A grande Starbucks pumpkin spice latte has 50 grams of sugar in it along with unnecessary natural flavors and thickeners. And Dunkin Donuts is not much better with 38 grams of added sugar. Drinking one of these lattes in the morning is certain to cause a major blood sugar spike and subsequent crash and cravings throughout the day. This crash will also leave you with even less energy later in the day.
If you want to embrace the unofficial drink of fall, skip the coffee shop option and make your own at home with real, simple ingredients. My Lean & Clean version is sugar-free, just make sure you buy unsweetened 100% pumpkin purée rather than canned pumpkin pie mix that often has added sugars. If you want a bit of sweetness, you can add a splash of Lakanto Maple Flavored Syrup to the mixture (code JENNY15 for a discount).
I added collagen to the recipe for added gut and skin support, and it has the added benefit of making the pumpkin spice mixture extra frothy and creamy when you blend it up. It is the perfect, cozy recipe for fall (you might want to make a triple batch to have some for later!)
Lean & Clean Pumpkin Spice Latte
(makes 1 serving)
Ingredients:
1 scoop collagen powder (my favorite is Nutrafol)
1 tablespoon pumpkin purée
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
1 cup brewed organic, low acid coffee (I love Life Boost Coffee)
Optional: splash of sugar free Maple Flavored Syrup – I love Lakanto
Directions:
Add the collagen, pumpkin, pumpkin pie spice and milk to a glass and combine with a frother or immersion blender (you can also use a blender for this step)
Pour the pumpkin spice mixture over a cup of coffee, stir and enjoy!