Our Share of the Harvest

First, I was anti-Pumpkin Spice Latte because it wasn’t yet Fall.  Now, I can’t get enough of the stuff and it’s starting to take a toll on my wallet.  You know it’s bad when the guy at the Dunkin’ Donuts drive through tells you he’ll see you tomorrow.

Right on cue, recipes for PSLs began popping up in my Google Reader.  I was drawn to those recipes that made a pumpkin spice syrup that you stir into coffee since sometimes I like drip coffee, sometimes lattes and sometimes I’d like to just pour the stuff over pound cake or ice cream.  Pumpkin spice all around!

Pumpkin Spice Syrup
Adapted from Confections of a Foodie Bride
Makes about 1 cup

• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup water
• 2 tablespoons pumpkin puree
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

In a small pot, combine the sugar and water; heat over medium heat until a hard simmer/low boil is achieved and the mixture turns clear.  Stir in the remaining ingredients and turn heat to medium low, cooking another 15 minutes without boiling.  Allow to cool at least 15 minutes then, if desired, strain syrup through a cheesecloth to remove spice bits.  Store in a glass or plastic container in the refrigerator.

For a latte:

Measure out 1-2 tablespoons of Pumpkin Spice Syrup into a coffee mug.  Brew a shot of espresso or about 1/4 cup of double-brewed drip coffee and pour over syrup, stir.  Steam or heat 3/4 cup milk and stir into coffee.  Top with milk foam and a sprinkle of cinnamon or nutmeg.

THIS is what I’ve been waiting for–the essence of fall wrapped up in a rich hot beverage.  The spices are so potent but you still have that background of pumpkin–which, combined with the last cooking step, makes the syrup quite a bit thicker than typical simple-syrup based coffee add-ins.  I can see this in a white hot chocolate or drizzled over fall-inspired cupcakes or whipped into caramel and cream cheese for a dipping sauce to make apples unhealthy but delicious.

There are so many possibilities yet I doubt we’ll experience any of them–I have way too much of a coffee habit to give any of this syrup over to other applications.

Tags: beverages, fall, pumpkin

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