Kat's Kitchen

If you’ve tried a Starbucks Pumpkin Cream Chai, you know it tastes like Fall time in a cup! The warm cozy chai spices pair so beautifully with the sweet and creamy Pumpkin Cream Cold Foam. It is so delicious and fun, but it’s a pricey drink. So let me show you how to make it yourself at home for half the price!

Ingredients:

Pumpkin Cream Cold Foam

• 1 tablespoon Homemade Pumpkin Syrup (or store-bought)
• 2 tablespoons 2% milk
• 3 tablespoons heavy cream

For a dairy-free pumpkin cream cold foam use barista style oat milk and chilled coconut whipping cream in place of the 2% milk and heavy cream.

Starbucks Pumpkin Cream Chai

• 4 pumps (2 ounces) Super Chai Concentrate: This super chai concentrate is the most similar option I have found to Starbucks because it is a VERY highly concentrated liquid using a 1:5 ratio of concentrate to milk. Most regular chai concentrates you find at the grocery store are much less concentrated and call for a 1:1 or 1:2 ratio. If you’re using a regular concentrate like Tazo or Oregon Chai from the grocery store instead of the SUPER concentrate from Amazon, use 6 ounces instead of 2.
• 8 ounces 2% Milk – or any milk of choice
• Ice – For an iced version only
• Pumpkin Cream Cold Foam (ingredients above)
• Pumpkin pie spice, for topping

Instructions

1. In a small cup, combine the Pumpkin Cream Cold Foam ingredients.
2. Froth the mixture using a handheld milk frother for 30 seconds or until thick and foamy.
3. For an iced version: In a separate cup, combine the chai concentrate, milk, and ice. For a hot version: Add the chai concentrate to a separate cup, then steam the milk, and pour over the chai concentrate.
4. Pour the Pumpkin Cream Cold Foam over the chai latte, top with a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice, and enjoy!

How To Steam Milk For a Hot Chai Latte

For a Hot Pumpkin Cream Chai, you need steamed milk. To steam milk at home, you have a few options:

1. Steam Wand: If you have an espresso machine with a steam wand attached to it, watch this Milk Steaming Video Tutorial for how to steam milk! You simply add milk to a milk frothing pitcher, insert the tip of the steam wand into the milk, and create air bubbles, heat and texture to create perfect, velvety steamed milk at home!
2. Electric Milk Frother: Add your milk to an electric milk frother, and select the hot setting. The milk frother will heat the milk as well as create a thick and foamy texture. The texture will be a little different than a typical steam wand, but it’s very similar and pleasant, and a great option if you don’t have an espresso machine with a steam wand.
3. Handheld Milk Frother: Add cold milk to a large coffee mug and place the mug in the microwave for 60 seconds. Alternatively, you can heat up milk in a pot on the stove until warm, just make sure to constantly stir it so it doesn’t burn. Once your milk is warm, insert a handheld milk frother into the warm milk. Froth the mixture until the milk doubles in size and becomes bubbly and frothy, and you have steamed milk for your hot latte!

Note, for an Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai, you do not need to warm or steam the milk. Simply skip this step, and use cold milk straight from the fridge.

How To Make Dairy Free Pumpkin Cream Cold Foam?

For a dairy free cold foam, use barista style oat milk and chilled coconut whipping cream in place of the 2% milk and heavy cream.

How To Make This A Dirty Chai?

To make a dirty chai, simply add 1-2 shots of espresso into your cup before adding in the milk. See my 5 Ways To Make Espresso At Home blog post for all the ways to make espresso at home!

How To Make This Lower Sugar?

For a lower sugar Starbucks Pumpkin Cream Chai:

• Use a low sugar or zero sugar chai concentrate option.
• Steep chai tea bags in hot water and then add your choice of low calorie/low sugar sweetener, rather than using a premade concentrate.
• Use unsweetened almond milk instead of 2% milk.
• Make a low sugar or zero sugar Pumpkin Cream Cold Foam by using a sugar free pumpkin syrup option.

What Ratios Does Starbucks Use?

Follow the ratios below for a Starbucks short, tall, grande, or venti chai latte. Note, the cold foam measurements stay the same no matter the size:

Iced Chai Latte

	TALL	GRANDE	VENTI
SUPER CHAI CONCENTRATE	3 PUMPS	4 PUMPS	6 PUMPS
MILK	6 OZ	8 OZ	11 OZ

NOTE: If you’re using a regular chai concentrate rather than a SUPER chai concentrate, do equal amounts of concentrate and milk following these ratios: 6 ounces for a tall, 8 ounces for a grande, 10 ounces for a venti.

Hot Chai Latte

	SHORT	TALL	GRANDE	VENTI
SUPER CHAI CONC.	2 PUMPS	3 PUMPS	4 PUMPS	6 PUMPS
MILK	4 OZ	6 OZ	8 OZ	12 OZ

Note, each PUMP is equal to 1/2 ounce. This may also vary based on which pump you use.

Now you know how to make a Starbucks Pumpkin Cream Chai at home for a fraction of the price! Enjoy this drink as often as your heart desires, and your bank account with thank you!