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Soothing Pumpkin Spice Turmeric Latte (Caffeine-free, Vegan, Dairy-free)

4.16 from 26 votes

What’s Inside: Ah, autumn. Cool-weather, changing leaves, and pumpkin spice everything. And the perfect season to enjoy a soothing Pumpkin Spice Turmeric Latte. Best of all, it’s Paleo, AIP-friendly, and Whole30-compliant. Get all of the PSL flavor you love, but with benefits!


alison with turmeric latte
photo by Victoria Jane Photography

What’s with All the Hype Over Pumpkin Spice?

Pumpkin season. How do you feel about it? It’s on blast everywhere this time of year. And the illustrious PSL (aka pumpkin spice latte) seems to be thrust into my face (or on my phone screen) wherever I go.

But confession time … I never liked it. (GASP!)

 

Looking for more coffee or caffeine-alternatives? Here's a round-up of favorite recipes that will have feeling energized without the jitters.

 

It’s true. I don’t, and I’m not sorry about it. The famous PSL is overly sweet and, honestly, just too much of a good thing all in one cup to the point where it’s bad. But, I do appreciate the positive elements of it, like the aromatic pumpkin spices made up of nutmeg, cardamom, and clove, as well as the coziness of it. There’s no denying the PSL is a lot of people’s go-to drink when Fall rolls around.

This inspired me to create a healthier alternative that wasn’t overloaded with sugar, caffeine, or dairy.

Introducing, my brainchild — the Pumpkin Spice Turmeric Latte.

Pumpkin Spice Turmeric Latte (Caffeine-free, Vegan, Dairy-free) via Food by Mars

What Makes This Pumpkin Spice Turmeric Latte Perfect for Fall?

With Fall comes a lot of in-your-face advertisements for foods that are just not healthy or compliant with restrictive diets. Most of them are riddled with absurd amounts of sugar or artificial sweeteners, dairy, and additives most of us can’t pronounce.

But at their core are natural flavors we love to indulge on in cold weather, like peppermint and pumpkin. So, let’s do better with a homemade boosted version! Starting with this Pumpkin Spice Turmeric Latte recipe.

Pumpkin Spice Turmeric Latte (Caffeine-free, Vegan, Dairy-free) via Food by Mars

What Are the Health Benefits of a Pumpkin Spice Turmeric Latte?

If you’ve ever seen golden milk or turmeric milk lattes, you probably know that they’re among the most popular of health food trends. However, this modern-day trend has ancient Ayurvedic roots and while it might be new to the Western world…it’s been used for hundreds of years to aid in digestion, as a natural pain reliever, and is commonly used in teas and cooking with a healthy dose of fat (as turmeric is fat-soluble and needs fat for absorption, as well as a pinch of black pepper). There have been hundreds of studies on curcumin (the compound found in turmeric) which shows that regular consumption of curcumin can fight inflammation with virtually little to no known side effects, it aids in digestion, reduces pain, and may even help to fight cancer among other diseases (source).

Turmeric milk can be a very soothing, healing, and tasty addition to your health and healing journey. I just love it! This is what inspired me to marry these two popular drinks — the pumpkin spice latte and turmeric milk — into one mega delicious and anti-inflammatory tonic. Plus, it’s also a great way to use all the random pumpkin puree cans you might have laying around this season.

Unlike it’s more popular but sugar-laden, PSL counterpart, this PSTL (Pumpkin Spice Turmeric Latte) boasts lots of health benefits, like:

  • It’s totally dairy-free, paleo, and vegan
  • It requires no sweeteners to taste amazing (but feel free to add honey, date syrup, or maple syrup, if you like)
  • It’s nutrient-dense. Turmeric is the obvious star here, which thanks to the curcumin it contains, is a powerful and natural anti-inflammatory spice (especially when taken regularly). Using cinnamon and cardamom which are also healing spices, are amazing for regulating blood sugar!
  • Oh and here’s a minor detail… it’s completely caffeine-free!

Nutritional Therapy Practitioner Tip: When cooking with turmeric, be sure to combine it with a healthy fat such as coconut milk, coconut oil, or ghee for example with a pinch of black pepper for optimal absorption (the piperine in pepper helps the body absorb the power of curcumin by up to 2,000%!) You can also supplement with it for a natural pain reliever with little to no known side effects. (In yo’ face Tylenol!)

