While it may not technically be fall yet according to the calendar, once school starts and morning temps are in the 40’s, to me, pumpkin season has officially begun.

It was only a few years ago that I got on the pumpkin band wagon, and now I’m in love. And before anyone else shares this, yes,  this meme describes me perfectly.

Every once in a while I’ll splurge on a Sheetz pumpkin spice latte, and for the time being I’ll be avoiding Starbucks*. It’s been almost daily that I’ve been making a pumpkin spice latte at home…They are *that* good.

My usual daily pumpkin spice latte is made with this black tea because I much prefer tea over coffee. The recipe is as follows:

• Extra strong cup of pumpkin spice black tea
• almond milk
• agave

 

Yesterday, I tested this recipe with a few adjustments:

• 2 cups almond milk
• 2 tablespoons canned pumpkin
• 1 packet agave
• pinch of cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg
• 1 tablespoon vanilla
• 3 cups hot brewed coffee

I cheated a little and microwaved it instead of doing it on the stove, and that worked fine. I also used a bit more coffee than the original recipe called for, and by the end of the day I was pretty jittery (hey, I’m not a coffee drinker).

It was good and a bit heartier than the tea version since it has real pumpkin in it, but I think I prefer the tea version since I can drink it all day.

As you can see from the nutrition info below, the homemade ones are way healthier.

Nutrition breakdown:

Starbucks (w/soy):

[nutr-label servingsize=’16oz’ servings=’1′ calories=’300′ totalfat=’4′ carbohydrates=’54’ sugars=’48’ protein=’11’]

 

Sheetz (w/soy):

[nutr-label servingsize=’16oz’ servings=’1′ calories=’215′ totalfat=’4′ carbohydrates=’38’ sugars=’33’ protein=’7′]

 

Black Tea (w/almond milk):

[nutr-label servingsize=’16oz’ servings=’1′ calories=’51’ totalfat=’2.5′ carbohydrates=’7′ sugars=’5′ protein=’1′]

 

At home coffee latte with pumpkin puree (w/almond milk):

[nutr-label servingsize=’16oz’ servings=’1′ calories=’57.5′ totalfat=’2.5′ carbohydrates=’9′ sugars=’7.5′ protein=’1.5′]

 

*There’s a petition going around to try to get Starbucks to change their Pumpkin Spice Latte recipe because it contains milk powder. So even if someone orders it with soy milk, it still contains milk…who knew? There seems to be a lot of outrage that there’s milk in it (without a disclaimer), and then a lot of outrage that there vegans are “entitled” and demanding that the recipe be changed. I personally think it’s all a little silly. While I’ve had their PSLs without realizing there was milk in it, now that I know, I just won’t order them (not that I’m a huge Starbucks person). On the flipside, now SB knows that people who don’t drink dairy for whatever reason still love their PSLs…the ball is in their court.

 

Are you a pumpkin fanatic too? What’s your favorite flavor of fall?