October is finally here, and those who like a strong taste of fall can begin to enjoy iconic, seasonal drinks at their favorite coffee shop. But, when buying a $6 latte doesn’t seem financially or sustainably feasible, folks can easily make autumn-inspired drinks at home.
Not only will making fall drinks at home save individuals time and money, it also doesn’t require them to change out of their pajama pants or take off their fuzzy socks!
Here are five fall drinks to make at home that will surely make a cozy, tasty treat.
Pumpkin Cold Brew
The first step of this recipe is to make a batch of homemade cold brew coffee. To do this, grind up 8 ounces of coffee beans and pour 8 ounces of cold water over them in a glass container. Stir and set in the fridge for at least 12 hours. Once the 12 hours are up, get to work on the pumpkin cream.
To make the cream, mix together ½ cup of half and half with one teaspoon vanilla extract, ¼ cup of sugar, ½ tablespoon of pumpkin puree and ½ teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice. Add the mixture to a saucepan on medium heat, and stir until the sugar is dissolved. Pour the cream over a fine-mesh strainer and set aside. Take the cold brew out of the fridge and pour it over a fine-mesh strainer as well. Then transfer the coffee into a tall glass and slowly pour the pumpkin cream on top. And thus, pumpkin and coffee are effortlessly combined!
Pumpkin Spice Latte
Slightly different from the Pumpkin Cold Brew, the Pumpkin Spice Latte is typically served hot, has a large milk-to-coffee ratio and does not require any prepwork. To make this drink, add 1 cup of your milk of choice to a saucepan on medium-high heat. Whisk in 1 tablespoon of pumpkin puree, ¼ teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice, 2 tablespoons of sugar and one teaspoon of vanilla extract to the milk. Once incorporated, add in ⅓ cup of coffee to the mix. Pour into a mug, top with whipped cream and enjoy!
Salted Caramel Latte
This indulgent drink can be made in minutes. Add ½ cup of milk, 3 tablespoons of store-bought salted caramel sauce and ½ teaspoons of unsweetened cocoa powder to a saucepan on medium heat. Once the caramel dissolves, pour the milk mixture on top of 1 cup of coffee in a large mug. Add whipped cream and more caramel sauce on top and drink up!
Pumpkin Hot Chocolate
This recipe is great for any caffeine-free folks who still want to enjoy the flavors of fall. Add ¼ cup of heavy whipping cream, ½ cup of your milk of choice and ⅓ cup of milk chocolate chips in a saucepan over medium-high heat. If you want the recipe to be completely dairy free, scratch the heavy cream and use ¾ cups of non-dairy milk overall and switch out the milk chocolate chips for dark chocolate chips.
Once the chocolate chips melt completely, add in 1 tablespoon of pumpkin puree and ½ teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice to the milk mixture. Stir in a pinch of cinnamon and nutmeg, and pour the mixture into a large mug. Then top with whipped cream and take a sip.
Spiced Chai Latte
After purchasing your favorite chai tea from the grocery store, pour scorchingly hot water over one tea bag in a large mug and let them steep for five minutes. While waiting for the tea, warm up ¾ cups of your milk of choice and add one or two drops of vanilla and a teaspoon of sugar to the warm milk. Then, either use a milk frother or whisk to thicken up the milk and add it to the brewed chai tea. Add a dash of cinnamon on top for an extra layer of flavor, and the drink is ready to be enjoyed!