HEALTHY PUMPKIN SPICE COFFEE CREAMER

After the crazy hot summer we have had, I am gladly welcoming open windows and cool morning breezes. And I swear, as soon as the slightest hint of cooler weather approaches, I get excited for all things fall…including pumpkin spice everything! Now I know I may upset a few people when I say this, but I’m not actually a huge fan of the coveted Starbucks PSL. I know, GASP right! There’s something off on the flavor, plus has SO much sugar. Trust me, I’m all about balance in life but in my effort to be more conscious of my sugar intake, I decided to create my own healthy twist on Pumpkin Spice Coffee creamer!

This creamer is made with real pumpkin puree (my favorite is Trader Joe’s Organic version), pure maple syrup, pumpkin pie spice, vanilla, and the milk of your choice. So the only “added” sugar you are getting is from the maple syrup..but trust me, it’s WAY less sugar than any store bought version so you can still feel good about it!

This Healthy Pumpkin Spice Coffee Creamer is so easy to make! You can play around with the type of milk you use (I prefer using coconut milk, but you could also use half and half or whipping cream for more indulgence) and feel free to add more maple syrup or liquid stevia if you’re needing a touch more sweetness! Pour directly into hot black coffee, cold-brew concentrate, or even tea and you have yourself the perfect fall treat, ENJOY!

WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

• 1 C unsweetened almond or coconut milk

• 3 Tbsp. pumpkin puree

• 2 Tbsp. natural maple syrup

• 1 Tsp. pumpkin pie spice

• 1 Tsp. vanilla extract

WHAT TO DO:

1. Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan

2. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, whisking frequently

3. Once all ingredients are combined, remove from heat

4. Use immediately or transfer to a container and refrigerate

TIPS FOR A PUMPKIN SPICE LATTE:

Hot Version: Heat pumpkin spice coffee creamer if previously stored in refrigerator. Add strong coffee and the pumpkin spice coffee creamer to a blender, mix until combined and foamy.

Iced Version: Shake or stir pumpkin spice coffee creamer to re-combine ingredients. Mix with your favorite cold-brew concentrate. Add ice.

FRENCH PRESS COLD-BREW COFFEE CONCENTRATE

Save money and make delicious, naturally sweet cold brew coffee concentrate at home using your french press.

Have you jumped on the cold-brew train yet? Well I sure have, and let me just say: I LOVE it! I actually prefer it to hot coffee most of the time. I guess I should back up, and tell you how my love for cold-brew began. If you’ve been following me around here for awhile now, you know that I implement intermittent fasting into my daily routine. This means that I don’t typically end up eating until around 12:30 pm each day. To help prolong my fast throughout the morning I will drink coffee, tea, lemon water, etc. Through this whole process, I was trying my hardest to like coffee black or with a minimal amount of unsweetened almond milk (so that I wouldn’t break my fast)….but I just could NOT get into it. If i’m going to drink hot coffee, and actually enjoy it, I need half-and-half….sorry, it’s just the way it is. ENTER: Cold Brew.

Cold-brew is not only slightly sweeter (because of the way the coffee is extracted from the beans during the cold brewing process), but also way less bitter than a traditional cup of hot brewed coffee. So for me, this meant I could have my morning cup of coffee, add a splash of almond milk, and actually enjoy it! However, in this coffee journey, I realized I was spending way too much money on store-bought versions of cold-brew. I’ll admit, I was really intimidated to make my own at home…I thought it was going to require grinders, scales, beakers, and other fancy coffee equipment that I didn’t own. Turns out you just need a French Press (which I already owned), a measuring cup, ground coffee (I get fresh, whole beans ground for me at a local coffee shop), and water!

So if you enjoy a naturally sweeter, less acidic cup of coffee, then this homemade cold-brew coffee concentrate is meant for you. Feel free to customize to your liking with sweeteners, spices, milks or even my Healthy Pumpkin Spice Coffee Creamer for a little touch of fall!

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

• 1 1/2 C coffee, course ground

• 4 C filtered water

• French press

WHAT TO DO

1. Add coffee grounds to your french press

2. Pour in water and stir vigorously to combine

3. Cover and allow mixture to steep overnight (8-12 hours) at room temperature

4. Gently press down on French press plunger to separate grounds from liquid

5. Pour coffee concentrate into another container. Keep chilled in the fridge until ready to use.

   ICED COFFEE:

• For strong coffee I like to use a 1:1 ratio. Pour 1/2 C coffee concentrate and 1/2 C water into glass, add ice.

• For standard iced coffee, use a 1:2 ratio. Combine 1/2 C coffee concentrate to 1 C water ( I will typically use 1/2C water and 1/2C unsweetened almond milk). Customize your iced coffee with milk, cream and sweeteners as desired…or for a little fall inspired drink, try adding my Healthy Pumpkin Spice Coffee Creamer !