As the temperature drops and the leaves begin to change, fall in State College is starting to leave most students craving a warm, autumnal spiced latte. Before running to Starbucks, try making your own at home for the perfect brunch beverage or cozy caffeine boost to accompany your next study session.
Pumpkin Spice Simple Syrup
Add a few teaspoons of this pumpkin spice simple syrup to hot or iced coffee, lattes or hot chocolate for the perfect seasonal treat.
What You’ll Need
- 1 cup of granulated sugar
- 1 cup of water
- 2 tablespoons of canned pumpkin
- 1 tablespoon of maple syrup (optional)
- 1 tablespoon of cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon of ginger
- ½ teaspoon of cloves
- Pinch of nutmeg
What You’ll Do
- Combine the sugar and water in a saucepan over a medium heat until all of the sugar dissolves and the liquid is slightly thicker.
- Add pumpkin, maple syrup and spices and stir to ensure there are no lumps. Allow the mixture to continue to thicken over medium heat but do not let boil.
- After about 10 minutes, the mixture should be about as thick as maple syrup. Let the syrup cool and transfer to a glass jar.
- Add to taste to your favorite coffee or latte!
Salted Caramel Mocha
Perfect for a lazy Sunday morning, whip up this Starbucks-reminiscent salted caramel mocha when you are craving a treat and have a little extra time to spare!
What you’ll need
- ½ cup of salted butter
- 1 cup of brown sugar
- 1¼ cup milk of choice
- 1-2 shots of espresso or ⅓ cup strong brewed coffee
- 2 tablespoons of hot chocolate powder (or to taste)
- Whipped cream
- Sea salt
What you’ll do
- Make the caramel sauce by melting the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the brown sugar and ¼ cup of milk and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and store in a glass jar once the caramel has cooled.
- Brew espresso or coffee however you’d like. Use a Moka Pot in this recipe to brew strong Neapolitan coffee, almost identical to espresso. If you’d prefer coffee, brew a ⅓ cup of strong coffee.
- Heat 1 cup of milk in a saucepan over medium heat and add espresso or coffee, hot chocolate powder, and about 2 tablespoons of your caramel sauce. Whisk to combine and wait until the caramel sauce is fully melted. Pour into a mug.
- For the perfect Instagram story, top with whipped cream, a drizzle of caramel and a sprinkle of sea salt.
Maple Cinnamon Latte
For a naturally-sweetened morning treat, this maple cinnamon latte goes beyond pumpkin spice to fulfill your fall fix.
What You’ll Need
- 1-2 shots of espresso or ⅓ cup strong brewed coffee
- 1 cup of milk of choice
- Pinch of nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon of cinnamon (or to taste)
- Sprinkle of brown sugar to taste
- 1-2 tablespoons of real maple syrup to taste
What You’ll Do
- Brew coffee or espresso in your preferred method.
- Heat milk over a saucepan over medium-low heat, stir in the maple syrup and spices.
- Add coffee or espresso to the saucepan and whisk to combine. Sprinkle brown sugar to taste and pour into a mug.
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