Happy First day of Fall!!
This is by far my favorite season. I love just about everything there is to love about fall. However, fall also means all things pumpkin!
I recently had to take a day off from work to be home for the internet guys to come set up our service and for our new couch to be delivered. While I was waiting I thought I would whip up this amazing recipe from Live Simply! I altered it a touch but not much.
This recipe is mind-blowing! No, seriously! Now, I have not had the Starbucks version of this yet but after tasting this I’m not sure I’m going to. Why bother when this uses real ingredients and has REAL pumpkin in it.
I didn’t have an immersion blender so I used my vitamix and I actually think it turned out better. I also didn’t mess with the whipped topping. We’re planning on taking an apple picking trip in a couple of weeks and this will be the perfect start for the trip.
While I was home I thought I would also go ahead and start my fall decorating! We used to have a mantle in our city house but we don’t have a fireplace in this house so a lot of my decorating is changing. The front door and porch might just be my new mantle!
When the weather turns just a little cool and crisp and the leaves are just starting to change, make this recipe, head outside to a comfy spot and indulge yourself!
- ½ cup black coffee
- ¾ cup whole milk
- 3 TB pumpkin puree, depending on the pumpkin flavor desired (fresh or canned)
- 3 TB pure maple syrup
- ½ tsp pumpkin pie spice
- ½ tsp pure vanilla extract
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1 TB honey or maple syrup
- Brew the coffee. You may desire more coffee, so make a little extra if desired. Set the coffee aside.
- In a small saucepan, over medium heat, warm the milk, maple syrup, pumpkin pie spice, and pumpkin. Whisk the ingredients until the milk begins to bubble on the sides. Turn off the heat and add the vanilla extract.
- Pour the warm milk in a large bowl or work in the saucepan. Use an immersion blender to create the milk froth. This is the secret to creating a homemade latte without an expensive machine. If you don't have a immersion blender, vigorously whisk the milk in the saucepan as the bubbles begin to form (while heating the milk) or put it in your blender and blend for a couple of minutes on high. This method won't create the same froth or texture of the immersion blender method, but it will still create a tasty coffee drink.
- Pour the frothy milk into a large coffee mug. Carefully pour the coffee into the frothy milk.
- For the homemade whipped topping: In a stand-mixer fitted with the whisk attachment (or hand-mixer) whip the cream, vanilla, and honey/maple syrup for 2 minutes, until the mixture forms whipped cream.
- Spoon the whipped cream over the top of the pumpkin spice latte. Sprinkle with additional pumpkin pie spice.
- Serve warm.