Pumpkin Spice Syrup Recipe (Starbucks copycat)

I’d like to think this is the best homemade pumpkin spice syrup recipe for coffee, lattes, and cocktails. I make it every year and it’s the perfect way to welcome the fall season. It’s easy to make and the ingredients are probably already in your pantry. This syrup calls for granulated sugar, real pumpkin puree, and a full lineup of warm spices: cinnamon, ginger, clove, nutmeg, and allspice.

I use this syrup in my Pumpkin Spice Espresso Martini Cocktail and if you’re really into spice flavoring, check out my Pumpkin Spice Chex Mix. The flavors taste very similar to the Starbucks recipe, so consider this your copycat of the Starbucks pumpkin spice syrup. It’s ready in about 20 minutes, and you’ll have enough for two week’s worth of lattes and drinks.

Ingredients you will need

Granulated sugar – This forms the base of the syrup along with the water, giving you that classic simple syrup sweetness to build the spice flavor on top of. You can use brown sugar; however, the molasses can overpower the other spices, in my opinion.

Water – Combined with the sugar to create the syrup base.

Pumpkin puree – Use actual canned pumpkin, not pumpkin pie filling; you want the real pumpkin puree here, not a pre-spiced mix. Whatever you don’t use can be stored in the refrigerator.

Cinnamon – The backbone of that classic pumpkin spice flavor.

Ground cloves – add warmth and depth. A little goes a long way.

Ginger – I like ground ginger for convenience, but a knob of fresh ginger works too if you want a slightly brighter, sharper note.

Nutmeg – Rounds out the blend with that familiar cozy, baked-good flavor.

Allspice – Ties all the other spices together and gives the syrup its signature depth.

How to Use Pumpkin Spice Syrup?

Use this syrup as the sweetener in your latte, cold brew, hot chocolate, or coffee. I like to use it in my cocktails to add a delicious seasonal variation. It can also be drizzled over ice cream, mixed into a milkshake, enjoyed in smoothies, oatmeal, yogurt, or poured over pancakes and French toast, and pancakes. This syrup would be delicious in other desserts like cinnamon rolls or an affogato.

How Long Does Pumpkin Spice Syrup Last?

The syrup will last for up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator when stored in an airtight container or glass jar. I like to store mine in these glass bottles from Amazon. These are also perfect for gifting!

How to Make Your Own Pumpkin Spice Syrup

Add the water, sugar, pumpkin puree, cinnamon, clove, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice to a small saucepan and whisk together into a smooth mixture. Bring it to a boil over high heat, then reduce to medium heat and let it simmer for 15 minutes while it thickens. Give it a good shake or stir occasionally so nothing settles at the bottom. Remove from the heat and let it cool.

Double strain (fine mesh strainer and cheesecloth) the syrup into a glass jar and store it in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Quick tip

You will need to double-strain the syrup because the pumpkin puree is thick, and you don’t want the puree in the final syrup. I usually take a measuring cup, cover it with cheesecloth, then use a fine-mesh strainer to pour the syrup through. It will pass through the strainer, the cheesecloth, and into the measuring cup. Gently squeeze the syrup through the cheesecloth as well to get every last bit out.