The new Starbucks Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew is so much better than the Pumpkin Spice Latte, and you can make it at home! You won’t believe how easy this DIY Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew Recipe is to make. It only takes 6 ingredients and 5 minutes!
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Is anyone else OBSESSED with the new Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew at Starbucks? 🙋♀️🙋♀️🙋♀️ I’ve already had three this week. It’s a problem. But actually, it was all in the name of RESEARCH because as soon as I took my first sip I knew I had to recreate an at home version of pumpkin cream cold brew.
I actually got a little tired of Pumpkin Spice Lattes a few years ago. They are usually too sweet for me. But I do like the festive pumpkin spice flavors. Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew is made with smooth cold brew (you can make your own or take a shortcut and buy cold brew concentrate), and a sweetened pumpkin spice cream. You can add as much or as little pumpkin cream as you want. Plus, as excited as everyone is for fall, it’s still pretty hot, right? So cold brew makes more sense for early fall.
Tips For making Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew at Home
You can make your own cold brew concentrate – see my guide HERE for how to make cold brew at home! Or you can buy it if you want to take a little shortcut. Trader Joe’s and Kroger both sell bottles of cold brew concentrate!
After whisking together your pumpkin cream, strain it through a fine mesh sieve to remove solids from the pumpkin and spices.
Store your pumpkin cream in the refrigerator in a container with a tightly fitting lid.
When ready to make your Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew, froth up your pumpkin cream with a milk frother (I use this one) or a blender.
How to make Starbucks Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew at Home
Make a batch of cold brew (see my guide here) or you can buy bottled cold brew at the grocery store.
Make the Pumpkin Cream:
In a medium saucepan, combine half and half, sugar, pumpkin puree, and pumpkin spice. Whisk over medium heat until sugar is dissolved and mixture is steaming. Do not boil.
Strain through a fine mesh strainer. Transfer to a clean jar with a lid and store in the fridge.
Optional step: Froth up your pumpkin cream using a milk frother or blender right before using.
Pour cold brew coffee into a glass filled with ice. Top with desired amount of pumpkin cream. Dust with a pinch of pumpkin spice. Enjoy!
More Pumpkin Spice Recipes:
Ingredients
For Pumpkin Cream
- 1 cup half and half
- 1/2 cup sugar I used vanilla sugar
- 1 TBSP pure pumpkin puree NOT pumpkin pie filling
- 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew
- 8 ounces cold brew coffee click for my guide on how to make cold brew
- 4 ounce pumpkin cream
Instructions
How to make Starbucks Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew at Home
- Make a batch of cold brew - or buy it premade.
Make the Pumpkin Cream:
- In a medium saucepan, combine half and half, sugar, pumpkin puree, and pumpkin spice. Whisk over medium heat until sugar is dissolved and mixture is steaming. Do not boil.
- Remove from heat and whisk in vanilla extract.
- Strain through a fine mesh strainer. Transfer to a clean jar with a lid and store in the fridge.
To make one Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew Coffee
- Optional step: use a milk frother to froth the pumpkin cream right before using.
- pour cold brew into a glass filled with ice. Top with desired amount of pumpkin cream. Dust with a pinch of pumpkin spice.
Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes Recipe
Pumpkin Cream Cheese Bars
Pumpkin Pancakes
Alyssa Hartford says
I made this today and it tasted good but the cream didn’t really foam up like it does at Starbucks, so I just ended up with a flavored creamer in my coffee. The taste was fantastic though so I’m still pretty happy
Jodi E says
I substituted the sugar with monk fruit sweetener blend and it turned out awesome!! Great recipe!
Meghan says
Wonderful, thanks for sharing!
