Pumpkin Spice Lattes - Lightened!

You know it's fall when Pumpkin Spice Lattes pop up everywhere!

My teens have been running out of money lately and I know why.  They are on the pumpkin spice lattes "kick" again, and most likely have been buying them weekly at Starbucks or DD. Well, those lattes are loaded in fat and sugar with artificial colors and chemicals, and they add up to hundreds of calories.  It's time to show my girls how to make them better, quick and easy too.



This time of year, all the popular chains are displaying beautiful photos everywhere of these luscious pumpkin spice lattes topped with whipped cream; gosh it's hard not to want one yourself.

However, if you enjoy these pumpkin spice lattes as much as we do, they can definitely make you go broke and not to mention, they will add on large amounts of "unwanted calories!"

I decided to make them for my girls just to prove to them that I can make them and show them the way. They are super easy to make, and NO need for any fancy cappuccino machine to make them either. 

Just heat up some low-fat milk, carefully place it into a blender, add in some pumpkin pie spice, sugar, and vanilla extract.  Then blend the milk until the milk becomes frothy. Using a blender is the quickest way to make your favorite lattes (and the cheapest) with this little kitchen tip!  Next, pour the frothy milk into mugs, add some strong brewed coffee or a shot of espresso and top each with whipped cream and a sprinkle of ground  pumpkin spice.

The result? They turned into amazing lattes, with no artificial chemicals, no after-taste, and definitely lower in fat, sugar, and calories! The girls loved them as much as I did.

Now we can enjoy sipping a pumpkin spice latte in the comfort of our own home and without running out to get them. What could be better? Quick and delicious. Best of all, they're cost-effective!  ENJOY!


Here's a little tip:  Don't have an espresso or cappuccino machine?  Don't worry, NO need to have one!  Just heat up milk in a small pot on the stove. Then pour hot milk into your blender and blend on lowest speed until it becomes frothy.  Pour into mugs and add the coffee.



Pumpkin Spice Lattes

• 3 cups hot low-fat milk
• 3 tsp. sugar
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
• 6 ounces hot double-strength brewed coffee or espresso
• whipped cream
• 3 pinches pumpkin pie spice, as garnish

On stove top, heat milk in a small pot. Carefully transfer hot milk to a blender.  Add sugar, vanilla extract and pumpkin pie spice to the hot milk.  Hold a kitchen towel over the cover of the blender and hold it firmly.  Blend on low speed for a few seconds, then press medium speed until frothy.  Pour the mixture into 3 mugs, about 2/3 full.

Pour 2 ounces of hot coffee into each mug. Garnish each mug with whipped cream on top and a pinch of pumpkin pie spice.

Yields: 3 servings

Recipe adapted from All Recipes.