Coffee Shop Pumpkin Syrup

by Julie on September 10, 2010

in Beverage Recipes,Recipes,Smart Food


* NOTE: Since this posting, I have perfected and improved this recipe.  Click here for the updated version! *

Autumn is my absolute favorite season, but it always feels fleeting. Now that the air has begun to cool, I am craving pumpkin-spiked drinks, fresh warm applesauce, and hearty roasted veggies. Pumpkin, cinnamon, apple. These fall flavors warm me from the inside-out.

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When September rolled around, pumpkin spice lattes started popping up in coffee shops everywhere. I can’t get enough tea and coffee laced with pumpkin, but my wallet certainly can. So I decided to make my own pumpkin spice syrup. Now I can drink as many mugs of pumpkin spice chai tea and pumpkin lattes as my tastebuds desire.

PumpkinSyrup4.jpg

Pumpkin Spice Syrup

* NOTE: Since this posting, I have perfected and improved this recipe.  Click here for the updated version! *

Makes about 1 c.

2 T pumpkin puree (canned works too)

1/2 c sugar

1/2 c + 2 T water

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp nutmeg

1/4 tsp ground cloves

Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Stir regularly to keep the syrup from burning as it reduces. The pumpkin will “melt” into the sugar + water. When it takes on the consistency and thickness of maple syrup, remove from heat and pour into heat-proof containers. Don’t let it get too thick, or it will be ropy and won’t blend into your drinks well. Refrigerate until needed.

PumpkinSyrup5.jpg

To use, stir into your favorite warm beverage. My personal favorite? Never Home Maker’s Basic Chai + a little milk + pumpkin syrup. It is like autumnal perfection in a mug.

Edited to note:  I’ve found that the syrup occasionally sinks to the bottom of the mug.  If you heat the syrup a little with your milk or on its own before you add it to your drink, it helps a lot!

* NOTE: Since this posting, I have perfected and improved this recipe.  Click here for the updated version! *

{ 50 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Shannon, Tropical Eats September 10, 2010 at 10:23 am

genius!!! i loveee chai tea too.. haven’t had it in a while though! thank you for the pumpkin recipe :)

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2 Morgan September 10, 2010 at 10:26 am

YUM! I can’t wait to try this out over the weekend! I LOVE pumpkin syrup, but I can’t justify buying the drinks!

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3 Jessica September 10, 2010 at 10:29 am

Adding this to my weekend to-do list NOW!

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4 Tracey @ I'm Not Superhuman September 10, 2010 at 10:29 am

Love it! I’ve been craving pumpkin everything–including Starbucks’ lattes–so my bank account thanks you.

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5 Paige @ Running Around Normal September 10, 2010 at 10:31 am

That sounds amazing!! And definitely cleaner than the Starbucks version, I’m sure. It kind of reminds me of pumpkin butter, too (at least the look of it)

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6 Lauren @ Healthy Delicious September 10, 2010 at 10:37 am

Yum! I’ve been meaning to try making my own syrup too, but haven’t found the time yet. How long do you think this will keep in the fridge? I’m so squeamish about things like that.

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7 Julie @savvyeats September 10, 2010 at 10:43 am

I’d guess 2-3 weeks?

You could make half a recipe at a time if it makes you feel better. It will disappear quickly, I’m sure!

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8 Katie @ Healthy Heddleston September 10, 2010 at 10:38 am

Random.. where did you get that cute little white spoon in the picture?

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9 Julie @savvyeats September 10, 2010 at 10:43 am

Crate and Barrel. For only 95 cents, too!

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10 Katie @ Healthy Heddleston September 10, 2010 at 10:57 am

Ohhh man, our Crate and Barrel I can walk to! ::runs away in search of Julie’s cute spoons::

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11 Heather October 14, 2010 at 4:38 pm

for the record, i really want a few of these spoons. if we are ever AT crate and barrel, please remind me.

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12 Allison September 10, 2010 at 11:09 am

Great idea! Can’t wait to try this :)

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13 Jessica@tastyandtrim September 10, 2010 at 11:26 am

OMG I need to make this! Finding this recipe made my morning – thank you!! :)

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14 Stephanie September 10, 2010 at 11:45 am

this recipe is lovely! i can’t wait to try this at home, thanks girl!

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15 cara September 10, 2010 at 12:08 pm

Wow this is brilliant. This will save me a lot of dollars now. Woo hoo.

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16 Jessie (Bites and Pieces) September 10, 2010 at 12:20 pm

Love this idea! So much healthier than the artificial versions at coffee shops. :)

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17 emily (a nutritionist eats) September 10, 2010 at 1:23 pm

Love this Julie!!! I just ordered some pumpkin coffee yesterday!

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18 sassy molassy September 10, 2010 at 2:13 pm

Love this idea! Yum. I better bust out my pumpkin butter and do something with it!

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19 Ashley M. [at] (never home)maker September 10, 2010 at 3:33 pm

This looks way better than my 1-minute version!!! I’ll have to make it soon. Wish I had read this sooner — all this fraud stuff with my bank is taking over my life! <3 We need to meet soon, girly!

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20 Julie @savvyeats September 10, 2010 at 7:50 pm

Aww, hope that all gets straightened out and secured soon! And yes, we need to meet asap! :)

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21 Katie @ Health for the Whole Self September 10, 2010 at 4:14 pm

The chai combination sounds incredible!!!

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22 Lynn @ The Next Chapter September 10, 2010 at 4:57 pm

Thanks for the recipe, can’t wait to try this!!

