Keto diets are some of the most effective ways to lose weight, but they are not always easy to follow. Eating more fat and fewer carbs, in general, is challenging for most people, and keto diets take that approach to the extreme. Many of the most popular foods and beverages are not keto-friendly, making it difficult to maintain some semblance of normalcy in your diet. Espresso drinks and specialty coffee from cafés often have milk and other ingredients that don’t belong in keto diets.
Luckily, there are several ways to work around keto restrictions and still get to have your favorite coffee drinks. In this article, we’ll teach you our favorite recipe for a keto pumpkin spice latte so you can stick to your keto diet and still enjoy a creamy, pumpkin-y coffee. It’s not too difficult but does require a few substitutions and creative alternatives. Let’s get to it!
Keto Pumpkin Spice Ingredients
The most challenging part of making a keto pumpkin spice latte is getting the creamy sweetness you crave. Without sugar, you will have to get a little creative to bolster the natural pumpkin flavors. Our approach includes some additional ingredients like almond milk and vanilla to give our pumpkin spice latte the illusion of sweetness without adding any additional carbs. This way, you wind up with a tasty low-carb treat you can enjoy without feeling guilty.
Equipment
Besides a coffee maker or espresso machine, you’ll also need a blender or milk frother. We prefer using a milk frother, but you can use a traditional blender with good results if you don’t have one. Milk frothers are better for creating a smooth, creamy texture.
You’ll also need a large mug if you plan to heat the cream in a microwave or a small saucepan if you want to heat it on the stove. A small bowl will also help combine the non-coffee ingredients.
How to Make a Keto Pumpkin Spice Latte:
- 2 tablespoons pumpkin puree
- ¼ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¾ cup unsweetened almond milk
- ½ cup coffee
- Sugar-free whipped cream (optional topping)
- Espresso machine or coffee maker
- Milk frother (or blender)
- Large mug
- Microwave or saucepan and stove
- Small bowl and spoon
1. Brew ½ cup of coffee using your favorite method.
We recommend using a relatively plain medium roast. Middle-of-the-road is the best base for flavored lattes, in our opinion.
2. Combine the milk and flavorings.
In a small bowl, mix the almond milk, heavy cream, pumpkin puree, and pumpkin pie spice. Stir gently until the ingredients are reasonably well-mixed. You’re going to blend everything later; stirring now is just to make sure everything heats evenly.
3. Heat the mixture.
Heat the mixture in the microwave for 1 minute or on the stove over low heat until it starts to steam. Be careful not to overheat and stop well short of a boil.
4. Froth your spiced milk.
Add the vanilla extract to the heated mixture and use a milk frother or blender until it becomes smooth and frothy. This step takes a little practice, so don’t be discouraged if the texture isn’t perfect on your first try.
5. Add the coffee.
Slowly add the coffee to the frothed mixture, gently stirring as you pour to get an even blending of coffee and pumpkin froth.
6. Garnish and enjoy!
Top with sugar-free whipped cream. Serve and enjoy!
Keto Pumpkin Spice Latte Variations
It’s always nice to have a few tricks up your sleeve when things start to get boring. If you’re on a keto diet, finding any recipes can be challenging, so once you find one you like, it can be easier to tweak it slightly when you want a change of pace rather than trying to find an entirely different recipe.
Fortunately, keto pumpkin spice lattes lend themselves to small changes that can dramatically affect the taste and keep things interesting. Even on a keto diet, there are several ways to alter this recipe without additional effort.
The easiest way to add a little spice to your keto latte is to add a little more spice literally. One of our favorite additions is topping with some cinnamon or extra pumpkin spice. A layer of dry spice on top changes the drink’s aromatics and puts a fresh twist on things.
Another way to keep things interesting is to use different milk in place of almond milk. Be careful with this because we find that almond milk is one of the best ways to add some keto-friendly flavor to a pumpkin spice latte without adding any sugar. One of our favorite alternative kinds of milk is oat milk, but, unfortunately, it is packed with carbohydrates and decidedly not for keto diets.
Coconut milk is a good alternative to almond milk in most recipes, but we find that it imparts a slightly odd flavor that we’re not sure about in combination with the pumpkin flavors. Still, coconut milk makes a more-than-drinkable keto pumpkin spice latte.
The best option we’ve found if you want to swap out almond milk for something else is cashew milk. Using cashew milk instead of almond milk makes a milder, more subdued pumpkin spice latte, which some people might prefer.
Keto Pumpkin Spice Latte
Equipment
- Espresso machine or coffee maker
- Blender or milk frother
- Large mug
- Small saucepan
- Bowl
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons pumpkin puree
- ¼ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¾ cup unsweetened almond milk
- ½ cup coffee or 2 shots espresso
- Sugar-free whipped cream optional topping
Instructions
- Brew ½ cup of coffee using your favorite method.
- In a small bowl, mix the almond milk, heavy cream, pumpkin puree, and pumpkin pie spice. Stir gently until the ingredients are reasonably well-mixed. You're going to blend everything later; stirring now is just to make sure everything heats evenly.
- Heat the mixture in the microwave for 1 minute or on the stove over low heat until it starts to steam. Be careful not to overheat and stop well short of a boil.
- Add the vanilla extract to the heated mixture and use a milk frother or blender until it becomes smooth and frothy. This step takes a little practice, so don't be discouraged if the texture isn't perfect on your first try.
- Slowly add the coffee to the frothed mixture, gently stirring as you pour to get an even blending of coffee and pumpkin froth.
- Top with sugar-free whipped cream.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Conclusion
Making any latte on a keto diet can be a struggle, but this recipe for pumpkin spice latte is the perfect addition to your keto coffee arsenal. Including almond milk and vanilla extract help round out the flavor and provide some sweetness without actually adding sugar. You can use any keto-approved milk in place of almond milk to put a different spin on the drink when you get tired of drinking the same thing all the time. Coconut milk is one option, but we find cashew milk the second-best choice after almond milk.
SEE ALSO:
- Healthy Pumpkin Spice Latte Recipe (With Almond Milk!)
- Coconut Milk in Coffee (Info & Delicious Recipe)
- How to Make Moroccan Coffee (Tasty Recipe)
Featured image credit: Oksana Mizina, Shutterstock
