Pumpkin Pie Spice White Hot Chocolate Recipe

Pumpkin Pie Spice White Hot Chocolate made with pumpkin, white chocolate and warm spice for a cosy fall treat.

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Jump to:

• Why You'll Love This Pumpkin White Hot Chocolate Recipe
• About The Ingredients
• Pumpkin Purée Or Pumpkin Pie Filling?
• Instructions
• 📖 Recipe
• Tips For The Best White Hot Chocolate
• Homemade Pumpkin Pie Spice
• Variations And Substitutions
• Can I Make Pumpkin White Hot Chocolate In A Slow Cooker?
• Serving Suggestions
• How To Store Leftover Pumpkin Hot Chocolate
• Frequently Asked Questions
• What To Do With Leftover Pumpkin Purée
• 💬 Comments

If you love pumpkin season but don't always fancy a coffee, this Pumpkin Pie Spice White Hot Chocolate is such a lovely alternative to the usual pumpkin spice latte. Made with real pumpkin purée, creamy white chocolate chips, vanilla and warming pumpkin pie spice, it is rich, comforting and very easy to make at home.

This is the sort of drink I love making once the weather starts to turn cooler. It feels special enough for a cosy movie night or Halloween night, but the recipe uses simple ingredients that you can easily pick up from the grocery store. There is actual pumpkin in it too, rather than relying purely on a flavoured syrup, which gives the drink a lovely creamy texture and proper pumpkin flavour.

For a completely vegan pumpkin spice white hot chocolate, simply make sure that the milk, white chocolate chips and whipped cream you choose are all dairy-free.

Why You'll Love This Pumpkin White Hot Chocolate Recipe

This easy recipe makes a gorgeous autumn alternative to regular hot cocoa. White chocolate pairs particularly well with pumpkin because its sweet, creamy flavour allows the warm spices to shine.

It is also a great choice for non-coffee drinkers who want that cosy coffee shop experience without ordering a pumpkin spice latte. You don't need any specialist equipment, and the original recipe is made in a small saucepan on the hob.

It is:

• Quick and simple to prepare
• Made with real pumpkin puree
• Easy to make vegan
• Perfect for the fall season
• Easy to customise
• Rich and creamy without needing a cup of heavy cream
• Ideal for using leftover pumpkin
• A lovely drink for Halloween, Bonfire Night, Thanksgiving or a cosy movie night

If it is your first time making homemade hot chocolate with white chocolate, don't worry. The most important thing is simply to keep the heat gentle so the chocolate melts smoothly rather than overheating.

About The Ingredients

One of the best things about this Pumpkin Pie Spice White Hot Chocolate is that the ingredients are straightforward and easy to find.

Pumpkin purée gives the drink its colour, creamy texture and characteristic pumpkin flavour. Pumpkin is also naturally a source of beta-carotene, which the body converts into vitamin A, as well as providing some fibre.

The type of milk you use will affect both the flavour and nutritional profile. Oat milk creates a particularly creamy result, almond milk gives a lighter flavour, and soy milk is a good option if you would like a plant milk with more protein. Whole milk also works according to the original recipe, although for We Made This Vegan I use a plant-based alternative.

White chocolate makes this much more of a decadent treat than an everyday drink. Look for good quality vegan white chocolate chips if you want to keep it dairy-free. White chocolate varies quite considerably between brands, so using one you already know you like is worthwhile.

Vanilla extract rounds out the sweetness, while pumpkin pie spice gives you those familiar cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and clove flavours we associate with this time of year.

You will need:

• plant based milk
• pumpkin puree (canned or homemade)
• vegan white chocolate chips
• granulated sugar
• vanilla extract
• pumpkin pie spice
• vegan whipped cream (for topping)

For exact quantities see the recipe card below.

Pumpkin Purée Or Pumpkin Pie Filling?

Use pumpkin purée for this recipe rather than pumpkin pie filling or pumpkin pie mix.

Pure pumpkin puree is simply cooked, blended pumpkin. Pumpkin pie filling usually contains sugar and spices already, which means using it can make the finished drink much sweeter and change the overall balance of the recipe.

Canned pumpkin purée is the easiest option, but homemade pumpkin puree will work too. This is also a brilliant recipe for using a small amount of leftover pumpkin from another of your pumpkin recipes.

Instructions

Feel free to adjust the sweetness and spice levels to suit your taste. This drink is perfect for cozy gatherings or simply enjoying a moment of relaxation!

Print

📖 Recipe

Tips For The Best White Hot Chocolate

Keep the temperature under control

White chocolate is more delicate than dark chocolate or milk chocolate. Don't allow your milk to boil. Medium heat is fine initially, but reduce to low heat if the mixture starts getting too hot.

Gentle heat also makes it less likely that your pumpkin spice hot chocolate will become grainy or separate.

Use white chocolate you enjoy eating

Because white chocolate is one of the main flavours, quality makes a noticeable difference. The recipe uses white chocolate chips, so choose a good quality vegan variety that melts well.

