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If you’re feeling the pumpkin + maple love, check out these recipes, too!
Vegan Pumpkin Spice Latte Ice Cream – creamy (without dairy or eggs) with espresso bean flecks!
Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Banana Bread – also uses maple extract!
Baked Chocolate Pumpkin Donuts – because who should choose between chocolate and pumpkin?
I love pumpkin spice lattes, but haven’t yet found a homemade version that tastes the same. I will need to try this one! Plus the addition of maple sounds fantastic, so I pretty much need to make it immediately!
I don’t tend to buy PSL’s, they’re just so expensive! But I could definitely see myself making a batch of this to have on hand. This is such a great idea, Alyssa!
Thanks Danielle! I agree, I definitely feel better about drinking them if I’ve got a big jar full of syrup at home!
I am not normally a fancy coffee person either ($$$), but I have been indulging a bit too often lately…so this is just perfect for me! Love the pumpkin-maple combo, sounds divine!
It’s amazing how much of a mood changer fancy coffee is! Somehow it makes my mornings or afternoons that much better. Or at least that’s my justification to myself. 🙂 Thanks Denise!
You are making me miss coffee! I haven’t had any since getting pregnant, but on this Friday morning I sure could go for a nice warm cup of something sweet and tasty. This sounds amazing!
Awww well tuck this one away or a few months! Even though it’ll be past traditional pumpkin season, but still. I think I could eat (and drink) pumpkin flavored things all year round!
I’ve gotten the same way over the last few years – I definitely do not buy the fancy coffee treats that often! Just for treats! LOVE the sound of this syrup! Making them at home is so much cheaper than getting at our local coffee shop!
Yes special occasions only! Like working super late and treating myself the next morning before work. That definitely makes waking up a little easier! 🙂
I never buy PSL’s anymore because they’re so expensive and they’re usually too sweet for me, but I do like making my own! This coffee syrup sounds perfect with the maple and real pumpkin!
Thanks Marcie! I feel the same way. Besides the serious $$ savings, this way you can add as much or as little syrup as you like! Definitely more my speed.
Homemade versions will ALWAYS be better and more satisfying since you put in the hard work 😉
O man…I miss Utz sourdough pretzels and the big thick hard ones with no salt! (O and the mini halloween bags of utz!) The glory days 😛
Ooh those pretzels! I would have a problem around those too. And I agree – homemade is the way to go! 🙂