Pumpkin Cold Foam (Starbucks Copycat)

This pumpkin cold foam recipe is what you need to make a pumpkin cream cold brew at home! Ready in minutes, homemade pumpkin cold foam is made with real pumpkin, vanilla, and warm fall spices. A great way to celebrate fall (and use up some extra pumpkin puree too!).

Do you love a Starbucks or Dunkin’ Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew to really get into the fall spirit? This coffeehouse fall favorite has taken the coffee-loving world by storm the past couple of years. Smooth pumpkin cold foam floats atop an ice-cold glass of cold brew coffee… I mean, it is pretty darn dreamy.

If you’re all in on pumpkin season, but not quite ready to switch to hot coffee yet, this pumpkin cold foam recipe is what you need! Spoon it (generously) on top of cold brew coffee, sip, and enjoy!

Pair a nice sized pumpkin cream cold brew with a 3-ingredient pumpkin muffin for the ultimate fall treat!

WHAT IS COLD FOAM?

Cold foam is a super smooth and fluffy topping, often made from a combination of non-fat dairy milk and heavy cream, that floats on top of iced drinks. Unlike milk used in warm drinks, cold foam is frothed without the use of heat or steam.

Starbucks is credited with popularizing cold foam in the United States by serving it on top of a variety of iced coffees and cold brew coffee.

Using cold foam on top of iced beverages creates a beautiful layered effect. 

Learn how to make cold foam at home below!

TELL ME ABOUT THIS PUMPKIN COLD FOAM RECIPE

Level of difficulty: Easy. Measure, blend, and enjoy!

Flavor: Pumpkin and warm fall spices.

Time: It will take you less than 5 minutes to make pumpkin cream cold foam.

INGREDIENTS NEEDED

• Heavy Whipping Cream
• 2% Milk – you can also use skim or 1% milk if that is what your family usually has in your fridge. Starbucks uses a blend of non-fat milk with heavy cream to create their cold foam.
• Vanilla Extract
• Pumpkin Pie Spice
• Pure Maple Syrup
• Pumpkin Puree – do not use pumpkin pie filling!

OVERVIEW: HOW TO MAKE PUMPKIN COLD FOAM

1. Add all ingredients to a small bowl and whisk to combine.
2. Froth to turn the pumpkin cream into pumpkin cold foam with one of the following methods:
   • Handheld frother: move the frother up and down and around the bowl until the mixture has a stiff, foam-like texture (be careful not to splash… it happens!)
   • Milk frother on the cool setting: pour the pumpkin cold foam mixture into the basin of the frother to blend to a stiff, foam-like texture
   • Note: you can use a blender to make your cold foam. Please note, I’ve found this method to just be ok. You can also technically whisk your pumpkin cream mixture by hand into foam, but that would take quite some time. I would recommend investing in a handheld frother which can be found for under $20. I use mine almost every day.

See a quick story series on this pumpkin cream cold foam recipe here!

How to use this pumpkin cold foam to make a pumpkin cream cold brew

Select a serving glass and fill it about ⅔ full with ice and then cold brew coffee (homemade cold brew or store bought cold brew are both great options). Generously spoon pumpkin cold foam on top. Sprinkle a dash of extra pumpkin pie spice on top if desired. Sip and enjoy!

RECIPE VARIATIONS AND SUBSTITUTIONS

• Change the spice profile: Add more or less pumpkin spice to your liking. You could also just use ground cinnamon if preferred!
• Make it dairy free / vegan: If dairy is not part of your diet, replace the 2% milk and heavy whipping cream with oat milk (or non-dairy alternative of your choice). Note, I have not done this myself and cannot confirm it will be the same consistency. However, I have had success frothing oat milk for hot coffees and believe the creaminess would work well in this pumpkin cold foam recipe.

FAQS

What is the difference between pumpkin puree vs. pumpkin pie filling? Canned pumpkin puree, or 100% pure pumpkin, only contains cooked and mashed pumpkin whereas pumpkin pie filling contains cooked and mashed pumpkin with added flavors, spices, and sometimes added sugars. Using 100% pumpkin allows you to customize your dishes with the spices and sweetness level that you prefer. For this reason, 100% pure pumpkin puree should be used in this recipe. 

Can I use pumpkin from my garden instead of canned pumpkin? Of course! If you have pumpkins to bake and use, this is a great recipe to enjoy homemade pumpkin puree in.

EQUIPMENT NEEDED

Handheld Milk Frother -OR- Electric Milk Frother

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Pumpkin Cold Foam

Meredith

This pumpkin cold foam recipe is what you need to make a pumpkin cream cold brew at home! Ready in minutes, homemade pumpkin cold foam is made with real pumpkin, vanilla, and warm fall spices. A great way to celebrate fall (and use up some extra pumpkin puree too!).

5 from 8 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 mins

Total Time 5 mins

Course Drinks

Cuisine American

Servings 2 Servings

Calories 178 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

Pumpkin Cold Foam

• ▢ 2 oz heavy whipping cream (¼ C)
• ▢ 3 oz 2% milk (¼ C + 2 Tbsp)
• ▢ 2 tablespoon pure maple syrup
• ▢ 2 teaspoon pumpkin puree (NOT pumpkin pie filling)
• ▢ ½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• ▢ ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew

• ▢ ice
• ▢ cold brew coffee
• ▢ pumpkin cold foam

Instructions

 

Pumpkin Cold Foam

• Add all ingredients to a jar or small bowl and whisk to combine.
• Froth the pumpkin cream with either a handheld milk frother or an electric milk frother on the cold setting until a firm foam texture has been created.*

Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew

• Select a serving glass and fill it about ⅔ full with ice and then cold brew coffee.
• Generously spoon pumpkin cold foam on top. Sprinkle a dash of extra pumpkin pie spice on top if desired.
• Sip and enjoy!

Notes

*Note, if you do not have a handheld milk frother or electric milk frother, you can use a blender to make your cold foam. Please note, I’ve found this method to just be ok. You can also technically whisk your pumpkin cream mixture by hand into foam, but that would take quite some time. 

*Want to make homemade cold brew? Grab the recipe here.

*Recipe variations and substitutions:

• Change the spice profile: add more or less pumpkin spice to your liking. You could also just use ground cinnamon if preferred!
• Make it dairy free / vegan: if dairy is not part of your diet, replace the 2% milk and heavy whipping cream with oat milk (or non-dairy alternative of your choice). Note, I have not done this myself and cannot confirm it will be the same consistency. However, I have had success frothing oat milk for hot coffees and believe the creaminess would work well in this pumpkin cold foam recipe.

Nutrition

Calories: 178kcalCarbohydrates: 17gProtein: 2gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.5gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.04gCholesterol: 35mgSodium: 30mgPotassium: 146mgFiber: 0.2gSugar: 15gVitamin A: 1229IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 96mgIron: 0.2mg

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!