Copycat Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Hot Chocolate

This copycat Starbucks pumpkin spice hot chocolate is an easy, homemade version of the classic Starbucks drink that will keep you warm and cozy all winter long. Rich chocolate and pumpkin spice come together to create a wonderful hot chocolate recipe that’s full of the flavors of the holidays in every sip! 

Well, here we are again. I’m back with another copycat Starbucks drink! As I’ve said many times before, I love Starbucks, but I don’t love the price tag. So I’m a big fan of making my own homemade versions of their classic drinks. One of my favorite drinks to make during the fall and winter is this Starbucks hot chocolate infused with pumpkin spice. When the cold weather hits, that combination of hot chocolate and pumpkin spice creates a fusion of classic cold-weather flavors that you just can’t beat. I love to serve this to family and friends when they come over to visit, and I’ve been known to bring an extra-big thermos full of this hot chocolate to holiday parties and gatherings. 

 

Pumpkin Spice Hot Chocolate

This delicious Starbucks copycat starts with milk, cocoa, sugar, and water that I bring to a gentle boil. Then, I add dark chocolate to the mix and let it melt. Finally, I pour it into a mug and top it with whipped cream. That’s all there is to it! This is a super simple recipe that’s rich and full of the deep flavors of dark chocolate and pumpkin spice, and it’s a recipe that everyone always loves. You’ll have no problem making it, but you will have a problem keeping some for yourself! 

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• It only takes a few simple ingredients to make. 
• It’s rich and creamy and perfect for a cold winter day. 
• It tastes just like the Starbucks version. 
• It’s the perfect drink for the fall and holiday seasons. 

Ingredients

It only takes a handful of simple ingredients to make this delicious copycat Starbucks pumpkin spice hot chocolate. You’ll most likely have most or all of them in your kitchen right now, and anything you don’t have can be easily found at your local grocery store. 

• 3/4 cup milk of choice
• 1/4 cup cold water
• 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin spice
• 2 teaspoons pumpkin puree
• 1 tablespoon light or dark brown sugar or coconut sugar, for sugar free, use low calorie/no calorie brown sugar
• 1/4 cup dark chocolate chunks (I use these for so many recipes. 67% cacao) or dark chocolate chips of choice
• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, I used this one

How to Make a Copycat Starbuck Pumpkin Spice Hot Chocolate

Making this delicious hot chocolate is as easy as it gets. It only takes a few minutes of stovetop cooking, and you’ll be all done. You’ll be in and out of the kitchen in no time. 

1. Stir the pumpkin puree and pumpkin spice in a medium saucepan. 
2. Add the milk, cocoa, sugar, and water and bring it to a gentle boil.
3. Add the dark chocolate and stir until it dissolves. 
4. Pour the hot chocolate into a large mug and top with whipped cream, a sprinkle of cinnamon, and grated chocolate. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Substitutions and Variations

• Use whole or 2% milk, plant-based milks, or even half and half for this recipe. 
• You can use dark, semi-sweet, or milk chocolate chips for this recipe. 
• For deeper chocolate flavor, use Dutch cocoa powder. 

Equipment

• Measuring cups and spoons
• Medium saucepan
• Large mug

Storage

This recipe makes one mug of hot chocolate, so you shouldn’t need to store it. However, if you do have anything leftover, you can refrigerate it for a couple of days. Then, just reheat it in a saucepan. 

What to Serve with Pumpkin Spice Hot Chocolate

This hot chocolate is perfect with dippable cookies like shortbread, sugar, chocolate chip, or snickerdoodle cookies. It’s also lovely when paired with roasted, candied nuts. 

Tips

• Bring the cocoa and milk mixture to a gentle boil. Don’t boil it hard to prevent curdling. 
• Be sure you buy pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie mix. They are often sold near one another. 

More Hot Chocolate Recipes

If you love hot chocolate, then I think you’ll really enjoy these recipes. 

• Copycat Dunkin Donuts Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate
• S’mores Hot Chocolate
• Decadent Lower Fat Hot Chocolate

 

 

FAQ

Is hot chocolate the same as hot cocoa? 

Although hot chocolate and hot cocoa are terms that are often used interchangeably, they aren’t the same thing. Hot cocoa is made with a powdered cocoa mix, while hot chocolate is made with cocoa and melted chocolate. 

What is pumpkin spice hot chocolate? 

Pumpkin spice hot chocolate is a Starbucks copycat hot chocolate recipe made with melted chocolate, cocoa, pumpkin spice, and pumpkin puree. 

Can I use any kind of milk for pumpkin spice hot chocolate? 

You can use any kind of milk you prefer. However, the more fat content in the milk, the richer the hot chocolate will be. 

 

Print and copy recipe below…

 

 

 

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you love this hot chocolate recipe as much as my family and I do.

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