Copycat Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino

Copycat Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino

Today we are making a Copycat Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino! The Starbucks website describes this popular seasonal drink as Pumpkin plus traditional fall spice flavors, blended with coffee, milk and ice and topped with whipped cream and pumpkin-pie spice. Think of it as the ultimate fall care package.

Well, if I do say so myself, I think that anything pumpkin-flavored automatically falls in the realm of self-care and feeling all warm and cozy inside. The fall season and anything related just has that feel, doesn’t it? No wonder Starbucks only brings out this drink during sweater weather, just to take it away for a year until it comes back. But now, you can easily make it at home without the need to wait so long!

This copycat recipe is vegan, gluten-free, refined sugar-free and healthier than the traditional store-bought drink. You can customize it by substituting ingredients you may not have or are allergic to, by checking the Substitutions section below. The full recipe and preparation are in the recipe card at the end of the post, so you can scroll down or hit the Jump to Recipe button at the top of the page to get there!

Why You’ll Love This Copycat Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino

Seasonal Flavors Year-Round: There’s something satisfying about making drinks that are only available during the holiday season. What happens when you’re craving a pumpkin spice latte before it’s available at Starbucks? I guess … you just have to make your own homemade frappuccinos! This pumpkin spice frappe recipe gets its creamy frappuccino base from zero ice cream, heavy cream or dairy products. There’s also no need to make or buy pumpkin spice syrup!

Instead, we use frozen oat milk ice cubes which provide a creamy texture when blended. They specifically need to be frozen! Then, pure maple syrup acts as a sweetener, black coffee adds the caffeine, pumpkin puree gives the pumpkin flavor and warm fall spices like cinnamon and nutmeg are added with a little bit of pumpkin pie spice.

Substitutions: Sweetener

Maple Syrup: The homemade version of this drink uses a lot less sugar than in the Starbucks version. Pure maple syrup (not pancake syrup) provides the sweetener for this recipe. You can also use another sweetener of choice. Xylitol, brown sugar, agave nectar or any liquid or dry sweetener will work. For example, monk fruit sugar can work as a keto sweetener for those who prefer something low carb. Note that using brown sugar will not be a refined sugar-free option.

Other Substitutions

Oat Milk: Substitute with any other neutral non-dairy milk of choice. Almond milk, cashew milk, full-fat canned coconut milk, soy milk or other plant-based milks may work. Oat milk has a sweet and nutty flavor, which is enjoyable in this drink.

Black Coffee: You can use cold brew coffee, instant coffee, a shot of espresso espresso mixed with water or any version of strong coffee.

Pumpkin Puree: This recipe uses pumpkin puree, which can be taken from a can of pure puree. This is not pumpkin pie filling, which contains added sugar and preservatives. You may try using pumpkin pie filling instead, but you will have to adjust the maple syrup.

If it isn’t pumpkin season and you don’t see pumpkin puree all over the grocery store on display, you may also be able to order it online or in the baking aisle where the pumpkin pie filling would be.

Pumpkin Pie Spice: Pumpkin pie spice, also known as pumpkin spice mix, is a mixture of ground cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and cloves. If you don’t have this, you can use a combination of these spices in different ratios. Instead of the half teaspoon pumpkin pie spice, you can use use a quarter teaspoon ground cinnamon, an eighth of a teaspoon ground nutmeg and ginger each and a sixteenth of a teaspoon ground cloves (a quarter of a quarter teaspoon – this is about a pinch).

Copycat Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino Recipe Notes

• Top with vegan whipped cream (Gay Lea brand makes delicious coconut cream based whip, which can be found next to the regular aerosol cans of whipped cream in the grocery store), a sprinkle of cinnamon and nutmeg or even vegan caramel sauce on top of the whipped cream. You can use the caramel from the macchiato recipe listed below!

More Starbucks Recipes You’ll Love

Caramel Macchiato

Peppermint Mocha Frappuccino

Frozen Hot Chocolate

Java Chip Frappuccino

Twix Frappuccino

Chocolate Hazelnut Frappuccino

If you make this Copycat Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino, then leave a comment and star rating! Don’t forget to tag your photos @peanut_palate on Instagram. Enjoy!