This healthier and dairy-free version of a Starbuck's Pumpkin Chai Latte is dairy free and delicious. In minutes you’ll have your own oat milk chai tea latte with the sweetness of pumpkin and the spice of chai.
This oat milk pumpkin spice latte is the best combination of two favorite flavors: pumpkin and chai. Chai is a combination of spices like ginger, star anise, cinnamon and cloves. Mixed with the pumpkin, this latte is basically Fall in a cup!
Making a pumpkin spice chai latte at home has never been easier (or healthier)! If you’re a lover of warm oat milk drinks like me (always been a warm latte on a sunny day kind of gal), you’d love my Oat Milk Hot Chocolate or Oat Milk London Fog Latte!
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Why this recipe works
This recipe is:
- Easy! It’s never been quicker (and healthier!) to make your own Starbuck’s pumpkin chai latte! This recipe takes only a few minutes to make.
- Warming + Cozy: There’s nothing cozier than a warm chai tea latte, especially when it also has pumpkin flavor!
- Flavorful: Chai spices are delicious, with flavors of ginger, star anise, cinnamon and more. This oat milk latte infuses chai tea bags with milk for a deliciously flavorful sip!
- Less Sugary: Starbuck’s Pumpkin Chai Lattes use a chai or pumpkin chai concentrate, both of which can be very high in sugar (24g of sugar in ¾ cup). This pumpkin chai latte uses tea bags soaked in oat milk for a creamy, lower sugar option.
What is Chai?
In India, where masala chai is from, chai literally translates to “tea” in Hindi. The traditional chai from India is made from black tea with milk, sugar and some spices (typically ginger, star anise, cinnamon and cloves).
There are many regional varieties and family recipes for chai, each which uses their own blend of spices. My favorite combination actually adds a pinch of black pepper to add heat and a unique savory taste to the chai spice.
Ingredients Notes
Canned Pumpkin Puree - Stick to clean labels that list only pumpkin. You do not need organic pumpkin for this muffin recipe, but feel free to use if preferred and affordable. You can also make your own pumpkin puree by roasting a pumpkin and blending.
Don’t confuse pumpkin puree with pumpkin pie filling. Pumpkin puree should only contain real pumpkin with no added spices.
Chai Tea - Use any kind of chai tea bag or loose tea. You can also substitute for a chai spice mix.
Pumpkin Spice Mix - Read below for a homemade version if you can’t find it in the store!
Oat Milk - I personally love using oat milk for all of my warm drinks because it’s the creamiest and thickest non-dairy milk. Substitute for your favorite non-dairy milk.
Sweetener - Use maple syrup, honey or coconut sugar.
Make your own Pumpkin Spice Mix
What’s a pumpkin recipe without some pumpkin pie spice?! If you can’t find pumpkin pie spice, you can make your own pumpkin spice blend for this chai latte.
1 Teaspoon Pumpkin Spice = ½ Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon + ¼ Teaspoon Ground Ginger + ⅛ Teaspoon Ground Nutmeg + ⅛ Teaspoon Ground Cloves
Instructions
Making this Starbuck's chai pumpkin latte has never been easier! Add all ingredients into a sauce pot (except the chai tea bags), and combine over medium heat. Then add the chai bag to allow the tea to steep into the pumpkin oat milk mixture.
Finally, froth the chai tea latte and pour into a mug. Serve with coconut whipped cream or as is!
Combine
Add oat milk, pumpkin puree, maple syrup and pumpkin pie spice into a small pot.
Steep
Add a chai tea bag into the oat milk and pumpkin spice mixture. Allow to steep for a few minutes.
How to Serve
You can drink your pumpkin spice chai latte plain, or add an interesting topping to add interest!
- Store-bought whipped cream (or dairy free coconut whipped cream) or make your own whipped cream using coconut cream
- Sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice or chai spice blend
- Fresh grated nutmeg
- Cinnamon stick or dusting of ground cinnamon
- Star anise
And if you're looking for some delicious breakfast dishes to enjoy alongside this latte, try:
- Protein Baked Oats
- Gluten Free Breakfast Sandwich
- Smashed Avocado and Halloumi Bagel
- Pumpkin Protein Pancakes (gluten-free)
- Protein Granola
Make it Iced
There’s a few easy steps to take in order to make an iced pumpkin chai latte!