Camille says
This was a a complete fail for me. I used a blender to froth before and it worked great but I had used heavy cream for the last recipe. This recipe did not froth at all. I would do 1/2 heavy cream and 1/2 half & half. This didn’t taste anything like the original 🙁
Michelle says
I am dairy free while nursing a little love and the thing that has made me the most sad is missing my favorite Starbucks drink this fall! I have been trying to replicate it at home and this is the absolute best recipe I’ve tried! I used a combo of dairy free creamer and the coconut cream that floats to the top of the can just to make it a little richer, and it was everything I remembered. The proportions in your recipe are absolutely perfect. Thank you so much for this ❤️.
Meghan says
Yay, so happy you love it Michelle!
Beckie says
I can’t do dairy but love the PCCB and I usually do it with almond milk. It isn’t the same. So this I used coconut cream and 1/4 c coconut sugar and OMG this is heavenly.
Meghan says
So glad to hear that Beckie!
Julie says
I saved a tbsp of pumpkin from a doughnut recipe this morning so I could try this out, came out really nice. We always have cold brew and this makes it a treat! Great idea, thanks!
Meghan says
So glad you enjoyed it Julie!
Lauren says
Seriously the best Pumpkin Cold brew. I actually like this better then the Starbucks one. I used the Starbucks refrigerated medium ice coffee because the cold brew is just to much for me. I have tried the pumpkin cream both ways at Starbucks with the cold brew and the ice coffee. Thank you for this. 🎃
Meghan says
Yay! I’m so happy to hear that!
Kim Hein says
I am paleo and although I love the Starbucks version so much the dairy wasn’t something I could handle. I made this recipe with a Barista Blend almond milk from Calafia farms and used coconut sugar instead of the processed sugar and it is amazing! Getting my fix of a Starbucks favorite { but in a way I can enjoy it } is heavenly! Thank you so much!
Meghan says
I’m so glad to hear that! Thanks Kim!
Rekha says
This was AMAZING! Did my own half/half since I had cream and whole milk already. Definitely a keeper and I guess I’ll be having this the rest of the year ;D Thank you!
Meghan says
Yay, so happy you loved it!
Vanessa says
Thanks for sharing! Does it separate very quickly?
Suzanne says
This looks so good! What a fun treat to make during the fall!
Danijela says
Great recipe!
Meghan says
Thank you!
Mara Robbins says
I made this this morning and I was so excited because I have fallen in love with Starbucks PCCB but hate spending that $5.50! It was great!! I will for sure make my own cold brew in the future once I’ve used the premade coldbrew.
Also, I used heavy cream instead of half and half because I already had a carton in the fridge, and I didn’t strain it because I didn’t have a frother. Either way it still turned out fine and taste great!
Thanks again for sharing this recipe!!
Meghan says
So glad you loved it Mara!
Daniel Rodriguez says
This is Phenomenally Exquisite and taste exactly like the one that I buy in Starbucks. Thank you so much for the recipe.
I do have one more question thou, I noticed the one on Starbucks has the Pumpkin Cream stay on the top and slowly goes down , so I guess my question is how do I let the pumpkin cream to sit on top and go down slowly? I did put it in my Keurig Frother with the cold setting. On. Am I doing something wrong or do I need to add or substitute an ingredient? The taste is there, I’m just wondering about the execution. Anyways, if you have any tips or any help it will be much appreciated. 😊
Jetta says
The cold foam usually sits on top of the ice. So make sure you are using ice and the cold foam is thick enough (:
Meghan says
Hi Jetta – I have tried it with different milks and heavy whipping cream gets very thick and sits on top of the ice best. Definitely nice for an added indulgence.
Starbuxbarista says
Yes heavy cream is what we use at Starbucks mixed with our pumpkin spice sauce
Melissa says
Actually the pumpkin Cream Cold Foam is made from a mixture of vanilla syrup, heavy whipping cream and 2# milk(vanilla sweet cream) and pumpkin sauce. The must be icy cold and then whipped in a blender for it to sit on top of the cold brew What is shown here is more like a coffee creamer- which is a nice home alternative to actually coming to Starbucks.
Nelle says
Just to add my 2 cents: at Starbucks we actually blend the cream in a blender, so no frother necessary. That said, I can’t wait to try this recipe out.
