Bring the cozy Starbucks vibes home with this easy Pumpkin Cold Foam - a creamy, spiced topping inspired by the Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew!
Made with real pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice, and dairy-free cream, this homemade version takes just 5 minutes and tastes just like your favorite fall drink.
This drink is absolutely perfect for pumpkin season - and a great way to use up any leftover pumpkin puree that you might have in your fridge or pantry. It's one of my personal favorite cold drinks for fall!
The Starbucks Cold Foam drinks have become a popular choice in the United States over the last couple of years, and just as well-known as the famous Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte! This drink is especially a favorite for people that love to make their own coffees at home, as it's so easy to prepare.
❤️ Why You'll Love This Pumpkin Cold Foam
- 🎃 Tastes just like the Starbucks Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew - but homemade!
- 🕒 Quick and easy to make - ready in just 5 minutes!
- ☁️ Creamy, fluffy texture that sits beautifully on top of your cold brew or iced coffee.
- 🌱 This version is dairy-free and vegan-friendly.
- 🍂 Perfect cosy fall flavor with real pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie spice.
Jump to:
- ❤️ Why You'll Love This Pumpkin Cold Foam
- 💭 What is Pumpkin Cold Foam (Starbucks Version)?
- 🎃 Ingredients & Notes
- 👩🍳 How to Make Pumpkin Cold Foam (Step-by-Step)
- ☁️ Making Cold Foam With a Frother
- 🧋 How to Make Cold Foam Without a Frother
- ☕ How To Serve Pumpkin Cold Foam
- 🧊 How To Store Cold Foam
- ❓ Pumpkin Cold Foam FAQ
- 👉More Cosy Drinks You'll Love
- 📖 Recipe Card
💭 What is Pumpkin Cold Foam (Starbucks Version)?
Cold foam is a creamy and fluffy, foamy topping made with dairy milk that Starbucks serves on top of their cold brew coffee.
In the Starbucks version, the foam is made with low-fat milk and vanilla syrup to sweeten. The ingredients are then whipped in a high-speed blender until fluffy and foamy.
For Pumpkin Cold Foam, pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie spice is added into the mix, creating their signature pumpkin foam, that works deliciously on top of cold brew coffee.
At Starbucks, the drink is generally served with a straw-less lid.
Starbucks vs Dunkin' Pumpkin Cream Cold Foam
In the US, both Starbucks and Dunkin' Donuts serve their own version of this pumpkin coffee drink.
The version at Dunkin' Donuts is created with a cold brew coffee that is steeped for up to 12 hours, topped with a pumpkin cold foam made with dairy cream and warming spices and topped with cinnamon sugar.
The Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew at Starbucks, is created with a cold brew base that is sweetened with vanilla syrup, served with ice, and topped with a pumpkin cream cold foam and a dusting of pumpkin pie spice on top.
If you love recipes with pumpkin, try these luscious pumpkin brownies, more-ish pumpkin pancakes or this fluffy pumpkin babka!
Starbucks Pumpkin Cream Cold Foam Ingredients
The Starbucks Pumpkin Cream Cold Foam is made with cream, milk, sugar, condensed milk, pumpkin puree, fruit or vegetable juice for color, annatto, preservative, salt, natural flavors and vanilla syrup.
For this version of Pumpkin Cold Foam, I used only vegan ingredients and left out any food coloring or preservatives. And instead of using both sugar and syrup to sweeten the foam, I've chosen to use sweetened condensed milk.
🎃 Ingredients & Notes
Here's everything you need for this recipe:
- Cream - I used a vegan heavy cream alternative (UK: double cream). Any dairy-free heavy whipping cream alternative, such as Silk or Country Crock Plant Cream will work best. I personally used Elmlea, which is a brand in the UK.
- Milk - Starbucks uses a non-fat dairy milk. For this version I've used unsweetened soy milk. Any low fat, high protein plant-based milk works best. You can also use sweetened soy milk.
- Condensed Milk - I used a dairy-free sweetened condensed milk. My favorite brand for vegan condensed milk is Nature's Charm. If you are using unsweetened condensed milk, then add more vanilla syrup to your drink to adjust the sweetness.
- Pumpkin Puree - you can use plain canned pumpkin puree from the grocery store, or make your own. Make sure to use plain pumpkin puree.
- Spices - Pumpkin pie spice mixes are not easily available where I live, so I like to use my own homemade blend with cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves and allspice. You can simply use your favorite pumpkin pie mix.
- Vanilla - a homemade vanilla syrup will give you the best flavor, but feel free to use any brand of store-bought vanilla syrup. If you want to swap it with vanilla extract, then add in the same amount of an additional sweetener, such as maple syrup, agave syrup or sugar to get the right sweetness for the drink. You can also sweeten and flavor your drink with your favorite coffee syrups or sugar free skinny syrups.
