Learn how to make a Starbucks-style pumpkin cold foam with only seven ingredients. Serve this fall-inspired drink with some cold brew and a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice on top.
Is it really fall if you don't have a pumpkin cream cold brew in your hand?
Today, I'm showing you how to make the iconic pumpkin drink at home. Once you've mastered how to make this fall-inspired cold foam, you can add it on top of cold brew, a latte, or an iced espresso.
This recipe only requires seven ingredients, making it the perfect beginning coffee recipe.
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What You'll Learn In This Recipe
- What cold foam is and how to make it like Starbucks.
- How to make a pumpkin spice syrup that will flavor the cold foam.
- Ways to fix curdled-looking cold foam.
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What Is Pumpkin Cold Foam?
After lots of research on Starbucks barista TikTok, I have finally figured out what makes this cold foam so unique. It's made up of:
- Heavy cream
- 2% milk
- Pumpkin spice sauce
While many generic cold foams are just made from nonfat milk, this cold foam is made with higher fat dairy products and whipped together in a blender.
For this recipe, we will be making our own take on the pumpkin spice sauce.
Ingredients You Need
The ingredients needed to make pumpkin cream cold foam are pretty simple:
- Light brown sugar: Brown sugar is the perfect sweetener in coffee. You can use dark brown sugar for a richer taste.
- Pure maple syrup: Maple syrup is a classic fall flavor. While this ingredient is not part of the Starbucks version, I think it adds a rich and sweet taste.
- Canned pumpkin puree: Pumpkin helps add an orange color to the foam. The trick to getting a pumpkin flavor without the earthy taste is cooking the pumpkin puree. Don't skip this step.
- Pumpkin pie spice: This ingredient is essential in the recipe. It adds in all the spices and flavor that taste like fall.
- Heavy cream: You might see this labeled as whipping cream at the store.
- 2% milk: While Starbucks uses 2% milk in their cold foam, you could substitute for whole milk if that's all you have on hand.
- Cold brew: Pick up your favorite cold brew for serving, or try making your own at home.
How To Make This Recipe
Let me show you just how simple it is to make pumpkin cold foam.
First, you'll need to make pumpkin-flavored syrup.
1. Add brown sugar, maple syrup, pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice, and ¼ cup of water to a small saucepan.
2. Cook the mixture over medium heat until it reaches a boil. This takes about 3 - 4 minutes. Once the syrup is boiling, allow it to cook for an additional 60 seconds to thicken. Be sure to whisk the syrup throughout this process so nothing boils over.
Give the syrup some time to cool in the saucepan, then transfer it to a reusable container with a lid. Place the syrup in the refrigerator overnight so it gets really cold.
3. Prepare a serving glass with 8 ounces of cold brew coffee, ½ ounce maple syrup, and a handful of ice.
4. To make the cold foam, add heavy cream, 2% milk, and 1 ounce of pumpkin syrup to a high powdered blender.
5. Blend for 45 seconds until a thick foam has formed.
6. Top the cold brew with the delicious foam mixture.
Expert Tips
- The pumpkin syrup yields ¾ cup (6 ounces), which is enough for 6 drinks. Store the syrup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 7 - 14 days to make pumpkin cold foam for your coffee throughout the week.
- Don't combine the pumpkin syrup with the milk and cream while it's still hot. This will cause the cold foam to curdle.
- If you don't have a blender, you can also hand whisk the mixture for 1 minute until you've achieved a thick foam. A milk frother also works in a pinch, but the cold foam will not be as thick.
Recipe FAQs
The Starbucks pumpkin cream cold foam is made with heavy cream, 2% milk, and a special pumpkin spice sauce. Then, the cold foam is placed on top of cold brew coffee.
This copycat recipe also uses heavy cream and 2% milk, plus homemade pumpkin syrup.
Yes, pumpkin cold foam tastes sweet. However, once combined with cold brew, the sweetness of the cold foam blends well with the bitter notes of coffee.
If your cold foam is curdled, check that the heavy cream and milk are not expired.
Next, make sure all of the ingredients (heavy cream, milk, and pumpkin syrup) are all very cold. Only pull the ingredients out of the refrigerator right before you are ready to use them.
Finally, give the cream and milk enough time, a full 45 seconds, to blend and homogenize together.
No, unfortunately, plant-based milk will not work for this recipe.
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Starbucks-Style Pumpkin Cold Foam
Equipment
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup firmly packed light brown sugar
- ⅓ cup pure maple syrup plus more for serving
- ¼ cup canned pumpkin puree
- 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice plus more for serving
- ¼ cup water
- 2 ounces heavy cream
- 1 ounce 2% milk
- 1 cup cold brew for serving
Instructions
- Add brown sugar, maple syrup, pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice, and water to a small saucepan and whisk together.
- Cook over medium heat until the mixture reaches a boil, about 3 - 4 minutes. Once boiling, cook for an additional 60 seconds, stirring frequently, to allow the mixture to thicken.
- Allow pumpkin syrup to cool in the saucepan, then transfer to a cleaned reusable bottle and seal tightly with a lid. Place in the refrigerator overnight to completely cool.
- Add heavy cream, 2% milk, and 1 ounce of pumpkin syrup to a high powdered blender. Blend for 45 seconds until a thick foam has formed.
- To serve, add ice, 1 cup cold brew coffee, and ½ ounce maple syrup to a serving glass. Top with pumpkin cold foam mixture.
Melissa
This recipe is amazing!! It was better then Starbucks for sure.
Heather
This cold brew is SO SO good!🥤