Meghan says
Thanks Nelle! I did try it in my own blender but I found it didn’t get as frothy as I would like. I think the high powered professional blenders probably work better, for those who have them. Can’t wait to hear what you think!
Daniel Rodriguez says
Hello, just did your recipe, I just want to ask, how long do I leave the Pumpkin Cream In the Fridge for? I took the shortcut and just bought the pre-made cold brew but wanted to see how long before I can try it. Thanks for the recipe it smells very good and I hope it taste even better. Cheers
Meghan says
Hi Daniel – you can use it anytime! It does froth and taste better when it is cold in my opinion. The pumpkin cream should last at least a few days in the fridge, depending on how fresh your ingredients were.
Rebecca says
I’m a little confused by the recipe because the Starbucks pumpkin cream cold brew is made with fresh whipping cream not half and half.. I’m feeling like this will taste a lot different
Meghan says
Hi Rebecca – if you look at the starbucks website, it says the pumpkin cream cold brew contains milk and cream. Half and half is a mix of milk and cream, which is why I used it here. However, you could easily switch out the half and half for all heavy cream if you prefer. Let me know if you end up trying it!
MW says
When substituting the sugar with vanilla, did you use vanilla coffee syrup and did you still use the full 1/2 cup of that? Thank you 🙂
Meghan says
Hi, I just used vanilla flavored sugar. I haven’t tried it with vanilla syrup so I’m not sure about the quantities.
Alexis says
I made this with Swerve (keto friendly sugar) and it was very weird tasting. I’ve never used Swerve so I’m not sure how it tastes alone… but it was just not good. I will be trying your recipe again with regular sugar because I know your recipe is probably fabulous as written. ☺️
Meghan says
Hi Alexis – Oh no! I’ve never tried swerve so I don’t have any tips for you unfortunatly. I would love to hear what you think of the recipe once you try it with sugar!
Cassy says
My cold foam did not froth and I have the same frother that you do?!! 😞
Meghan says
Hi Cassy – it didn’t froth at all? Was it cold or warm when you frothed it? It definitely froths better when it is cold. Also did you use the cold froth setting not the warm froth setting? Those things might make a difference. If not, you could also try making it with skim milk or low fat milk for more froth – but it won’t have as rich of a taste. I think the taste is closer to the starbucks version with the half and half. Hope that helps!
Cassy says
I used it while cold and on the cold setting on the frother. I feel like heavy cream does better. I put some half and half in by itself and it doesn’t do much. I think I may be doing something wrong or expecting something different. But it won’t sit on the top at all! Thank you for your response!
Kimberly says
After making the cream accordi g to the recipe and making sure it is nice and chilled, I cut it with a little low fat milk just before frothing (skim, 1% or 2%) because lower fat milks froth better. Also this recipe makes the cream a little too sweet for me, so the extra milk helps cut the sweetness and build better froth too.
Meghan says
Thanks Kimberly! Great tip!
James says
Looks so deliciously good! Would really give this a try. I’m really into iced coffees and creating a home-made one will be so fun.
Sabrina says
I never cared for the psl, so when my husband got the pccb, I was skeptical. I became obsessed. I’m trying to cut back on the Starbucks though as I spend way too much there, so I loooove this recipe.
The first batch I made, I thought was a little too sweet, so I used 1/3 c sugar on the second batch. Honestly, I think 1/4 c will be even better for me. I also need to buy a milk frother. I thought my stick mixer would work, but not so much.
Meghan says
Hi Sabrina – so glad you love it! It’s great that you can customize it to your own tastes. I love my milk frother, I bet you will love yours too!
Linda Walls says
You can get a cheap frother at Ikea under 5. mine was 2.50 but that was pre-pandemic mania I am sure it’s more now but does the trick. 🙂 Can’t wait to try this recipe after I go get all the ingredients needed. Sounds perfect!
Jill Podhiny says
This is the best!!! Thank you for posting. I love being able to make this special treat at home and save a few dollars!