- Add oat milk, pumpkin puree, maple syrup and pumpkin pie spice to a small pot. Stir well, until combined.
- Heat on low heat for only a few minutes, about 2, until the flavors combine. Turn off the heat and add chai tea bags to the pumpkin milk. Let the tea bags sit for 5 minutes.
- Remove the tea bag and either pour into an airtight container to go into the fridge, or pour directly over ice in a glass.
- If placed into the refrigerator, simply pour over ice when ready to enjoy.
Variations
Caffeine-Free: This pumpkin spice chai latte recipe can easily be made caffeine-free by using an herbal tea rather than regular chai, which is caffeinated. You can typically find several different options of herbal chai in the grocery store.
Dirty Chai: For extra caffeine, simply add a shot of espresso or a shot of cold brew coffee to the mix!
Vanilla: For a little added sweetness and vanilla taste, try adding a small amount of vanilla extract! It will highlight the warm spices used in chai spice.
Refined Sugar Free: Make sure to use coconut sugar, honey or maple syrup as the sweetener.
Vegan: Make sure to use dairy-free milk (as suggested), and use any of the suggested sweetener options (except honey).
Expert Tips
Avoid Curdling:
Be careful not to bring the chai to a boil or it will curdle. To avoid this, heat the milk until it starts to steam and then turn it off.
Tea Bags vs. Loose Leaf vs. Spices:
This latte recipe uses a chai tea bag instead of chai spice blend. Using a tea bag is easier than loose leaf tea and much easier than having multiple spices around. However, any of the above options will work in this recipe.
Make sure that loose leaf tea is in a tea infuser.
Make it Without a Frother
It’s easy to make oat milk pumpkin spice lattes at home without a milk frother (affiliate link) or steamed milk. Simply whisk the combined pumpkin chai tea mixture for at least 20 seconds. This will create a frothing effect and create a nice frothy top!
Storage and Reheating
Storage: leftovers can be stored in an airtight container or jar and refrigerated for up to 5 days.
Make Ahead: Make the pumpkin chai latte up to a few days ahead, refrigerate and reheat when ready to serve. Make or add any toppings (like coconut whipped cream) right before serving.
Reheat: Pour the pumpkin spice chai latte into a sauce pot or pan and reheat over medium-heat until heated through completely. Don’t let the milk come to a boil but let it gently warm, as some milks (dairy or non-dairy) can curdle or separate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Chai tea does traditionally have caffeine.
Yes! Pour the latte into a sauce pan. Heat on low and stir frequently for a few minutes. Once the latte is at the desired temperature, pour the latte into your mug!
Yes! A Pumpkin Spice Latte is made with coffee, while a Pumpkin Chai Latte is made with tea.
Substitute the oat milk for almond milk or other nut milk.
Starbucks uses 1) chai concentrate, which is high in sugar (added sugar) and 2) a Pumpkin Spice Flavoured Sauce, where the first ingredients are sugar and condensed skim milk. Not only is that not gluten-free friendly, but I typically don’t like using products that contain sugar as the first ingredient, let alone refined sugar.
If you add coffee to this pumpkin latte, that is completely fine. That will make this drink a pumpkin dirty chai.
More Warm Drink Recipes
📖 Recipe
Oat Milk Pumpkin Chai Latte
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup oat milk
- 3 tablespoons pumpkin puree
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup
- ½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- 1 chai tea bag
- coconut whipped cream optional
Instructions
- Add oat milk, pumpkin puree, maple syrup and pumpkin pie spice into a small pot. Stir well to combine.
- Heat on low-heat for 5-minutes, until hot.
- Turn off heat and add chai tea bags. Let tea bags sit in pot for 5-10 minutes, to allow flavor to steep.
- Remove tea bag and either pour into frother to froth, or froth directly in pot. (optional)
- Pour into mug.
- Top with whipped coconut cream. (optional)
- Sprinkle with a dusting of cinnamon and add a star anise. (optional)
Marley
Mine isn't as absolutely stunning as yours but WOW is it delicious!!!!
Elise Shivamber
Thanks for making it, Marley!