FOODIE GIFT CARDS FOR A HOMEMADE PUMPKIN SPICE LATTE

Wrap up your scarf, pull up your knee-high boots and thrown on your over sized sweaters, ladies. It’s PSL season.

This year, Starbucks introduced a new and improved Pumpkin Spice Latte with real—we repeat REAL—pumpkin in the recipe. Which means making your own at home might be a little less tempting now.

But at over $4 for a grande, who really wants to walk a block to the corner Sbux for their cozy, warm, autumn-y caffeine fix? We admit… We probably would.

But now, we can make them at home, thanks to the fine folks at The Kitchn (they’re responsible for the recipe). We haven’t tried it yet, but any chance we get to add more whip without the extra cost—we’ll take it. Obviously.

Remember: Sometimes, calories don’t count. At least not when it comes to whipped cream.

What you need

• 2 tablespoons canned pumpkin
• 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice (plus a little more to sprinkle on top if you’re feeling fancy)
• freshly ground black pepper (we know… just wait)
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 tablespoons pure vanilla extract
• 2 cups whole milk (or skim, soy, almond, coconut—take your pick)
• 1 or 2 shots of espresso (we’ll do 2)
• 1/4 cup heavy cream, whipped to stiff peaks (we’ll stick with the can)

What you do

• Throw the pumpkin, pumpkin pie spice and the black pepper into a saucepan over medium heat and stir until it’s hot and smells like fall. You’ll know it’s ready when your mouth waters.
• Stir in the sugar. It’ll get bubbly and look like a pumpkin hot tub.
• Whisk in the milk and vanilla extract. Keep it on the heat and keep your eyes on the pot. The goal is minimal clean up.
• Transfer to a blender and mix it all up until frothy. We highly suggest covering the lid with lots of towels to prevent burns and—again—prevent a huge (albeit delicious) mess.
• Make the coffee. We assume you know how to do this one.
• Pour the coffee evenly between two mugs (either for you and a friend or both for you) and add the milk mixture. Top with whipped cream and a little sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice.
• Sip.

A step further

Because it’s not really fall without knitwear and leather knee-highs.

• The Seller boots – Lori’s Shoes gift cards
• Kenzo scarf – Hampden gift cards
• ALC sweater – Madison Los Angeles gift cards
• Not included: Pile of leaves to jump in for Instagram photo shoot