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23 Jessica September 10, 2010 at 7:45 pm

This is SOOO yummy!! I made it today and i love it! Thanks!!

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24 Julie @savvyeats September 10, 2010 at 7:48 pm

I’m so glad you like it!

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25 Val @ Balancing Val September 10, 2010 at 7:48 pm

Wow, I’m so happy I found this. 2 pumpkin spice lattes this week already and I’m not sure if I can pay the electric bill ;)

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26 Heather September 11, 2010 at 12:59 pm

am sitting in my living room, watching the badgers preparing for my halftime cooking time. More homamade granola (testing out a recipe for SGIKS!) and THIS. yum. so excited.

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27 trang September 11, 2010 at 9:06 pm

Thanks for sharing this recipe! I love fall and all things pumpkin. Where did you get the jars? So I’m assuming this is best stored in the fridge right?

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28 Julie @savvyeats September 11, 2010 at 9:13 pm

The jars are just Ball canning jars, which I got at the hardware store. Some grocery stores may have them too!

And yes, refrigerate!

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29 Lynn @ The Next Chapter September 12, 2010 at 8:52 am

Julie – I made the pumpkin spice syrup and have had it in my coffee all weekend – it’s awesome! Thanks for the great recipe. :)

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30 suzanne September 12, 2010 at 11:47 am

Just made this and i’m going to link to your post if that’s alright! Smells divine :)

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31 Julie @savvyeats September 12, 2010 at 11:58 am

Go for it! I’ll put your link in next Sunday’s Savvy Recap :)

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32 megan September 14, 2010 at 8:12 am

Hi Julie, I just found your blog and it is wonderful. Of course, the first thing I did was whip up a batch of the pumpkin syrup. I live an hour’s drive from the nearest Starbucks and desperately needed an alternative for my pumpkin fix. Thank you so much! I also tried mixing a little with almond butter as a topping for my oats – AMAZING!!

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33 Julie @savvyeats September 14, 2010 at 8:15 am

Awesome! I glad you like the syrup and my blog! I drizzled a little of it over my pumpkin spice granola this morning– SO GOOD. :)

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34 Karen September 14, 2010 at 9:04 am

Thank you for posting this! I’m totally craving a pumpkin spice latte but am trying to be frugal. Can’t wait to try out your recipe.

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35 Shari September 14, 2010 at 1:02 pm

Do you have any advice for making pumpkin puree? I made some last fall and froze what was left over but its not quite the right consistency (a bit clumpy). Im thinking it may have to do with the blender I used but any advice would be greatly appreciated. Loved this recipe btw :D

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36 Julie @savvyeats September 14, 2010 at 1:04 pm
37 Shari September 14, 2010 at 1:07 pm

Thanks!

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38 Rachel @ The Avid Appetite September 23, 2010 at 4:00 pm

You just made my day with this! I cannot wait to try it!

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39 Julie @savvyeats September 24, 2010 at 3:50 pm

Awesome! Let me know what you think when you do ;)

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40 Brittany October 2, 2010 at 9:06 am

This recipe is genius Julie! I like the pumpkin spice lattes at starbucks but they’re pricey and too sweet (I never get all 3 pumps). I like that I would be able to add as much of this as needed to find the flavor I’m looking for. ;)

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41 Kristina October 13, 2010 at 10:03 am

This is probably a dumb question, but I’m assuming ground cloves?

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42 Julie @savvyeats October 13, 2010 at 10:06 am

Yes! I should have clarified that :)

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43 Stephanie October 20, 2010 at 8:27 pm

Any idea if this works with Splenda instead of sugar? Or if I can eliminate sweetener all together? I really am not a fan of sweet, but love pumpkin.

Thanks!!

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44 Julie @savvyeats October 20, 2010 at 8:30 pm

I know others have made this with Splenda and liked it. The sugar/sweetener is what helps the syrup form, but if you don’t want to use it, you could try adding just a little pumpkin puree thinned with some water. Not 100% sure it will work, but it is worth a shot!

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45 Malena October 24, 2010 at 10:00 pm

Thank you for this! I featured this recipe on my blog and I’m sooooo happy about it! I made some today and it awesome! I tweaked it a little by using brown sugar and pumpkin spice. Check it out at http://mountainlovinmama.com/2010/10/pumped-for-pumpkin/. Thanks again!

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46 Julie @savvyeats October 25, 2010 at 11:29 am

So glad you liked it. I need to go make some more now! :)

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47 NiuCoils August 26, 2011 at 9:21 am

I’m gonna use less sugar and add the syrup to some Keystone Light for a really cheap pumpkin ale this fall! Let the tailgating begin. Go Huskies!

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48 Binky September 11, 2011 at 11:57 am

I found the amount of nutmeg was excessive – overpowering the flavor. I’m trying to replicate the syrup that The Coffee Bean uses and I just learned that molasses is part of their version. So, next time, I’m going to reduce the nutmeg and maybe add a quarter cup of molasses.

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49 Naomi September 17, 2011 at 5:41 pm

Sitting here enjoying a fresh brewed cup of coffee with milk and this lovely syrup. YUM! Even made pumpkin spice waffles for dinner. Pumpkin overload? I think not!

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50 Sally Thompson September 23, 2011 at 2:53 am

i really love pumpkin, I just mashed it and it will be my snack! I will definitely try this on.. Thanks for the post!
Sally Thompson recently posted..pennzoil oil change coupons

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