When the autumn time of the year rolls around, there are certain treats that we have come to expect. Perhaps one of the most popular treats when the weather gets cooler, however, is pumpkin spice. It seems to be in almost everything you could possibly imagine beginning sometime in September. This includes some of our favorite treats, such as a Frappuccino from Starbucks or a pumpkin pie blizzard from Dairy Queen.
You could go down to your local Starbucks or Dairy Queen and purchase these items premade, and there is some benefit to the experience but there is also a lot of money that is going to disappear from your wallet as well. Fortunately, you can save your money and still enjoy these delicious treats thanks to these copycat recipes. You can make them at home quite easily and when you serve them to a guest, they won’t believe that you didn’t just run out and buy them!
Sometimes it is the experience that we appreciate when we purchase these items premade. At other times, it is just the flavor that we want. If you want to take advantage of these copycat recipes but still want the experience, why not just put them in a Dairy Queen or Starbucks cup and have your children hand them to you? Don’t forget to leave a tip.
Pumpkin Spice Syrup Recipe
Ingredients:
1 and 1/2 cups water
3/4 cup light or dark brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 cup pumpkin puree
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Directions:
1. In a medium saucepan, add water and both sugars. Simmer on medium-low heat until the sugar dissolves, about 4 minutes.
2. Turn the heat down to low and whisk in cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg, and pumpkin puree. Simmer for 8 minutes, stirring occasionally. Do not allow the mixture to come to a boil.
3. Remove from the heat and strain through a mesh strainer lined and/or cheese cloth.
4. Allow the syrup to cool to room-temperature before stirring in the vanilla extract. Store in a mason jar or airtight container.
DIY Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino
Ingredients
1 cup low fat milk
1-2 shots espresso or 1/2 cup strong coffee
1 1/4 cup simple syrup – or to taste
1 to 2 cups crushed ice
Whipped cream
Directions:
1.Pour the first 4 ingredients into a blender.
2.Mix on medium until thoroughly blended and frappuccino is smooth and without chunks of ice.
3.Top with whipped cream and a sprinkle of nutella.
DIY Pumpkin Pie Blizzard
Ingredients:
1/4 cup canned pumpkin
2 cups vanilla ice cream
3/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1/4 cup pie crust, crushed
whipped cream
Directions:
1. Blend pumpkin, ice cream, and spice with an immersion blender, or regular blender until incorporated.
2. Add pie crust and mix in with a spoon.
3. Top with whipped cream and a sprinkle of nutmeg.