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This Pumpkin Cold Brew recipe is inspired by the popular drink at Starbucks, and it’s even easier to make at home! All you need is a few simple ingredients to make the pumpkin coffee creamer, and it’s naturally-sweetened and dairy-free.
It reminds me of a homemade pumpkin spice latte, but this version is perfect for those who prefer iced coffee drinks, instead.
Pumpkin Cold Brew Ingredients
What’s in a pumpkin cold brew? The Starbucks version starts with a glass of iced cold brew coffee that is sweetened with vanilla syrup, topped off with a pumpkin-spiced whipped cream topping, with extra pumpkin spice on top.
To make a healthier pumpkin cold brew at home, I’ve decided to skip the vanilla syrup all together, and keep the sweetener in this easy pumpkin sweet cream topping.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- Cashews or cashew butter
- Pumpkin puree
- Maple syrup
- Pumpkin pie spice
Since this version is dairy-free, you’ll need to use a generous amount of this vegan pumpkin coffee creamer to get a similar sweet & creamy effect to the store-bought drink, so just keep that in mind.
I usually use about 1/4 cup of this pumpkin creamer, or more, in 8 ounces of coffee, to get a creamy latte texture.
How to Make It
1. Blend. Add cashews, water, pumpkin, maple syrup, and pumpkin pie spice to a blender, and blend until smooth. The mixture should have the texture of heavy whipping cream when you’re done blending.
If you don’t have a high speed blender, use cashew butter instead, so you won’t have to worry about any cashew pieces not getting totally pulverized.
2. Prepare the cold brew. You can make your own batch of cold brew coffee overnight in the fridge, or you can simply ice a cup of cooled home-brewed coffee.
(If you’re like me, your coffee may get cold as you get distracted in the morning!) I recommend starting with 8 ounces of coffee over ice, but you can always add more, if you’d like to.
3. Add the pumpkin creamer. Pour a generous amount of pumpkin creamer on top of the iced coffee, and watch it swirl into the glass! It’s not quite as smooth as using real whipping cream, but it does become creamy once you give it a stir.
Stir very well, to distribute the flavor evenly throughout the drink. As I mentioned above, I usually use at least a 1/4 cup of pumpkin creamer for 8 ounces of black coffee, to get a similar taste and texture compared to the Starbucks version.
It should taste creamy, and lightly sweet, but not quite as sweet as a traditional pumpkin spice latte.
Storage Tips
You can store this pumpkin coffee creamer in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. This recipes makes roughly 4 to 5 servings, so it should last you the whole week, if you want a daily pumpkin coffee fix.
It’s normal for non-dairy coffee creamers to separate when you store them in the fridge. Be sure to give it a good shake when you’re ready to use it again.
Substitution Ideas
I’ve been testing this pumpkin cold brew recipe many times over the past month, and have tried lots of variations. Be sure to try one of the ideas below if you need to use a different ingredient.
Make an oat milk latte. If you haven’t tried my iced oat milk latte, it’s the perfect nut-free and coconut-free option. If you scroll down in that recipe, you’ll see the pumpkin spice version I’ve already tested for you!
Use coconut milk instead. You can replace the cashews + water in this recipe with a 3/4 cup of canned coconut milk. To measure, make sure you pour the entire can of full-fat coconut milk (not light!) into a blender, and blend until smooth. This will ensure you have a thick, and creamy coconut milk that resembles heavy whipping cream. You can measure after blending.
No high-speed blender? Try using a nut butter instead. You can replace the cashews in this recipe with 2 tablespoons of nut butter instead. Keep in mind that they nut you choose will impact the flavor, so look for brands labeled “raw” if possible, to avoid a roasted flavor. I like raw cashew butter or raw almond butter best.
Use another non-dairy milk. If you don’t mind a slightly less-creamy drink, you can use 3/4 cup of almond milk or oat milk to replace the cashews and water in this recipe.
However you make it, I hope you’ll enjoy this easy Pumpkin Cold Brew soon!
Pumpkin Cold Brew
This Pumpkin Cold Brew features a dairy-free pumpkin coffee creamer that will transform your next iced coffee into a lightly sweet and creamy Fall drink!
Cold Brew
- 8 ounces iced coffee (per serving)
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To make the pumpkin coffee creamer, add the cashews, water, pumpkin, maple syrup, and pumpkin pie spice to a blender. Blend until very smooth, with no visible cashew pieces remaining. (Alternatively, you can use 2 tablespoons of cashew butter instead of the whole cashews.)
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To make the pumpkin cold brew, add 8 ounces of cold coffee to a glass of ice. (Use 8 ounces of coffee per serving; double or triple as needed!) Add a 1/4 cup of the pumpkin coffee creamer on top, then stir well to mix. Add more creamer, as needed, until the drink is as sweet and creamy as you’d like it to be.
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This recipe should make roughly 4 servings of the creamer, so you can store the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
See the full post above for substitution ideas. I’ve tested several other ingredients if you need a nut-free option!
Calories: 106kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 5mg | Potassium: 133mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 2384IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 33mg | Iron: 1mg
If you try this Pumpkin Cold brew recipe, please leave a comment & star rating below letting me know how you like it!
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Reader Feedback: Are there any other Fall drink recipes you’d like to see in the future? Let me know!