Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew Recipe (Starbucks Copycat)

There’s nothing better than the first sip of a homemade Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew when fall arrives.

It combines smooth cold brew coffee with a rich pumpkin cold foam that slowly blends into the coffee as you drink.

Instead of waiting in long coffee shop lines or paying for an expensive seasonal drink, you can make it at home in just a few minutes with simple ingredients.

The homemade version is easy to customize, tastes incredibly fresh, and lets you control the sweetness and pumpkin flavor.

Whether you’re enjoying a quiet morning, working from home, or simply craving your favorite fall coffee, this recipe delivers the same creamy texture and cozy spices that make Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew so popular.

Once you try making it yourself, you’ll want to keep pumpkin puree in your refrigerator all season long.

Why You’ll Love This Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew

If you enjoy Starbucks Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew, you’ll be surprised by how easy it is to recreate at home.

The combination of bold cold brew and silky pumpkin cold foam creates the perfect balance between rich coffee and lightly sweet pumpkin cream.

Unlike many coffee shop drinks, you can adjust every part of this recipe. Add more pumpkin spice if you love warm spices, reduce the sweetness, use your favorite milk, or make a stronger coffee base.

Another advantage is that the ingredients are easy to find. Most are pantry staples during fall, and if you already have homemade vanilla syrup, the recipe comes together even faster.

The cold foam slowly mixes into the coffee while you drink, creating layers of creamy pumpkin flavor from the first sip to the last.

Ingredients You’ll Need

For the Cold Brew

• 1 cup cold brew coffee
• Ice cubes
• 1 tablespoon vanilla syrup

For the Pumpkin Cold Foam

• 3 tablespoons heavy cream
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1 tablespoon pumpkin puree
• 1 tablespoon vanilla syrup
• ¼ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

Optional Toppings

• Extra pumpkin pie spice
• Ground cinnamon

Ingredient Notes

• Cold Brew Coffee: Cold brew gives this drink its smooth, naturally sweet flavor with lower acidity than regular iced coffee. Homemade or store-bought both work well.
• Pumpkin Puree: Use pure pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling. Pumpkin pie filling already contains sugar and spices that can throw off the flavor.
• Heavy Cream: Heavy cream creates the thick, creamy cold foam that floats beautifully on top of the coffee.
• Milk: Whole milk makes the foam slightly lighter while helping it whip into a smooth consistency. Two percent milk also works well.
• Vanilla Syrup: Vanilla syrup sweetens both the coffee and the foam while adding another layer of flavor that pairs perfectly with pumpkin.
• Pumpkin Pie Spice: A blend of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and allspice gives the foam its signature fall flavor.

How to Make Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew

Step 1: Prepare the Pumpkin Cold Foam

Add the heavy cream, milk, pumpkin puree, vanilla syrup, and pumpkin pie spice to a small cup or measuring cup.

Use a handheld milk frother to whip everything together for about 20 to 30 seconds. The mixture should become thick, creamy, and pourable. It should not be whipped until stiff like whipped cream.

If you don’t have a milk frother, place the ingredients in a jar with a tight-fitting lid and shake vigorously for about one minute. You can also use a small blender.

See here how I make the pumpkin cream cold foam step by step.

Step 2: Prepare the Coffee

Fill a tall glass with ice.

Pour in the cold brew coffee.

Stir in the vanilla syrup until fully combined.

Step 3: Add the Pumpkin Foam

Slowly pour the pumpkin cold foam over the cold brew.

The foam will float on top before gradually mixing into the coffee as you drink.

Step 4: Finish and Serve

Lightly sprinkle additional pumpkin pie spice or cinnamon over the foam.

Serve immediately while the foam is thick and creamy.

Tips for the Best Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew

Using cold ingredients helps the foam whip faster and hold its texture longer. Keep the heavy cream and milk refrigerated until you’re ready to make the drink.

Don’t over-froth the cream. If it becomes too stiff, it won’t pour properly over the coffee.

Cold brew coffee produces the smoothest flavor, but if you only have brewed coffee available, let it cool completely before using it.

Taste the foam before pouring it over the coffee. If you’d like a sweeter drink, simply add another teaspoon of vanilla syrup.

Fresh pumpkin pie spice has a much stronger aroma than an older container that’s been sitting in the pantry for years.

Easy Variations

• Make It Dairy-Free: Replace the heavy cream with a dairy-free heavy whipping alternative and use oat milk or almond milk instead of dairy milk. Oat milk produces one of the creamiest dairy-free cold foams.
• Add Espresso: For a stronger coffee flavor, replace part of the cold brew with one or two chilled shots of espresso.
• Make It Less Sweet: Reduce the vanilla syrup in either the coffee or the foam while keeping the pumpkin puree and spices the same.
• Add Maple Flavor: Replace part of the vanilla syrup with maple syrup for an even cozier fall flavor.
• Extra Pumpkin Flavor: Increase the pumpkin puree slightly if you enjoy a more pronounced pumpkin taste, but avoid adding too much since it can make the foam heavier.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Using pumpkin pie filling instead of pumpkin puree is one of the most common mistakes. Pumpkin pie filling contains added sugar and spices that make the drink overly sweet.

Skipping the heavy cream will make it difficult to achieve the thick cold foam texture.

Using warm coffee melts the foam quickly. Always use chilled cold brew or cooled coffee.

Adding too much pumpkin puree can weigh down the foam and prevent it from floating properly.

Over-frothing creates whipped cream instead of cold foam, making it harder to pour over the coffee.

Serving Ideas

Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew pairs wonderfully with many fall breakfasts and baked treats.

Try serving it with:

• Pumpkin muffins
• Cinnamon coffee cake
• Maple scones
• Banana bread
• Apple cinnamon bread
• Oatmeal cookies
• Pumpkin loaf
• Cinnamon rolls

It’s also a perfect afternoon coffee when you want something refreshing instead of a hot latte.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew without a milk frother?

Yes. Shake the ingredients in a tightly sealed jar or blend them for a few seconds until creamy.

Can I use regular iced coffee for Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew?

Yes. Cold brew provides a smoother flavor, but chilled brewed coffee also works well.

Can I make Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew stronger?

Yes. Use a more concentrated cold brew or add one or two chilled espresso shots.

Check out more pumpkin spice coffee ideas: