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Learn how to make the best homemade pumpkin spice chai latte! It’s much cheaper than Starbucks… And it tastes even better! Full of cozy spices and real pumpkin, this tea drink is ready in just a few minutes. It’s the perfect way to start any fall day!
During my summer trip back home, my mom and brother showed us pictures from their England vacation. They plugged my brother’s laptop into the TV so we could view the photos as large as possible, and they told us stories about each one.
Their 10-day trip actually revolved around roller coasters. My brother loves those as much as I love baseball and baking, so he planned an itinerary that stopped at many of the major British theme parks, which meant he (and often Mom too!) rode as many roller coasters as they could.
While they usually booked hotel rooms, they stayed at a B&B for two nights in York, which offered a full English breakfast to the guests each morning. Eggs, bacon, sausage, beans, tomatoes, mushrooms, potatoes, toast… Along with coffee and tea, of course!
As a result of those full English breakfasts throughout their trip (and the lack of American coffee shops!), Mom realized her daily chai latte tasted much too sweet once she returned home. Although she still loved the spice flavor, the amount of sugar felt unnecessary (and off-putting!) after drinking so much plain English breakfast tea.
Since Mom flew into town to visit me this weekend, I wanted to surprise her with an updated homemade, not-too-sweet version of her old favorite breakfast drink… And with pumpkin season right around the corner, I whipped up this healthy pumpkin spice chai latte!
It tastes really cozy with lots of spices, and I used my mom’s favorite dairy-free milk (but no sugar!) — along with real pumpkin for that iconic pumpkin spice flavor. It’s also super quick and easy to make!
HOW TO MAKE THE BEST HEALTHY PUMPKIN SPICE CHAI LATTE
Let’s go over how to make this healthy pumpkin spice chai latte! Like I mentioned, it’s incredibly simple to whip up. You only need a few minutes!
To start, you’ll obviously need… Chai. Chai refers to a specific type of black tea made with spices. Cardamom, ginger, cinnamon, and allspice are the most common ones!
Instead of Mom’s usual chai concentrate, I bought regular chai bags. Just steep and brew like regular tea! To make sure the chai flavor was strong enough, I used 2 tea bags and steeped them for 10+ minutes to make this healthy pumpkin spice chai latte.
Psst… I learned a while ago that saying “chai tea” is just as redundant as saying “ATM machine.” Nerdy food fact for you! 😉
Next comes the latte part… aka the milk! For Mom’s healthy pumpkin spice chai latte, I used her favorite unsweetened vanilla almond milk. That’s the only kind of milk she buys these days, and since she loves pouring it in her morning bowls of cereal, I figured she’d love it in this too!
Just about any milk will work, so feel free to use whatever you normally stock in your fridge! Nonfat milk, low-fat milk, soy milk, oat milk… They’re all great options!
Tip: If you use almond milk like I did, then your healthy pumpkin spice chai latte is dairy-free and vegan! (My other favorite is unsweetened cashew milk. It’s thick, creamy, and so good!)
I also stirred in pumpkin purée (like this — NOT pumpkin pie mix!), cinnamon (this is my favorite type!), a hint of nutmeg and ginger, and a tiny amount of liquid stevia (this kind!) for a bit of sweetness. Because Mom mentioned her traditional chai lattes now tasted too sweet, I only added a teeny bit of liquid stevia to her healthy pumpkin spice chai latte. You can definitely add more if you prefer!
Hint: Stevia is a plant-based, sugar-free, no-calorie sweetener. It contains nothing refined or artificial (aka it’s clean eating friendly!), and it’s also really concentrated. I buy mine online here because that’s the best price I’ve found (and you’ll use it in all of these recipes of mine, too!).
Tip: Many stevia brands and products have different sweetness levels, so they’re not necessarily 1-for-1 substitutes for one another! For the best results, I highly recommend using the same one that I do. If you end up substituting another one, then just keep in mind that you may need to adjust the amount!
Once the chai has brewed and tastes strong enough… And your milk + pumpkin + pumpkin spice mixture is warmed through… Just pour it in…
And enjoy every sip!
FAQ ABOUT THIS HEALTHY PUMPKIN SPICE CHAI LATTE
Is this pumpkin spice chai latte sugar-free, dairy-free, vegan, clean eating, or low calorie?
Yes — to everything! When made as written, this homemade pumpkin chai latte is naturally sugar-free, dairy-free, vegan, clean eating, and low calorie (compared to traditional recipes!). It’s low carb too!
Can I substitute a different milk?
