Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew

A cup of Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew makes it feel like fall even when it’s warm outside. This trendy coffee drink features homemade cold brew coffee and a layer of thick cream flavored with real pumpkin and spices.

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Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew recipe

How do you know pumpkin season is around the corner? That’s easy: When Starbucks releases its fall drink menu full of pumpkin drinks — even when it’s still summer.

Oh, how a pumpkin spice latte can get you in the spirit! Listen, they made a real winner out of the seasonal Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew. It absolutely tops the PSL in my book.

Cold coffee is just what you need on those end-of-summer days when you’re ready for flannel and a fireplace, but it’s just too warm.

Topped with a layer of thick, creamy foam with just a hint of pumpkin flavor, this coffee drink is so easy to make at home. You don’t even need pumpkin coffee creamer (but you can add it if you like!).

If you’ve ever encountered coffee shops running out of ingredients for your favorite drinks, you’ll know how great it is to be able to make it at home.

Why you’ll love this recipe

This fall coffee drink is sure to be one you put on a regular rotation. It’s similar to the vanilla sweet cream cold brew, but with a pumpkin spice twist.

Here’s why I think you’ll soon call this easy recipe one of your favorite drinks if you don’t already:

• Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew is a great drink for warmer days.
• It’s much cheaper to make coffee drinks at home than to get them at a coffee shop.
• If you’re not crazy about pumpkin, you’ll be glad to know it doesn’t have an overbearing pumpkin flavor.
• This coffee drink is made with fresh ingredients so you can feel good about what you’re drinking. And you can sweeten it as much as you like.

It’s equally great for your morning coffee and the perfect afternoon pick-me-up.

What is Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew?

Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew is a coffee drink starring lightly sweetened, cold-brewed coffee over ice that’s topped with a thick layer of cream flavored with brown sugar, pumpkin and fall spices.

In 2019, Starbucks released the Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew as a new fall menu item.

According to Restaurant Business, it was the company’s first new pumpkin cold coffee drink since it debuted the Pumpkin Spice Latte in 2003.

The Starbucks Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew seems to have a regular spot on the fall menu these days, but it’s just as easy to make at home if you like trying your hand at Starbucks copycat recipes.

Ingredients

You only need a few ingredients at the grocery store to make this delicious pumpkin coffee drink.

Heavy cream

The cream layer on top of Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew is similar to whipped cream, but it is not whipped as much. If you’ve ever made whipped cream at home before, you will know you are looking for stiff peaks.

In the case of the pumpkin cold foam that goes on top of this coffee drink, you will agitate it until it is thick, but it doesn’t have to be as stiff as whipped cream.

To make it, you will need heavy cream or whipping cream. Sometimes it is called heavy whipping cream. These are all the same thing, located near the coffee creamers in your grocery store.

However, do not use milk. Milk does not have the proper fat content to be whipped.

If you need a vegan or dairy-free option, check out this list of vegan substitutes for heavy cream.

Pumpkin puree

Pumpkin puree is available in cans at the grocery store. Make sure you do not get pumpkin pie filling.

If you are feeling adventurous, you can make your own pumpkin puree at home with a real pumpkin.

You will only need a little bit of pumpkin puree for the delicious pumpkin cream, so you are free to use the rest in your favorite fall treats!

Brown sugar

The pumpkin cold foam is slightly sweetened. Brown sugar works well in this drink thanks to its butterscotch undertones, but you can also use granulated sugar or your favorite sugar substitute.

Maple syrup, agave nectar or honey would also be tasty here for something more natural.

Pumpkin pie spice

Pumpkin pie spice is a blend of fall spices that is useful in all kinds of fall treats, like your favorite pumpkin pie.

If you don’t have a jar on hand, don’t sweat. My friend Jamie has a recipe for easy homemade pumpkin pie spice that uses ground cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, allspice and cloves.

The pumpkin pie spice gets mixed into the cold foam, but you can also add a dusting on top of your coffee too.

Vanilla extract

A hint of sweet vanilla rounds out the flavors on the cold foam. It’s very subtle, so you can omit this if you like.

I always recommend using a quality vanilla extract when baking but especially when making cocktails and drinks.