To serve your Pumpkin Cold Foam as a Starbucks-inspired Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew, pour or spoon the cold foam on top of ice and cold brew coffee. To make cold brew coffee, follow this simple cold brew recipe by Alphafoodie.
This drink is ultra delicious served alongside homemade vegan cookies! If you want to try something new, go for these Vegan S'mores Cookies, Matcha Cookies or Double Chocolate Chip Cookies.
See the recipe card below for full quantities.
🛠️ Equipment
Here's everything you need for this recipe:
- High-speed blender - I use a Greenis blender.
There are a couple of different ways to make this cold foam coffee: You can use an electric hand frother or an electric whisk plus a mixing bowl. Please see instructions below.
Alternatively, use an automatic frother with a cold froth setting, such as the Nespresso Aeroccino or Dualit (see notes below).
👩🍳 How to Make Pumpkin Cold Foam (Step-by-Step)
This recipe is super easy to make in just a few steps and ready in 5 minutes or less.
Chill everything first. For the best, most stable foam, make sure your dairy-free cream and plant milk are cold - pop them in the fridge for at least 20-30 minutes before you start.
Here's what you need to do:
Step 1 - Add Ingredients to Blender: Pour in the vegan heavy cream alternative, the plant milk, and the sweetened condensed milk (or sweetener). Blend briefly on low to combine - you’re just waking everything up, not aerating it yet.
Step 2 - Aerate First: Place the lid on and blend on high for 15-20 seconds until big bubbles appear and the mix starts to thicken. Stop and check - you want light, airy foam, not butter.
Step 3 - Add Pumpkin, spice & vanilla: With the blender running on low (or paused if your blender can’t handle tiny volumes well), add the pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice, vanilla syrup and a pinch of salt at the edge so you don’t deflate the foam.
Step 4 - Blend: Blend for another 5-10 seconds until just combined and still airy.
Step 5 - Prepare Cold Brew Coffee: Fill a glass with ice and cold brew (or iced coffee).
Step 6 - Add Foam: Spoon or pour ¼-½ cup of pumpkin cold foam on top of each cup. Watch the gorgeous swirl as the milk sinks beneath the foam.
Step 7 - Taste and adjust: If it’s not sweet enough, add a touch more vanilla syrup and fold it in gently. If it’s too thin, give it another 5-10 seconds of blending.
💡 Pro Tips
Don’t overwork it
Over-blending will make the mixture collapse back to liquid - stop when it looks light and billowy.
Small batches = better foam
Make only what you need for 1-2 cups at a time for the fluffiest result.
Stabilize if needed
If you want extra stability, add ½ teaspoon of instant espresso powder (helps flavor and body) or a tiny pinch of xanthan gum (very small ~ 1/16 tsp) - only if you’re comfortable using it.
Refluff before serving
If stored in the fridge, re-whip for a few seconds with a frother or give a quick blend to revive the texture.
☁️ Making Cold Foam With a Frother
💪 Handheld Milk Frother
A handheld frother is a quick and affordable tool that’s perfect for small batches.
Simply add your pumpkin cream ingredients to a tall glass or measuring jug, then use the frother for about 15-20 seconds until the mixture becomes light and foamy.
Tip: Tilt the frother slightly as you mix - it helps create a creamier, more even foam.
⚡ Electric Frother
If you have an electric milk frother with a cold foam setting, this is your most effortless option. Just pour in your pumpkin cream mixture, press the button, and let the frother do all the work!
🧋 How to Make Cold Foam Without a Frother
You don’t need a fancy milk frother to make pumpkin cold foam at home - promise! This recipe is made right in a blender, and it gives you the same light, fluffy texture you’d get from your favorite coffee shop.
Here’s how to make cold foam three different ways:
1. Blender (the method used in this recipe)
Add all your ingredients to a small blender and blend for 15-20 seconds until light and foamy. This method gives you the creamiest texture and the most stable foam - perfect for pouring over cold brew.
2. Whisk
No blender? No problem! Add your ingredients to a mixing bowl and whisk vigorously by hand for about a minute. The foam won’t be quite as thick, but it still tastes amazing and gives you that silky pumpkin-spice layer.
3. French Press
Pour the pumpkin cream mixture into a clean French press, then pump the plunger up and down about 20-30 times until the mixture doubles in volume.
This trick works surprisingly well and creates beautiful, stable foam - ideal if you already make your coffee in a French press.
☕ How To Serve Pumpkin Cold Foam
Pumpkin Cold Foam is best served on top of an iced cold brew coffee, just like your favorite Starbucks fall drink. Start by filling your glass with ice and cold brew, then carefully pour or spoon the pumpkin cold foam on top.