You sure can! Almost any type will work, so feel free to use whatever you already have in your fridge.
What about a different sweetener?
Absolutely! I included some additional options in the Notes section of the recipe, so check there. If your favorite sweetener can dissolve in liquids, then it’s probably fine to substitute!
Can I use store-bought pumpkin pie spice instead of the cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger?
Of course! You’ll need ⅛ teaspoon to replace the trio of spices.
Can I make this with coffee instead?
Yes again! This is my classic pumpkin spice latte recipe made with coffee (or espresso!).
Can I make this pumpkin spice chai latte iced, not hot?
You bet! Where I live, our weather normally remains around 80°F until October, so… I completely understand craving an iced beverage instead!
Like a cozy fall hug in a mug! ♡ When you make your own, remember to snap a picture and share it on Instagram using #amyshealthybaking and tagging @amyshealthybaking IN the photo itself! (That guarantees I’ll see your picture! 🙂 ) I’d love to see your healthy pumpkin spice chai latte!
Healthy Pumpkin Spice Chai Latte
© Amy's Healthy Baking
Yields: 1 latte
This is a fall-flavored version of my mom’s favorite chai latte! It’s creamy and very lightly sweetened, and it has lots of cozy spice flavor. You can easily double or triple the recipe to serve more, and it tastes lovely as an iced latte too!
4.91 from 10 votes
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Ingredients
- ¾ cup (180mL) water
- 2 chai bags
- 1 cup (240mL) unsweetened vanilla almond milk
- 1 tbsp (15g) pumpkin purée (NOT pumpkin pie mix!)
- ⅛ tsp ground cinnamon
- tiny pinch ground nutmeg
- tiny pinch ground ginger
- 4 drops liquid stevia (or adjusted to taste)
Instructions
Bring the water to a boil. Pour into a mug. Add the chai bags, and let them steep for 5-10 minutes (5 minutes for normal strength, 10 minutes [or more!] for stronger chai flavor).
Add the milk, pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and liquid stevia to a small pot. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring often, until the milk is hot. Pour into the brewed chai.
Notes
IMPORTANT FLAVOR NOTES – READ BEFORE BEGINNING: If you'd prefer a sweeter latte, increase the liquid stevia.
I prefer a stronger spice flavor, so I add more cinnamon (closer to ¼ teaspoon in total). You can definitely adjust the spices to suit your tastes!
CHAI NOTE: These are the chai bags that I use! (And if you prefer the traditional coffee version, I have a recipe for a regular coffee-based pumpkin spice latte here!)
MILK ALTERNATIVES: Any milk may be substituted for the unsweetened vanilla almond milk. (My other favorite is unsweetened cashew milk because it's so thick and creamy!)
SPICES ALTERNATIVE: If you prefer, you can substitute ⅛ teaspoon of pumpkin spice for the cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger (or up to of ¼ teaspoon, for a stronger spice flavor!).
SWEETENER NOTES + ALTERNATIVES: Since my mom doesn’t like her chai lattes very sweet right now, I only added a teeny bit of liquid stevia. You can definitely add more if you prefer! I buy mine online here because that’s the best price I’ve found. (You’ll also use it in all of these recipes of mine!)
Many stevia brands and products have a different sweetness level, so they're not necessarily 1-for-1 substitutes for each other. If using a different stevia product, you may need to adjust the amount to suit your tastes.
Any sweetener that easily dissolves in liquids may be substituted for the liquid stevia, so you can also substitute your favorite sweetener instead (honey, pure maple syrup, agave, coconut sugar, etc). Since liquid stevia is very concentrated, you'll need closer to 1-2 teaspoons of any of those aforementioned sweetener options (or more, for a sweeter latte!) to achieve the same sweetness level.
DAIRY-FREE + VEGAN OPTION: No modifications needed!
{gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free, vegan, clean eating, low fat, low carb, sugar-free}
DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?I'd love to hear what you think of it in a comment below! If you take a picture, tag @amys.healthy.baking on Instagram or use the hashtag #amyshealthybaking.
View Nutrition Information + Weight Watchers Points
You may also like Amy’s other recipes…
♡The Ultimate Healthy Pumpkin Spice Latte
♡The Easiest Ever Healthy Chai Latte
♡Healthy Eggnog Chai Latte
♡Healthy Chocolate Chai Latte
♡Healthy Pumpkin Spice Latte Cinnamon Rolls
♡Healthy Pumpkin Spice Latte Scones
♡…and the rest of Amy’s healthy pumpkin recipes!
