Homemade Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew is a summer-meets-fall iced coffee drink loaded with pumpkin spice flavor. You can grab the original at Starbucks stores but you’ll love this homemade pumpkin coffee drink too! Try it with one of our easy Pumpkin Cookies.
It’s the time of year when pumpkin spice becomes everyone’s favorite flavor! You aren’t quite ready for pumpkin lattes but a little hint at all things fall (the best time of year) is welcome!
This smooth cold brew is the perfect pumpkin spice drink. The pumpkin cream ingredients are easy to combine into a fall tasting foamy topper just like the original.
Use your own cold brew recipe or store bought. Anyway you make it it’s delish.
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Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew recipe
This is the perfect drink for the shoulder season. Still hot during the day but when people are starting to crave a Pumpkin Spice Latte.
Starbucks pumpkin cream cold brew is the best of both worlds. Refreshing when it’s hot but it tastes like fall!
The original drink is made with Starbuck’s cold brew, vanilla syrup and a lightly pumpkin flavored foam on top of the cold brew.
We’ve deconstructed the flavors to come up with a homemade version we think you’ll love. It only has a few ingredients all of which are easy to find at the local grocery store. If you love the Starbucks version we think you’ll the pumpkin spice flavors of this Starbucks copycat recipe!
What is Cold Brew?
Think iced coffee. There is a special method for making cold brew to develop rich flavor. It uses coarsely ground coffee beans, which soak with water for 8-16 hours.
The mixture is then strained with a fine mesh strainer or sieve to make a cold brew concentrate. That is mixed with water for iced coffee or cold brew.
Cold brew tends to be more substantial in flavor versus regular iced coffee which can have a watered down coffee flavor.
Recipe Ingredients + Notes
Cold brew. Use homemade cold brew or store bought. There are many brands who make and sell it if you don’t feel like making your own.
Granulated sugar. This will be used to make vanilla simple syrup to sweeten the cold brew and the cold foam.
Vanilla extract. Used in the simple syrup to give a nice vanilla flavor.
Heavy whipping cream. Heavy cream will be whipped for the cold foam topping. Use cold cream from a carton (not prepared whipping cream).
Pumpkin pie mix. Instead of pumpkin puree we love pumpkin pie mix which is canned pumpkin pie filling. It’s already is sweetened and has pumpkin pie spices added. It’s found near pumpkin puree in the store.
Pumpkin pie spice. Used for a sprinkle on top of the prepared drink.
Variations
Brown sugar. For a more caramel flavor for the vanilla simple syrup use brown sugar instead.
Vanilla Simple Syrup
Simple syrup is fast and easy to make. It’s a sweetener often used in cocktails. Because it’s a liquid it mixes perfectly into drinks without leaving any undissolved sugar.
Use it for this favorite Starbucks drink or in other drinks for a sweet vanilla flavor.
Pumpkin Cream Cold Foam
It sounds very coffee house hip doesn’t it? It’s delicious.
Though the cold foam uses heavy whipping cream it is not prepared to be perky and stiff like traditional whipped cream.
It’s whipped or frothed to what I would call a slouchy consistency. It has a bit of lift but not an enthusiastic amount.
To whip the cold foam use a milk frother, whisk or immersion (stick) blender. We don’t recommend a hand mixer as that will tend to make more of a whipped cream and you just want a foamy topping.
How to Make it – Step-by-Step
STEP 1. Make the Vanilla Simple Syrup
Combine the water and sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat. Simmer, stirring, to dissolve the sugar. Remove from heat.
Cool and stir in the vanilla extract.
STEP 2. Make the Pumpkin Cream Cold Foam
Add the cold heavy whipping cream, pumpkin pie mix and some vanilla simple syrup (if desired for more sweetening in a chilled bowl (photo 1).
Whip the mixture with a whisk, milk frother or immersion blender until frothy (photo 2 -it will not create peaks as with regular whipping cream).
STEP 3. Finish the coffee drink assembly
Pour cold brew into a glass with ice. Sweeten to taste with the vanilla simple syrup.
Spoon some of the pumpkin cream cold foam on top. Sprinkle with pumpkin pie spice as desired.
Frequently Asked Questions
To make your own pumpkin cream that most closely resembles Starbucks cold brew the fat in heavy whipping cream is needed. If you don’t care if it’s frothy in the same way use any type of milk you love. Skim milk, oat milk, almond milk, whole milk can all be used.
You can. We use homemade vanilla simple syrup to replicate the vanilla syrup in the original Starbucks drink. Also liquid sweeteners mix into drinks better than white sugar which has to dissolve. If you prefer maple syrup use it!
More recipes you’ll love!
Recipe
Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew (Starbuck’s copycat recipe)
Ingredients
- 4 cups prepared cold brew coffee homemade or store bought
Vanilla Simple Syrup
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Pumpkin Cream Cold Foam
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 2 tablespoons pumpkin pie mix
- pumpkin pie spice to sprinkle on top
Instructions
Vanilla Simple Syrup
- Combine the water and sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer and stir to dissolve the sugar.
- Allow to cool and stir in the vanilla extract.
Pumpkin Cream Cold Foam
- Combine the whipped cream and pumpkin pie mix in a medium cold bowl (use metal if possible). If additional sweetness is desired add a small amount of the vanilla simple syrup.
- Using a whisk, milk frother or immersion blender 'whip' the mixture until it's frothy. It will not be whipped like traditional whipped cream.
Assembling the cold brew drink
- Fill glasses with ice. Add 1 cup of cold brew and sweeten with some vanilla simple syrup to taste preference.
- Spoon some of the pumpkin cream cold foam on top and sprinkle with pumpkin pie spice.
Amanda Dixon says
I’m so excited you came out with this recipe! I was planning on getting my first pumpkin cold brew at Starbucks today but saw this and decided to make it at home. It was so delicious! Will definitely make again this fall.
Emily Flint says
Just like starbucks…but maybe even better!
Sabrina says
Creamy and really tasty. Thanks!
Kayla DiMaggio says
This cold brew is the perfect coffee for Fall! I love it so much and it is the perfect pick me up!
Liz says
So ready for these flavors minus the price tag. Delicious; thank you!
Roxana says
This is such an easy recipe but something different. So I definitely appreciated all the tips and pictures. Will be great for holidays.
Jess says
It’s so creamy!
Claudia Lamascolo says
I love how easy these were to make and super yummy!
Gina says
I’ll take this homemade version any day over the stuff at Starbucks! Delicious and simple!
Heather Johnson says
so good! i just tried this from ‘bucks the other day for the first time and this is a perfect match! yummmmmmm