Discover The Perfect Pairings For Pumpkin Spice Coffee

Is it just me, or has the fall season grown in popularity over the last 10-20 years?

I can recall as a child, through my college years, and even into early adulthood, having an appreciation for changing, falling leaves, cool, crisp air, football games, pumpkins, and such, but the winds have shifted greatly in the past couple decades.

As summer ends, school classes resume, and nature gently ushers in the autumn season, I now sense an excitement throughout nearly all of society.

Even for those folks who live for sand, sun, waves, and fun, the fall season brings out some sort of prevailing, unearthed, joy that I suppose must simply rest beneath the surface throughout the remainder of the year.

So, what has prompted such a change?

What has surfaced within the past 15 or more years that causes such an eruption of joy, excitement, satisfaction, and exuberance?

As I’ve pondered this question, I seem to arrive at the same answer with each internal quandary…pumpkin spice coffee!

That’s what you were thinking as well, right?
Coffee is one of the most beloved beverages, world over.

And, the autumn season absolutely has a wealth of joys to celebrate.

I mean, who wouldn’t love to see bright orange, soft yellow, rust, and crimson colors paint the landscape?

And, why wouldn’t apple-picking, pumpkin carving, hayrides, and corn mazes enjoyed under the bright sun in cool, crisp air bring a smile to your face?

Ah, but when you combine these loves, coffee and autumn, you get something truly spectacular - a bold, smooth beverage beloved by so many, enjoyed in combination with spicy flavors of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and clove, alongside creamy pumpkin, and velvety vanilla - now you’ve got an explanation for the excitement surrounding the fall season!

With each passing year since the early 2000’s, pumpkin spice coffee has grown in popularity. And with this palate pleasing appreciation, personally, I think an anticipation and excitement for the entire season has grown.

So today, if your taste buds have even the slightest bit of affection for these fabulous fall flavors, trust me when I say, you’re in for a real treat as we explore pumpkin spice coffee pairings!

That’s right, we’ll be looking at ways to further enhance this season, spicing up your cup with some of the best pastries and pumpkin spice coffee pairings, including some savory matches as well, each of which are sure to tantalize your pumpkin spice coffee loving taste buds!

Pumpkin Pairings To Spice Up Your Cup

How can we describe Lifeboost Pumpkin Spice Coffee?

My first sip-sentiments mirrored many shared comments from our customers, so perhaps this description will sound familiar - the first time I tried this coffee, all I could manage to say was “this tastes like fall in a cup!”

End of story, right? No need for additions, recipes, etc.

Well now, not so fast. Let’s face it, sometimes we like to add a little something to our brew to fancy it up a bit.

And, those additions can truly make or break any cup of joe, pumpkin spice or not.

So, in honor of this most wonderful time of the year, we’d like to explore these perfect pairings by way of a bit of explanation and example, followed by a few fabulous recipes for you to enjoy.

As far as the pairings, we’ll break this down into three common coffee components: sugar, cream, and flavoring.

Sugar

Many folks like to add a touch of sweetness to their coffee.

But which type of sugar pairs best with pumpkin spice?

Cane sugar, organic, raw, or more conventional options, can provide classic sweetness to just about any coffee drink, and this type of sweetener in your pumpkin spice coffee is no different.

Like any brew, this type of sugar can be added in granular form to hot coffee for an easy stir-in, but cold brews or iced coffees often require such sugars to be made into syrups first (such as a simple syrup) for best results.

Then, I’ve always found both monk fruit and stevia to work well in pumpkin spice coffee, without frustrating any of this brew’s intended flavor.

However, if you’d like to truly enhance this brew with your choice of sweetener, taking those typical pumpkin spice flavors to the next level, I’d highly recommend opting for either pure maple syrup or brown sugar.

In the case of maple syrup, I must say a little goes a long way with this rich, supremely sweet, natural offering, but oh how the rich, raw flavors of maple serve to enhance those classic fall spices!

Maple and cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and even pumpkin itself…each of these pair to create a near-creamy taste and texture, sweet but elevated with the bold flavor of maple.

Then, brown sugar, as opposed to regular cane sugar, is made with the addition of molasses, and this complex flavoring, when combined with pumpkin spice coffee, serves to provide a caramel-esque taste which brings forward the inherent creaminess of a pumpkin infused brew.

Cream

Whether you prefer skipping the sugar altogether and opting for the addition of cream alone, or if you’re a cream and sugar kind of coffee-lover, adding cream to your brew actually serves a purpose.

The addition of cream in coffee, pumpkin spice or otherwise, serves to cut the typical bitterness of this brew.

Even fat free milk, likely the thinnest of any creamy addition, can amplify the texture of coffee to create a velvety mouthfeel, with other options - from whole milk to nondairy milk, half and half, heavy whipping cream, and even whipped cream toppings - providing even greater depth, creaminess, and smoothness to any cup of coffee.