Meghan says
SO glad you love it Jill!
Brittney says
I’m having a pumpkin patch day where all 3 sets of grandparents come with us and our son dresses up in his costume so all of his grandparents get to see him instead of going from house to house. I am going to make this for everyone! How long does it last in the fridge?
Meghan says
HI Brittney, it should probably last about a week as long as your half n half isn’t close to expiring.
HOLLY says
YAY! I’m going to try to make this keto friendly this week! You have probably just saved my bank account and my waist line haha! I have never been this obsessed with a Starbucks drink and one just opened half a block away from me, on my walk to my son’s school! Also, beautiful blog! I’ll be checking out more things.thanks!!
Meghan says
So happy to hear that! Let me know how the keto version turns out!
Holly says
It’s close, but the cream doesn’t have pumpkin spice in it. I have a cinnamon allergy and Starbucks told me it’s not in the cream. Still trying to find a recipe that works for me!
Meghan says
Hi Holly! The Starbucks version uses their vanilla sweet cream mixed with a little bit of their pumpkin spice syrup. Making it at home, you could definitely leave out the cinnamon. I have a recipe for pumpkin spice linked in this recipe – cinnamon is the main spice in it, but I’m sure you could make a version without cinnamon. Let me know if you give it a try!
Heather says
Why do you have to cook it on the stove top? Why not just mix and go?
Meghan says
Hi Heather – it is so the sugar dissolves, and to intensify the flavors and help them blend together.
Rebecca says
Just made this recipe and looking forward to my coffee tomorrow!
Meghan says
Yay, can’t wait to hear what you think, Rebecca!
EA says
This is delicious! I substituted almond milk as my system won’t tolerate dairy. Although the froth is less & may be less creamy-tasting, it is SO good! Thanks for the recipe!🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Meghan says
So glad you loved it and were able to make it dairy free!
Mercedes says
I tried it and it was amazing! I didn’t have a mesh strainer, so I just kept the pumpkin spice floating around! I will make this again!!!
Meghan says
I’m so glad you loved it Mercedes!
Marianne says
Made this today as I have to have decaf and Starbucks doesn’t offer that in cold brew. it’s SO good!
jacqui says
I was wondering if this recipe calls for 8oz of straight concentrate?
Since it said 8 oz of cold brew, I mixed my concentrate with equal parts of water then added only 2 oz of the pumpkin cream and it was more than enough and so tasty. Smells wonderful, too!
I feel like the 4 oz of pumpkin cream would have been good if I had used the straight concentrate but too much for the diluted concentrated.
Meghan says
Hi Jacqui – It is 8 ounces of cold brew that has been diluted – but it’s just a suggestion, you should definitely use the quantities that you like! It will be different for people depending on personal preference. I’m so glad you loved it!
colleen says
Made this today – I didn’t add the sugar as I don’t drink my coffee that way. It tastes really good. Made another double batch so we can enjoy it over the next couple of days. Thanks for the recipe.
Meghan says
SO glad you loved it Colleen!
Bayleigh says
Freaking NAILED IT with this recipe! I added a little more pumpkin puree but holy…cow. You saved me some money! Thank you so much for creating this!!! .❤️
Meghan says
Hi Bayleigh – Thank you so much! So glad you love it.
Megan says
This is a great recipe! I was going to go broke trying to keep up with my addiction to the drink at Starbucks, and knew they would eventually take it away from me once the season was over. I HAD to find out how to make it myself! I’ve never used a frother before (I went out and bought one for <$10 at Target just for this), and it took me a while to figure out, but I'm going to save so much money in the long run. Tastes yummy, almost like the real thing! Thanks for the recipe!
Meghan says
Yay! So happy you love it Megan!
lisette says
wonderful recipe!! the only changes i made were adding a teaspoon more pumpkin puree and a little bit more half and half (i bought the drink from starbucks as i made it so i could get the best comparison, theirs is a touch creamier than ur recipe). overall, wonderful!! and i am so happy to have found this so soon after the drink came out!