But There’s No Caffeine in This Pumpkin Spice Latte …

If you’ve ever gotten into a rhythm of hitting up the drive-thru line or curbside pickup for a caffeine boost, it can be a hard habit to break. But trust me, it’s worth powering through. And making your own fast food favorite is easy, healthier, and often cheaper to do at home!

And just think about it for a minute. Are you aware of just how much caffeine affects your body? I wrote an entire blog post about this and how to know if it’s messing with your hormones, which affects everything else in your system.

Basically, caffeine has direct ties to your sleep and stress. But it’s a drug that has become so commonplace in society and in our daily lives that we don’t often notice it’s negative effects on us. Think about it, when you consume caffeine, do you ever feel…

  • jittery or wired
  • more anxious or stressed
  • a headache coming on
  • or experience an upset stomach?

If you answered yes to any of those, you may want to consider reducing or eliminating caffeine from your diet for a short period of time and keep notes. This will help shed light on the next steps for you.

Read my full post to learn more.

Skip the Drive-Thru and Make Your Own PSL at Home

Follow my five simple steps in the recipe below to make your own pumpkin spice turmeric latte at home with ingredients you probably have on-hand.

If you’re looking for a shortcut version of this delectable drink, try Organifi Pumpkin Spice GOLD mix (this takes you to my affiliate link). And make sure to apply the promo code FOODBYMARS for 15% off at checkout.

However you make it, this delicious, warming, and sedating drink pairs perfectly with your favorite cable-knit sweater, a good book, and a little treat like these delicious Honey Tahini Tigernut Cookies. Check out my caffeine-free, dairy-free, vegan pumpkin spice turmeric latte recipe below, and ENJOY!

The Very Best Pumpkin Spice Turmeric Latte Recipe

Pumpkin Spice Turmeric Latte (Caffeine-free, Vegan, Dairy-free) via Food by Mars
caffeine-free pumpkin spice turmeric latte

Pumpkin Spice Turmeric Latte (Caffeine-free, Vegan, Dairy-free)

4.16 from 26 votes
Love pumpkin spice? Try this Pumpkin Spice Turmeric Latte for anti-inflammatory benefits. It's Paleo, AIP, and Whole30-friendly. Get the PSL flavor you love junk-free!
Prep Time: 3 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Yield: 1

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup non-dairy milk coconut, almond, etc.
  • 3 tbsp pumpkin puree
  • 1/2 tsp ground turmeric
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1 tsp coconut oil, melted
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract (alcohol-free or omit for AIP)
  • 1/4 tsp fresh grated ginger or 1/2 tsp ground ginger
  • 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg (omit for AIP)
  • 1/4 tsp ground clove
  • 1/8 tsp ground cardamom (omit for AIP)
  • pinch of black pepper to activate tumeric (omit for AIP)
  • optional: sweeteners like honey or maple syrup
  • 1/4 cup full-fat coconut milk for topping

Instructions:

  • In a small saucepan or butter warmer, add all ingredients (except coconut milk for topping) and whisk over low heat.
  • Mix it for approx. 5 minutes or so until well heated and somewhat combined (the puree should be dissolved, the spices will probably still be allover the place).
  • Add mixture to a blender and blend on high until you have a thicker orange milk with spices combined well.
  • Pour into your mug(s) and separately, steam coconut milk in a frother, using a hand-held frother, or you can heat it separately, rinse your blender and use that on high until you have a nice foam.
  • Pour coconut milk on top of your pumpkin spice turmeric milk and add a little more cinnamon over top and serve!

Notes:

For an alternative or shortcut to this recipe, check out Organifi Pumpkin Spice GOLD mix (limited edition) and use the promo code FOODBYMARS for 15% off.
Diet: American, Indian
Keywords: Pumpkin Spice Turmeric Latte
Pumpkin Spice Turmeric Latte (Caffeine-free, Vegan, Dairy-free) via Food by Mars

More Pumpkin Recipes to Try

If you liked our Pumpkin Spice Turmeric Latte, then you’ll love these other pumpkin recipes that are perfect for fall:

-Alison Marras
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

browse more recipes:

Drinks Fall Pumpkin Winter
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8 comments

  1. This was such a wonderful way to wake up this morning! It was perfectly spiced, slightly sweet and totally satisfying!

  2. I love both flavours but have never had them together. Works really well, I actually prefer turmeric latte with the pumpkin spice now.

  3. confession. i have never had a true "PSL". so i’m starting with this one, because i know it will be far better than the starbucks version. xo

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