This pumpkin spice chai latte recipe is warmly spiced and made with pumpkin puree. Naturally sweetened with maple syrup, dairy-free, and ready in about 10 minutes.
If you love pumpkin, you'll also want to check out my vegan pumpkin spice mug cake recipe and my vegan graham-cracker crust pumpkin pie recipe.
🔍 A Quick Look
- ⏱️ Prep Time: 10 minutes
- ⏲️ Cook Time: 2 minutes
- 🕒 Total Time: 12 minutes
- 👥 Servings: 1
- 🔥 Cook Method: Steep chai tea, warm pumpkin-spiced oat milk on stovetop, combine and froth
- 🎯 Key Ingredients: Chai tea, pumpkin puree, oat milk, maple syrup
- 🌱 Dietary Info: Dairy-free, vegan, naturally sweetened
- 👩🍳 Flavor Profile: Warmly spiced, naturally sweet, cozy fall vibes with real pumpkin flavor
- ✨ Best For: Cozy fall mornings, coffee shop cravings at home, meal prep chai base
- 💕 Why You'll Love It: Real pumpkin flavor without artificial syrups, ready in under 15 minutes, and way less sweet than store-bought versions
- ⭐ Difficulty: Easy, perfect for busy mornings
This is the drink I look forward to all year — cozy, spiced, and ready in minutes.
Coffee shop versions were always a bit too sweet and syrupy, so I started making my own pumpkin chai at home. Steeped chai tea, pumpkin purée, and maple syrup. Just simple ingredients and sweetened naturally, just the way you like it. Plus, it comes together in about 10 minutes.
Some afternoons, I’ll sip it with a slice of my vegan banana bread (such a great combo), other mornings with oat bran muffins. Either way, it’s the drink that makes fall feel like fall.
What is a Pumpkin Spice Chai Latte?
A pumpkin chai tea latte is a cozy drink made by combining brewed chai tea, pumpkin purée, warming spices, and milk. Think Starbucks pumpkin chai latte—only simpler, less sweet, and made with real ingredients.
Jump to:
- 🔍 A Quick Look
- What is a Pumpkin Spice Chai Latte?
- Why This Recipe Works
- Ingredients & Substitutions
- The Best Tea for Pumpkin Chai Latte
- Tested Tips For Best Results
- How to Make a Pumpkin Spice Chai Latte
- How To Adjust the Strength of Your Chai
- What to Serve with Pumpkin Spice Chai Latte
- Nourish Your Way
- Pumpkin Spice Chai Latte FAQs
- More Cozy Drinks You'll Love
- 📖 Recipe
- 💬 Comments
Why This Recipe Works
- Made with pumpkin purée + chai for full, rich flavor
- Naturally sweetened with maple syrup instead of syrups
- Uses unsweetened oat milk for creaminess without dairy
- Ready in under 10 minutes, easy to prep ahead
- Customizable for caffeine-free or extra-spiced versions
Ingredients & Substitutions
Here's what you'll need to make this pumpkin-spiced chai latte recipe:
- Chai tea bags – Any black tea chai works. Prefer loose-leaf? Here’s my favorite loose-leaf Masala Chai. Just use a tea infuser or strainer before mixing.
- Pumpkin puree – Canned or homemade. Don't use pumpkin pie filling (too sweet).
- Plant-based milk – My favorite is oat milk. But homemade cashew milk works incredibly well, too!
- Maple syrup – Substitute with agave, date syrup, or coconut sugar.
See the recipe card for quantities.
The Best Tea for Pumpkin Chai Latte
- Classic flavor: Spiced black tea chai (cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, clove).
Try: The Republic of Tea Bold Black Chai or Numi Golden Chai Black Tea - Caffeine-free: Rooibos chai (naturally earthy + warming).
Try: Numi Roobios Chai or Yogi Chai Roobios - Extra bold: Masala chai (often includes black pepper for a stronger kick).
Try: Rishi Masala Chai
Skip blends with “natural flavors” or added sweeteners—clean, spice-forward chai is best.
Tested Tips For Best Results
- Don't overheat the milk – Heat milk gently—boiling can scorch or separate plant-based milk.
- Froth or blend – for café-style foam.
- Steep chai 5–7 minutes for bold flavor; longer can turn bitter. Squeeze the bags for max flavor before discarding.
- Spices and tea blends vary in strength – If your latte tastes flat, whisk in an extra ¼ teaspoon (at a time) of pumpkin pie spice or a pinch of ground cinnamon.
- Brew extra chai and refrigerate for 2–3 days for quick lattes.
How to Make a Pumpkin Spice Chai Latte
Find the complete recipe with measurements in the recipe card below.
Warm the pumpkin milk mixture
In a small saucepan, whisk milk, pumpkin purée, maple syrup, pumpkin pie spice, and cardamom. Heat gently over medium-low until steaming (don’t boil).
Combine and serve
Stir in brewed chai tea, vanilla, and salt. Froth if desired, then pour into a mug. Top with spices or whipped cream and enjoy.
How To Adjust the Strength of Your Chai
Chai is both art and science. I like mine bold and spiced, but others in my house prefer it milder. Your sweet spot might shift depending on your mood or the size of your mug.
- If it’s too light, try steeping the tea a bit longer or using slightly less milk next time.
- If it’s too strong, stir in a splash of warm milk to soften the flavor.
The milk-to-water ratio makes a big difference:
Less milk = stronger tea flavor
More milk = creamier and more mellow
There’s no exact formula, just small tweaks until it tastes right to you.
What to Serve with Pumpkin Spice Chai Latte
Delicious with my chocolate chip vegan banana bread recipe and oat bran muffins recipe. If you’re leaning into fall flavors, try it with my vegan carrot cake cupcake recipe, or keep it simple with this vegan matcha cookies recipe— so good!
Nourish Your Way
- Calm + Relax: Swap black tea for rooibos chai and add a pinch of lavender for a soothing bedtime version.
- Grounding + Cozy: Extra cinnamon or nutmeg makes this latte feel warming and deeply comforting.
- Energizing: Bold masala chai with fresh ginger for a spicy kick or try a dairy-free matcha latte for a gentler, steady boost.
- Golden Glow: For a golden lift: Turmeric + black pepper for warmth and glow. Johns Hopkins Medicine explains more about the benefits.
Pumpkin Spice Chai Latte FAQs
Yes! Let the brewed chai cool, then mix with chilled pumpkin milk and pour over ice.
Yes, but most are pre-sweetened. Skip the maple syrup if using.
This homemade pumpkin spice chai latte is similar in flavor but less sweet and made without syrups, artificial flavoring, and is dairy-free.
I love unsweetened oat milk for its creamy texture and neutral flavor. You can also use almond, soy, or full-fat coconut milk for different textures and richness levels (but coconut milk adds a more noticeable flavor).
Yes. Just make sure it's smooth and not too watery. If your puree is on the loose side, reduce the milk slightly or simmer the mixture a little longer so it thickens up.
More Cozy Drinks You'll Love
Looking for more cozy drink recipes? Try these:
Did you try this recipe? Let me know what you thought by leaving a comment below and sharing it on Instagram, Facebook, & Pinterest! 💛
📖 Recipe
Pumpkin Spice Chai Latte (Vegan)
Equipment
- Electric kettle optional, prevents over-boiling, which can make chai bitter
- Milk frother optional, a mini whisk works too
- Tea strainer/infuser if using loose-leaf chai
Ingredients
- ½ cup water
- 2 chai tea bags, OR 1 tablespoon loose-leaf chai tea
- ¾ cup unsweetened plant-based milk
- 2 tablespoons pumpkin puree
- 2 teaspoons maple syrup, adjust to taste
- ½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice, homemade recipe in Notes
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cardamom, optional but highly recommended
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of sea salt
- Optional toppings: Coconut whipped cream, extra pumpkin pie spice, nutmeg, star anise, cinnamon stick
Instructions
- Steep the Chai: Heat the water until just below boiling (around 200°F). Remove from heat, add chai tea bags (or loose-leaf in a tea infuser), and steep for 5–7 minutes. Squeeze the tea bags to extract maximum flavor, then discard.
- Warm the Pumpkin Milk: In a small saucepan, whisk together the milk, pumpkin purée, maple syrup, pumpkin pie spice, and cardamom. Heat gently over medium-low - don't boil. Look for small bubbles around the edges.
- Combine and Serve: Stir brewed tea into the pumpkin milk, then add vanilla and salt. Froth if desired and pour into a mug. Top with whipped cream or a sprinkle of spice, if you like.
Video
Notes
- Homemade pumpkin pie spice mix: 1.5 tablespoon cinnamon, 1 teaspoon ginger, 1 teaspoon nutmeg, ¼ teaspoon cloves, ¼ teaspoon allspice. Store airtight.
- No frother? Blend everything for 30 seconds for foam.
- Adjust strength: Play with steeping time, milk ratio, or spice (see section above).
- Iced latte: Let chai and pumpkin milk cool completely, then pour over ice.
Nutrition
Julie Gaeta is a plant-based recipe creator, certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, and mom of nine who's been plant-based for over 20 years. She's cooked approximately 4,382 pots of beans and can't vacation without her juicer and pasta pot. Her work has been featured in HuffPost, Yahoo, YourTango, and other major outlets. She helps others simplify wellness and feel good again through her blog, coaching, and weekly newsletter.
Julie Gaeta says
One of my absolute favorite fall drinks. It's the just-right combo of sweet and spice!