The Pumpkin Butter Hack For Ultra Sweet And Creamy Coffee

There are those who count down the months on the calendar until pumpkin spice latte season — or at least until August when autumn is arguably just around the corner — and then there are those who keep the magic alive all year round at home. Whichever camp you fall in, if you are a longtime lover of this cinnamon-scented coffee, you are going to want to try the pumpkin butter hack for a little extra something special to start your day.

While many coffee companies use a flavored syrup or spice mix to prepare this seasonal beverage, the key ingredient for a supremely sweet and creamy pumpkin spice latte is to scoop in a spoonful of pumpkin butter. You can keep things easy and buy some from your local grocery store or you can go the extra mile and slow cook your own pumpkin butter at home — either way, this easy trick for a festive and delicious drink will have you grinning bigger than a jack-o-lantern.

You don't have to be the kind of person who has an elaborate home coffee roasting setup to make a perfect pumpkin spice latte. All you need is pumpkin butter. To start, select your coffee mug of choice and prepare your coffee maker. Before brewing, add pumpkin butter to the bottom of your mug. About one tablespoon is perfect for your average eight-ounce latte. Pour your hot coffee over the pumpkin butter and stir so that it dissolves evenly. Heat your milk and use a hand whisk or electric frother to make it nice and foamy, then spoon this on top and enjoy immediately.

Whether you opt for pumpkin butter that is store-bought or from scratch, you can tweak this sweet spread to suit your preferred spice level. Add an extra sprinkle of classics like cinnamon and nutmeg or something with a kick, like black pepper or cayenne if you like your drink extra warm and spicy.

Besides opting for pumpkin butter and adjusting the spice levels of your perfect at-home pumpkin spice latte, there are plenty of ways to make this drink your own. One option is to serve it over ice — though you'll want to be sure to allow the pumpkin butter to melt into the hot coffee before chilling. If you prefer a hot coffee and want an even richer, more flavorful pumpkin spice latte, you can blend the pumpkin butter into the milk as well as the coffee. By adding a small spoonful to the milk before heating and frothing, each part of the latte will become extra sweet, spicy, and creamy.

It is easy to find or make vegan pumpkin butter, so if you prefer a wholly vegan drink, you can choose a vegan dairy alternative, too, such as oat milk. Since you only need a small amount of pumpkin butter for each pumpkin spice latte, be sure to store it properly in an airtight container in the refrigerator after making your coffee.