Cold-brew coffee

Now for the important part: Coffee! The Starbucks version uses cold brew coffee.

Cold brew coffee is brewed without heat. As a result, the coffee is less bitter and has a pleasant taste for sipping.

While you can buy pre-made cold brew at the grocery store, you could also use coffee that was hot but has cooled down.

Or — my favorite — you can make your own cold brew coffee at home. It is made very similarly to cold brew iced tea.

Cold brew can be made in a bowl or mason jar with water and your favorite ground coffee beans. I like to use this cold brew pitcher that was designed for this very purpose. A French press also works.

You need to grind about ¾ cup of beans for every 4 cups of water. The recipe below makes 2 quarts, but feel free to divide it in half if needed.

If you make it yourself, plan ahead, because the cold-brewing process takes about 12-24 hours. You can prepare it the night before and have a fresh cold brew ready to go in the morning.

cold brew coffee makers

If you would rather buy your cold brew coffee, go for it! I am all for an easy shortcut.

My favorite cold brews are Grady’s Cold Brew and Stumptown Cold Brew when I can find them. Starbucks also sells its own ready-to-drink cold brew coffee and is available at most grocery stores.

If you buy a cold brew concentrate, you will need to dilute it with water. Use a 1:1 ratio, to taste, depending on how strong you like your coffee!

Simple syrup

The last thing you need is something to sweeten your coffee with, like coffee syrup, if you like! Simple syrup is a great option because it mixes smoothly into cold drinks.

It can be made in just a few minutes with sugar and water. You can use regular sugar, which makes a clear syrup. If you’d rather, make a tasty brown sugar syrup.

The Starbucks version of Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew uses vanilla simple syrup, which is easy to make with the addition of vanilla extract.

If you’re looking for more flavor, use your own pumpkin spice syrup (pictured above) or cinnamon syrup.

If you prefer a sugar-free option, you can use sugar-free simple syrup made with your favorite sugar-free substitute. A great all-natural option is honey syrup.

best milk frothers

How to Cold Brew Coffee

If you are making your own cold brew coffee, you will need to place ground coffee in a large pitcher and top with cold water (ideally filtered water). Place in the refrigerator.

After 12-24 hours, strain off the grounds and you have cold brew coffee ready to go!

For a simpler method, use a cold-brew pitcher or place the grounds in a disposable cold-brew bag.

How to Make Pumpkin Cold Foam

My method for the pumpkin cold foam that goes on top of your Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew drink is so easy.

You can use a hand mixer or a milk frother if you have one.

Combine the whipping cream, pumpkin puree, brown sugar and pumpkin pie spice in a measuring cup (if using a handheld milk frother) or a small mixing bowl (if using a mixer).

Using your handheld frother or mixer, agitate the cream so that all the ingredients are incorporated.

Check every so often to see if the mixture has reached a thick consistency. It doesn’t need to have stiff peaks like whipped cream. Once it has reached your desired consistency, you’re ready to assemble your coffee drink.

You can store leftover foam in a food-safe, airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. It may settle and may need to be re-whipped to reach the right consistency again. It is great on hot coffee too!

How to Make Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew

Once you have your cold brew coffee and cold foam, you can assemble your drink!

1. First, fill a glass with ice cubes all the way to the top.
2. Pour cold brew about ¾ or ⅞ of the way full, depending on how much foam you’d like to add.
3. Sweeten with your favorite simple syrup, to taste.
4. Top with the pumpkin spice cold foam. If you like, add another sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice on top of the cold brew.

If you like, you can stir the two together or sip your coffee through the foam to get a little bit in each sip. Either way, it’s the perfect drink for this time of year!

What to eat with Pumpkin Cold Brew

This delicious cold brew is so good with your favorite coffee shop treats like pumpkin bread and pumpkin muffins.

For breakfast or brunch, enjoy it with pumpkin spice oatmeal or with these pumpkin pie crescent rolls.

FAQ

More Starbucks-Inspired Recipes

• Brown Sugar Syrup
• Caramel Simple Syrup
• Pumpkin Spice Latte
• Cinnamon Dolce Latte
• Iced Tea Lemonade