Post by SAND Member Gillian Schultz
Starbucks advertises their festive fall drink every year stating that, “Our signature espresso and milk are highlighted by flavor notes of pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg and clove to create this incredible beverage that’s a fall favorite. Enjoy it topped with whipped cream and real pumpkin pie spices.” (1)
It wasn’t until this year that Starbucks decided to change their pumpkin spice latte recipe to include real pumpkin. Previously, the drink was made with pumpkin spice syrup, vanilla syrup, espresso, and steamed milk topped with whipped cream and pumpkin pie spice.
Following in line with McDonalds, transparency campaign, Starbucks recently released all of the ingredients and tweaked a few recipes. (2) The new pumpkin spice latte includes “pumpkin sauce” consisting of sugar, condensed skim milk, pumpkin purée, less than 2% fruit and vegetable juices for color, natural flavors, annatto, salt, and potassium sorbate. Along with the pumpkin sauce, the latte has 2% milk, vanilla syrup, espresso, whipped cream, and pumpkin pie spice on top.
Though Starbucks claims to use real pumpkin now, after reading the ingredients, it doesn’t seem much better than the previously used pumpkin syrup.
Here’s a version without the artificial flavors and preservatives that you can make at home!!
Homemade Pumpkin Syrup
15 oz can Pumpkin puree
½ cup brown sugar
2 Tbsp Granulated Sugar
1 pinch nutmeg
½ tbsp. cinnamon
1 cup water
Combine all ingredients in a saucepan and let simmer for 20 minutes. Next strain into a bowl and transfer contents into a mason jar for storage.
Homemade Vanilla Syrup
½ cup water
½ cup sugar
2 vanilla bean pods
Combine all ingredients in a sauce pan and simmer, then pour into a mason jar for storage.
Pumpkin Spice
Equal parts clove, ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg
In a mason jar, combine 1 tsp vanilla syrup, 1 tbsp pumpkin syrup, and 1 cup of milk. Put the lid on and shake it up so that the ingredients mix. Then remove the lid and microwave 1 minute.
Add warm milk mixture to 2 shots of espresso or 1 cup of coffee, top with whipped cream and pumpkin spice topping!
References:
1. http://www.starbucks.com/menu/drinks/espresso/pumpkin-spice-latte
2. http://www.popsugar.com/food/Starbucks-Pumpkin-Spice-Latte-Recipe-38272478
Starbucks advertises their festive fall drink every year stating that, “Our signature espresso and milk are highlighted by flavor notes of pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg and clove to create this incredible beverage that’s a fall favorite. Enjoy it topped with whipped cream and real pumpkin pie spices.” (1)
It wasn’t until this year that Starbucks decided to change their pumpkin spice latte recipe to include real pumpkin. Previously, the drink was made with pumpkin spice syrup, vanilla syrup, espresso, and steamed milk topped with whipped cream and pumpkin pie spice.
Following in line with McDonalds, transparency campaign, Starbucks recently released all of the ingredients and tweaked a few recipes. (2) The new pumpkin spice latte includes “pumpkin sauce” consisting of sugar, condensed skim milk, pumpkin purée, less than 2% fruit and vegetable juices for color, natural flavors, annatto, salt, and potassium sorbate. Along with the pumpkin sauce, the latte has 2% milk, vanilla syrup, espresso, whipped cream, and pumpkin pie spice on top.
Though Starbucks claims to use real pumpkin now, after reading the ingredients, it doesn’t seem much better than the previously used pumpkin syrup.
Here’s a version without the artificial flavors and preservatives that you can make at home!!
Homemade Pumpkin Syrup
15 oz can Pumpkin puree
½ cup brown sugar
2 Tbsp Granulated Sugar
1 pinch nutmeg
½ tbsp. cinnamon
1 cup water
Combine all ingredients in a saucepan and let simmer for 20 minutes. Next strain into a bowl and transfer contents into a mason jar for storage.
Homemade Vanilla Syrup
½ cup water
½ cup sugar
2 vanilla bean pods
Combine all ingredients in a sauce pan and simmer, then pour into a mason jar for storage.
Pumpkin Spice
Equal parts clove, ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg
In a mason jar, combine 1 tsp vanilla syrup, 1 tbsp pumpkin syrup, and 1 cup of milk. Put the lid on and shake it up so that the ingredients mix. Then remove the lid and microwave 1 minute.
Add warm milk mixture to 2 shots of espresso or 1 cup of coffee, top with whipped cream and pumpkin spice topping!
References:
1. http://www.starbucks.com/menu/drinks/espresso/pumpkin-spice-latte
2. http://www.popsugar.com/food/Starbucks-Pumpkin-Spice-Latte-Recipe-38272478