Coffee makes everything better doesn’t it? It’s like a little gift to humanity to make life more bearable. When I was little, I used to think “I’ll never like that nasty black stuff my parents drink!” and yet somehow here I sit completely hooked. It's just such a comforting habit.

Okay, but we have lattes to discuss! I know there’s about a trillion and four recipes for pumpkin spice latte copycats out there and this one is probably not spectacularly different from them all. What is different is that I added a little touch of cocoa to make it extra rich. There’s always a big hype about Starbuck’s pumpkin spice latte and, I’ve never actually had one, but from what I’ve heard they’re not all that. Of course, you guys all know how I feel about things being better when you make them yourself.

I did my best to keep the ingredients super easy because, really, isn’t that the whole point of coffee in the first place? Who can handle a complicated recipe for coffee before they’ve had their coffee? It’s a sorrowful paradox to be sure.

This is how I’d like to wake up everyday and I think this would be the perfect way to start of your day come Thanksgiving. I don’t know if you can tell but I have….. a latte love for this recipe! (Sorry, for the bad pun.)

Enjoy the rest of the season guys and stay cozy!

Mocha Pumpkin Spice Latte

Prep Time: 8 minutes
Total Time: 8 minutes
Yield: 1 latte

Spice up your morning with a cozy mug of this simple and festive latte! It's quick, easy, and so delicious!

Ingredients

1 cup almond milk, warmed
2 tablespoons pure pumpkin puree
4 teaspoons pure maple syrup
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, plus more for sprinkling
1/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
2 teaspoons cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon salt (optional)
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
3/4 cup hot strong brewed coffee
coconut or soy whipped cream, for serving (see note)

Instructions

Mix the warmed milk with pumpkin, syrup, and flavorings in a large coffee cup until smooth. Pour in hot coffee and serve topped with whipped cream and a dash of cinnamon!

Notes

You can buy a variety of dairy free canned whipped topping that's made from either coconut cream or soy. It is available at many mainstream grocery stores but if you can't find there try looking at your local health food store.
Alternatively, you can do an internet search for homemade coconut whipped cream to find some easy photo or video tutorials.

ALL CONTENT IS MINE AND ORIGINAL! All of these food photos were taken with my Nikon D750 and my favorite Lens, the Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G. You can find out more in my INTRO POST.