Meghan says
So glad you love it Lisette!
Micki says
You did an amaaaazing job creating this recipe. I made it Saturday with my own cold brew and it was delicious. I actually drank the entire thing on my first day. I was WIRED, LOL
MICHELLE says
Flavors are great. Wanted to send an update, I tried this with Unsweetened Cashew milk. You don’t get the true foam foam with the cashew milk but flavors turned out delicious. Thank you so much for the recipe
Emily says
Hey there!
Is it possible to store in the fridge for the week or make fresh Everytime?
Meghan says
Yes, you can store it in the fridge, it should make a few servings.
BREANNA WAGNON says
Would you be able to leave the sugar out all together? Would it have any other side effects on the recipe besides the sweetness level/taste?
Meghan says
Hi Breanna – I don’t think it would have any side effects besides the taste! Let me know if you try it.
Deb z says
I thought the recipe said heavy cream vs half and half? Did you change that ingredient?
Meghan says
Hi Deb – nope, it was always half and half! But you could probably do a mix of heavy cream and milk if you want, since that is what half and half is.
Sloane says
Vanilla is listed in the cream recipe, but never mentioned again — is it added to the saucepan with the other ingredients, or stirred in later?
Meghan says
Hi Sloane – yes, it is stirred in after simmering. I’ve updated the instructions to reflect that. Thank you!
Hadams says
Will you explain more on how to make the pumpkin puree?
Meghan says
Hi! I used canned pumpkin puree, but if you want to make your own you can cut a small baking pumpkin in half, scoop out the seeds and roast in the oven at 400 degrees F. Roast it for 45-60 minutes or until it is tender. Then you can remove the skin and puree the pumpkin in a food processor until smooth.
HAYLEY says
This was super good! The flavors were like spot on and it made me feel better knowing what I put in it and how cheap and easy it was to make!
The only thing I would do next time would be to try it with milk or cream. I’ve done cold foams at home and found milk and a milk frothed makes it foam like it does at Starbucks. The creaminess would definitely come from using only cream and then frothing it slightly (not too much so as to get pumpkin whipped cream, although that would be DELICIOUS!)
Thanks for sharing! 😊
Meghan says
SO happy you loved it Haley!
Dawn greenan says
I use maple syrup as a sweetener, and think it will go well with the pumpkin. Will also try this with almond milk. More concerned with the flavor and ingredients than with foam. Anxious to give it a try! Thanks so much for the recipe. 😘
Meghan says
I think maple would work well here! Let us know how it turns out!
Sierra says
Hello! Do you know how long this would last stores in the fridge? Thank you so much!
Meghan says
Hi Sierra – I would say about 5 days.
Michelle says
Quick question, best recommendation for making this dairy free? My system just won’t handle heavy cream. Should I try Unsweetened Almondmilk Creamer? Or perhaps coconut cream? Any recommendations would be extremely helpful.
Thank you.
Meghan says
Hi Michelle – I haven’t tried a dairy free version so I can’t be sure. I would say go with the almond milk creamer as the coconut cream may give it an off flavor. I’m not sure if the almond milk will froth the same way as dairy milk – but I think it would be an acceptable substitute. Let us know how it turns out!
Jamie Jackson says
Do you think it would be the same using Splenda, Stevia or another sugar substitute?
Meghan says
Hi Jamie – probably not exactly the same. I haven’t tried it with any sugar substitutes so I am not sure how it would turn out. However, I think it would probably turn out fine. Just be sure to use the proper amount of the substitute (the package might tell you how much to use instead of sugar). Let us know if you give it a try!
Andrea says
I just try this today and it was amazing !!!!
Meghan says
Yay! So glad you loved it!
C2tjma says
So going to try this! My wife loves the drink at Starbucks. How long do you think the pumpkin cream would last in the fridge?
Meghan says
Hi! So glad you are going to give it a try! I would say it should last probably 5 days.