You’ll want about ¼ to ½ cup of cold foam per drink, but feel free to adjust it to your liking - some like just a touch, others love an extra-thick layer of pumpkin cream.
As the milk slowly cascades into the coffee beneath the foam, you’ll see that gorgeous swirl of cream and coffee - and the sweet, spiced foam on top gives you a fluffy pumpkin surprise with every sip.
Not a cold brew fan? This pumpkin cold foam also tastes amazing with iced coffee or espresso over ice. And if you’re craving something cozy, try it on hot coffee - it creates dreamy little clouds of pumpkin flavor on top of your cup.
🧊 How To Store Cold Foam
The drink is best served right away but you can prepare your cold brew coffee ahead of time and blend up your pumpkin cold foam in just a few minutes before serving.
You can store your cold foam in a clean jar with airtight lid in the fridge for up to 3 days. Just give it another blend or whip it up with a frother until fluffy again before serving.
📌 If you love Pinterest you can pin any of the images to your boards!
❓ Pumpkin Cold Foam FAQ
Pumpkin cold foam is a creamy, fluffy topping made with plant milk, pumpkin puree, pumpkin spice, and sweetener, whipped until airy. It’s served on top of iced coffee or cold brew, adding a seasonal pumpkin flavor without the need for dairy. Think of it as a Starbucks Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew in homemade form!
To make it vegan, simply swap dairy cream for a plant-based heavy cream alternative and use unsweetened or sweetened plant milk. Sweetened condensed milk can be replaced with a vegan version, and vanilla syrup can be store-bought or homemade.
Yes! You can use a high-speed blender (as in this recipe), a whisk, or even a French press. The key is whipping the mixture until it’s light and airy. For a smoother foam, blend or froth in stages and fold in the pumpkin puree gently.
Vanilla sweet cream is thicker, creamier, and mixed into the drink, while cold foam is light, airy, and floats on top of your coffee. Pumpkin cold foam, specifically, also adds pumpkin puree and pumpkin spice, giving it a seasonal flavor.
Pumpkin cold foam is best served immediately. If you need to store it, keep it in a sealed jar in the fridge for up to 3 days. Before serving, whisk or blend it again to restore its fluffy texture.
Yes! Homemade pumpkin puree works perfectly. Just make sure it’s smooth and unsweetened, so you can control the flavor and sweetness of your foam.
Low-fat, high-protein plant milks like soy, oat, or pea milk give the best froth and structure. Unsweetened versions work well, and you can add sweeteners like maple syrup or vanilla syrup if you prefer a sweeter foam.
👉More Cosy Drinks You'll Love
If you loved this tasty drink, I'm sure you'll also enjoy this sweet Vanilla Matcha Latte and try these cozy Pumpkin Brownies for another fall treat!
Did you make this recipe? If so, will you do me a huge favor and leave a review and star rating & let me know how you liked this recipe? THANK YOU! ❤️
📖 Recipe Card
Pumpkin Cold Foam (Starbucks Copycat)
Equipment
- 1 high-speed blender
Ingredients
- 3 oz dairy-free whipping cream (85 ml) heavy cream alternative
- 1 oz sweetened condensed milk (30 ml) I used Nature's Charm
- 1 oz plant milk (30 ml) low fat, high protein
- 1 tablespoon pumpkin puree (15 g)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla syrup store-bought or homemade
- ¼ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice mix store-bought or homemade
- 1 pinch salt
To serve:
- ice cubes optional
- 8 oz cold brew coffee (225 ml)
- 1 tablespoon vanilla syrup (15 ml) store-bought or homemade
- ¼ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice mix store-bought or homemade
Instructions
- Place the cream, condensed milk and milk into your blender. If you're using a different device, see the notes above.
- Process on high speed until big bubbles form. Continue to blend until the texture becomes smoother and thicker.
- On one side of the blender, carefully add the pumpkin puree, vanilla syrup, pumpkin pie spice and salt. You want to make sure adding these ingredients does not deflate the cold foam. Blend until well combined and foamy.
- Add ice and coffee to your cup of choice, then top up with ¼ - ½ cup of the pumpkin foam.
Notes
- Servings - This recipe makes 1-2 servings depending on the desired amount you pour onto your coffee.
- Vanilla Syrup - use store-bought vanilla syrup or make your own at home, it's super simple!
- Pumpkin Pie Spice - use a store-bought pumpkin pie spice mix or make your own with cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves and allspice.
- You can also prepare the cold foam with a hand whisk, or electric milk frother (see notes). Basically any device that's good for whipping and frothing.
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