Concerning pumpkin spice coffee, the addition of cream can not only serve to calmly bring forward the spices infused into this brew, but such add-ins can really bring out the pumpkin flavors here as well.

So, what kind of milk/cream works best in pumpkin spice coffee?

Honestly, this decision primarily rests on preference.

Nondairy milks and fat free dairy options are your lightest choices, with whole milk providing a slightly thicker texture. Then, half and half or heavy cream will yield the creamiest brew.

And honestly you just can’t beat a cold foam or whipped cream topping on a tall glass or mug of pumpkin spice coffee!

Flavoring

Obviously, pumpkin spice coffee is already a flavored brew.

Fortunately, Lifeboost has the flavoring process down to a clean, healthy, tasty science, forgoing any chemical additions and instead opting to infuse clean, organic medium roasted coffee beans with flavor only using essential oils and natural baking extracts to yield unparalleled, all-natural flavors.

But you can easily compound those flavors when mirroring them in your sauce/syrup additions.

So, whether you’re seeking to concoct a fabulous at-home pumpkin spice latte or a thinking-outside-the-box brew combination, reaching for any of these flavors will either highlight, enhance, or complement those fabulous fall-themed tastes:

Cinnamon - Feel free to dust some ground cinnamon on top of your cup or make a homemade cinnamon syrup to add to your pumpkin spice coffee; either way the addition of this spice serves to pull out those already infused flavors for a little something extra.

Cinnamon Dolce - Cinnamon dolce syrups incorporate both cinnamon and vanilla flavors, and this combination works wonderfully in pumpkin spice coffee!

Vanilla - Pure vanilla extract possesses a versatile, velvety flavor which can add a natural hint of both creaminess and sweetness to your brew with the simple addition of about ½ teaspoon or so to your hot or iced coffee. You can also use vanilla in the making of a tasty simple syrup to use in any pumpkin spice coffee creation.

Caramel - Gooey, rich, and sweet, caramel complements pumpkin flavors quite well. It also adds a unique element of creaminess when you’re simply looking for something different.

Pecan - There’s just something about pecans that pair unbelievably well with flavors of pumpkin, cinnamon, vanilla, and all the other spices that make this flavored coffee shine. With a near-creaminess, and sweet but nutty flavor, adding pecans to a whipped cream topped pumpkin spice coffee or infusing these incredible nuts into a cinnamon, vanilla, or brown sugar syrup can make a tasty companion to enhance this fall themed brew.

Chocolate - Chocolate (dark or milk) can be categorized as a unique fall pairing as some find the combination of chocolate and spice to be an acquired taste, but there’s no denying that chocolate and coffee, and chocolate and pumpkin work well together. So, if you’re down for something delicious, feel free to add a little bit of chocolate to your pumpkin spice brew for a unique but yummy treat.

And, now to test out some of these pairings…

Using just a few of the suggestions above, we’re sharing some super simple pumpkin spice coffee recipes. Be sure to give each one a try and let us know your favorite pairing!

Cinnamon Dolce Pumpkin Spice Latte

• 8 ounces Lifeboost Pumpkin Spice Coffee (hot or cold brewed)
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon dolce syrup (see recipe below)
• 4 ounces vanilla almond milk

Add cinnamon dolce syrup to your hot or iced coffee, then pour in almond milk. Stir to combine and enjoy!

Homemade Cinnamon Dolce Syrup

• 1 cup water
• ¾ cup cane sugar
• ¼ cup brown sugar
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Add water, sugars, and cinnamon sticks to a small saucepan, and heat over medium heat until the mixture reaches a gentle boil. Once boiling, allow the mixture to cook for about ten minutes.

Remove the mixture from the heat source, then stir in vanilla extract and allow to cool completely prior to use. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

Maple Pumpkin Cold Brew

• 8 ounces cold brewed Lifeboost Pumpkin Spice Coffee
• 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup, divided
• ¼ cup heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon pumpkin puree
• ½ teaspoon real vanilla extract
• ¼ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• Ice

Add ice to a tall glass. Top with cold brew and 1 tablespoon maple syrup, stir to combine.

Add heavy cream, 1 tablespoon maple syrup, pumpkin puree, vanilla, and pumpkin pie spice to an electric frother and froth on the cold setting.
Pour pumpkin spice cold foam over your brew, and enjoy!

Pumpkin Spice Coffee Pastry Pairings

I realize those recipes were pretty simple, but it doesn’t take much to enhance the incredible fall flavors in our pumpkin spice coffee.

That, and I wanted to keep the drink options simple, so you could easily sip on those creations while you get to work in your kitchen, whipping up one or both of these incredibly tasty recipes.

Pumpkin muffins and/or pumpkin spice coffee cake paired with pumpkin spice coffee may seem a bit redundant but trust me when I say these pastries are truly perfect pumpkin spice coffee pairings!

