Each autumn when the leaves fade into their glorious golden hue and start to accumulate on the sidewalks, the inevitable craving for all things pumpkin happens.
This seems to come in beverage form for many of us – the controversial PSL!
Instead of fighting it this year I decided to experiment in the kitchen to create a more nutritious version of the beloved drink. It’s incredibly important to know what foods we are putting into our body and beverages are no exception! Many of the PSLs at coffee shops are filled with cane sugar, hormones from non-organic milk, and pesticides from the pumpkin crop – yuk!
It’s pretty simple to avoid all that non-sense by making your own. Which, by the way, you can have all the time! Well maybe not daily, but at least several times a week.
This nutrient-dense pumpkin latte will also leave you feeling good – not buzzing (and crashing!) from a sugar filled drink. Particularly when you add a little fat in the form of coconut oil or MCT oil, as the digestion of fats can help to slow down the absorption of caffeine.
For all you non-coffee/caffeine drinkers out there don’t despair! There are many ways to concoct this warming beverage. Try substituting the coffee for black tea (Assam, English breakfast) or for an herbal coffee substitute like Teeccino that uses herbs to mimic that deep earthy flavor. So. Tasty.
Just a reminder about sourcing your ingredients – not all milks, fats, or spices are created equal. When stocking your PSL supply look for organic spices, pumpkin purée, and sweeteners; cold-pressed and organic fats or oils; organic non-dairy milk (try making your own) or organic grass-fed whole milk; and raw unprocessed local (if possible) honey.
Onto enjoying the ever-satisfying pumpkin bev of your choice. Happy Fall Fest!
Nutrient-Dense Pumpkin Spice Latte
Ingredients
- 1 cup non-dairy milk such as flax, hemp, coconut, pumpkin or whole milk
- 2 tbsp organic pumpkin puree
- ¼ tsp pumpkin pie spice
- ¼ tsp vanilla
- 1 tbsp sweetener such as raw honey or maple syrup
- ½ cup strong coffee, shot of espresso, herbal coffee like Teeccino, or black tea
- Optional: 1 tsp organic coconut oil or MCT oil
Instructions
- Over medium heat, whisk together all the ingredients except for the coffee until warm.
- Pour into your favorite mug, add coffee, and enjoy your healthy, nutrient-dense PSL!
This recipe can be modified in many ways – adding fats to help with caffeine absorption, trying an herbal coffee substitute that’s made with chicory or dandelion, substituting coffee for black tea, or leaving out the coffee entirely for a pumpkin steamer.
The obsession is real for a lot of us during the fall – please share your love for all things pumpkin and any recipe modifications you make in the comments!
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