Whisk as the chocolate melts

Stirring regularly helps distribute the melting chocolate throughout the pumpkin and milk mixture and produces a smoother drink.

Blend it for a coffee-shop texture

The optional blending stage is worth doing if you enjoy a frothy coffee shop-style drink. An immersion blender makes this particularly easy.

Be careful when blending hot liquids in a regular blender. Don't overfill it and make sure steam can escape safely.

Homemade Pumpkin Pie Spice

If you don't have pumpkin pie spice, you can quickly make homemade pumpkin spice using spices you may already have.

Variations And Substitutions

Make it extra creamy

Traditional pumpkin white hot chocolate recipes sometimes use whole milk, a bit of heavy cream or even heavy whipping cream. For a dairy-free equivalent, you could experiment with a little vegan double cream or coconut cream. Or you could make a batch of vegan cold foam to add to the top.

You don't need it for the original recipe, though - the combination of pumpkin purée and melted white chocolate already creates a wonderfully creamy drink.

Make it less sweet

White chocolate is naturally very sweet, so taste your mixture before adding any extra sweetness beyond the recipe.

If you prefer a lighter flavour, you could reduce the garnish rather than changing the original recipe - for example, leave off the extra white chocolate chips.

Try brown sugar

If you make the recipe again and want to experiment with the flavour, brown sugar can be used as a variation on granulated sugar. It will add a slightly more caramel-like note.

Turn it into a pumpkin spice latte

For coffee lovers, add a shot of espresso to your finished drink. You get the pumpkin and white chocolate flavour of the original with the coffee hit of a pumpkin spice latte.

Add chocolate

If you prefer a stronger chocolate flavour, you could experiment with a little dark chocolate or unsweetened cocoa powder. It will no longer have quite the same white hot chocolate flavour, but the slight bitterness balances the sweetness nicely.

Make an adults-only version

For an evening drink, adults could add a small splash of bourbon after the hot chocolate has been removed from the heat.

Can I Make Pumpkin White Hot Chocolate In A Slow Cooker?

Yes, although the original recipe is a small batch and is much quicker to make on the hob.

If you want to serve it to a group, you could multiply the quantities and prepare it in a slow cooker or crock pot instead. Keep the slow cooker on low heat and stir periodically to encourage the white chocolate to melt evenly. Don't allow the mixture to boil.

A crock pot is particularly useful if you are serving hot chocolate at a Halloween party or autumn gathering because you can keep a larger batch warm for guests.

For the quantities in the original recipe, however, I would stick with the small saucepan method.

Serving Suggestions

Serve this Pumpkin Pie Spice White Hot Chocolate immediately while it is warm and creamy.

A generous swirl of vegan whipped cream and a dusting of pumpkin pie spice is simple but delicious. You could also add:

• Mini vegan marshmallows
• Extra vegan white chocolate chips
• Vegan white chocolate shavings
• A cinnamon stick
• A little vegan caramel drizzle
• Ground cinnamon
• Crushed vegan biscuits such as biscoff biscuits

For an autumn hot chocolate bar, put several toppings into small bowls and let everyone make their own. This works especially well for a family movie night or when everyone comes home after the onslaught of trick-or-treaters on Halloween night.

Serve with pumpkin cookies, cinnamon rolls or a slice of vegan pumpkin cake for a proper decadent treat.

How To Store Leftover Pumpkin Hot Chocolate

If you have leftover pumpkin white hot chocolate, allow it to cool and transfer it to an airtight container in the refrigerator.

The ingredients can separate as the drink sits, so don't worry if it doesn't look perfectly smooth when you take it out again.

Reheat it gently in a small saucepan over low heat, whisking frequently until smooth and hot. Avoid boiling it, as high heat can affect the texture of the white chocolate.

If the drink has become thicker in the fridge, add a splash of oat milk, almond milk or soy milk while reheating.

For the best texture, add whipped cream and other toppings only after reheating.

Frequently Asked Questions

What To Do With Leftover Pumpkin Purée

One slight downside to many pumpkin drinks is that they rarely use a whole tin of pumpkin. Fortunately, leftover pumpkin is incredibly versatile.

Use it in smoothies, overnight oats, pancakes, muffins, pumpkin bread, soups or another one of your favourite pumpkin recipes. You can also portion it into small containers and freeze it for another day.

Freezing in individual portions is particularly handy at this time of the year because you can defrost just enough for your next pumpkin drink or bake rather than opening another tin.

This Pumpkin Pie Spice White Hot Chocolate is everything I want from a cosy autumn drink: creamy, warming, sweet and full of pumpkin spice flavour. It feels indulgent enough to be a special treat but uses simple ingredients and takes very little effort to make.

Whether you serve it after an autumn walk, curl up with a mug for movie night or make it as a Halloween treat, it is a delicious alternative to the usual pumpkin spice latte. And with oat milk, vegan white chocolate and plant-based whipped cream, it is incredibly easy to make completely dairy-free too.

If you try this Pumpkin Pie Spice White Hot Chocolate recipe, let me know what you think in the comment section and tell me what toppings you added to yours.

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