Pumpkin Maple Muffins

• ½ cup unsalted butter
• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 1 cup whole wheat flour (or all purpose)
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• ½ teaspoon ground turmeric
• ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 ½ cups pumpkin puree
• 3 large eggs
• 1 cup light brown sugar
• ⅔ cup real maple syrup

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line a muffin tin with liners (or spray with cooking spray).

Heat butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Once melted, allow the butter to brown for roughly 5 minutes, scraping any browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Remove from heat and set aside.

Whisk dry ingredients (minus brown sugar) together in a small bowl and set aside.

In a large bowl, whisk pumpkin, eggs, brown sugar, and maple syrup until very smooth. Then, whisk in dry ingredients, followed by the browned butter.
Once combined, divide amongst prepared muffin tins, and bake for 20-25 minutes or until muffin tops are puffed and bounce back when lightly pressed. Cool, and enjoy!

Pumpkin Spice Coffee Cake

For the cake:

• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
• ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ½ cup light brown sugar
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup pumpkin puree
• ½ cup oil
• 4 ounces sour cream, room temperature
• 2 eggs, beaten

For the streusel:

• ½ cup light brown sugar
• ¼ cup all purpose flour
• ½ cup finely chopped pecans
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

For the glaze:

• ½ cup powdered sugar
• 2 tablespoons real maple syrup

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, and lightly grease an 8x8 baking dish.

In a small bowl, combine all streusel ingredients with a fork until crumbly. Set aside.

In a large bowl, prepare the cake by combining the dry ingredients - flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and sugars.
Then, in a medium bowl, whisk together wet ingredients - pumpkin, oil, sour cream, and eggs until well combined.

Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour in the wet mixture. Gently stir until combined.

Pour half of the batter into the prepared baking dish, then sprinkle half of the streusel over the batter. Add the remaining batter, then sprinkle the rest of the streusel mixture on top.

Bake for approximately 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Cool for 15 minutes, then add powdered sugar and maple syrup to a small bowl, whisking to combine.

Drizzle maple glaze over slightly cooled coffee cake, cut into squares, and enjoy with a cup of pumpkin spice coffee!

How About A Savory Swap?

Lastly, have you ever considered a savory option to enjoy alongside a hot or iced cup of pumpkin spice coffee?

I know we typically think of this brew as a perfect companion for something sweet, but oftentimes the fanciful additions we tastily add to this fall themed favorite can already pack a confectionery punch, and that’s where a touch of something savory can serve to balance out those wonderful flavors.

One simple way to complement a creamy, spicy cup of pumpkin spice coffee, especially a cup that’s enhanced with a touch of sweetness and a whipped cream topping, is to serve this alongside a slice of toasted sourdough bread and a serving of either maple sausage or bacon.

Of course, you can purchase premade bacon and/or sausage with infused maple flavor, or you can even make your own sausage.

This maple apple sausage recipe is delicious!

• 1 pound of unseasoned (raw) ground pork
• 1 medium finely chopped apple
• 1 ½ tablespoons real maple syrup
• 1 tsp salt
• ¼ tsp sage
• ½ clove minced garlic
• ¼ tsp black pepper
• 2 tsp chopped parsley

Combine all ingredients well, then patty out and cook in oil of your preference.
Serve with toasted, buttered sourdough bread and a cup of pumpkin spice coffee. (I like a touch of sweetness when paired with this meal, so I add a bit of cinnamon simple syrup, whipped cream, caramel drizzle, and chopped pecans.)

Then, if you’re looking for a unique, savory snack to complement those fall themed flavors in your brew, give this pumpkin spice prosciutto wrapped fig recipe a try:

• 16 small figs
• Goat cheese
• 3 oz package prosciutto
• 3 tablespoons raw honey
• ¼ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

Cut a small hole in the center of each fig and fill with a ¼ teaspoon goat cheese.

Tear each prosciutto slice in half, then diagonally wrap (using a half piece at a time) fig with the prosciutto, tucking the ends underneath (or using a toothpick to secure).

Evenly place the wrapped figs on the baking sheet.

Combine honey and pumpkin spice in a small bowl, stirring well. Then, drizzle pumpkin-spiced honey over the figs evenly.

Bake for 8-10 minutes on the top oven rack. Serve while warm.

Check out Lifeboost Coffee Pumpkin Spice.

References:

https://www.oneworldroasters.com/pumpkin-spice-latte-history.html#/

https://www.kitchenaid.com/pinch-of-help/countertop-appliances/pumpkin-recipes-ideas.html#

https://onegreatcoffee.com/blogs/latest-news/using-heavy-cream-in-coffee-the-ultimate-guide#:~

https://itdoesnttastelikechicken.com/cinnamon-dolce-coffee-syrup/#recipe

https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1018354-pumpkin-maple-muffins

https://handletheheat.com/pumpkin-spice-coffee-cake/#wprm-recipe-container-25920

https://savorylotus.com/homemade-maple-apple-breakfast-sausage/

https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/sandra-lee/prosciutto-wrapped-figs-recipe-1917453