This Vegan Copycat Caribou Pumpkin White Mocha is warm, comforting, and full of flavor. This coffee shop favorite is easy to make at home and ready in minutes!
If you're looking for a go-to healthy homemade fall drink then look no further! This pumpkin white mocha recipe uses healthier alternatives at every corner and you'd never know it when you take a sip. It uses all-natural sugar, and is vegan and gluten-free!
Looking for more tasty drinks to make at home? Try these: Vegan Coquito, Caribou Spicy Mocha, and Avocado Coffee.
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Ingredients and Substitution Options
*All substitution options are a 1:1 replacement unless noted otherwise.
Pumpkin Puree: This is the ingredient that gives this white mocha its pumpkin flavor.
Substitutions: While there are no substitutions for this, it can be omitted if you do not have it on hand. If using pumpkin puree, ensure it is 100% pure pumpkin.
Coffee: We use coffee instead of espresso for this recipe to make things simpler. More people have coffee makers than espresso machines.
Substitutions: Instant coffee or espresso (regular or decaf) can be used, just make it as you normally would. For a non-caffeinated version, you can also substitute this for plant-based milk for a Pumpkin White Steamer.
Oat Milk: We prefer oat milk barista blends for this Caribou pumpkin mocha recipe due to its ability to froth and how creamy it is.
Substitutions: Any non-dairy creamer can be used. Try Sown for a great mocha! If using a sweetened creamer, omit the maple syrup from this drink. Soy milk, coconut milk, skim milk, whole milk (if not vegan), and unsweetened almond milk are some other options.
Maple syrup: This recipe is all about the fall flavors, and using maple syrup as a sweetener amplifies the fall vibes in this Pumpkin drink!
Substitutions: Honey (not vegan), agave, or monk fruit syrup can be used.
Pumpkin Pie Spice: No fall-themed drink can be taken seriously without pumpkin pie spice, or at least some version of it.
Substitutions: Cinnamon or apple pie spice can be used. You can also make your own pumpkin pie spice using a recipe like this one.
Cacao Butter: Traditionally, the base for white chocolate is cocoa butter. We use cocoa butter in this recipe instead of white chocolate because it has healthy fats and less sugar.
Substitutions: White chocolate chips or baking chips can be used. Find our favorite Cacao Butter here!
How to Make This - Step by Step
Step One: Make coffee! Make a pot of hot coffee or cup of coffee as you would regularly (coffee pot, french press, pour-over, however). For guidance, check out our post about how many scoops of coffee are needed for the perfect cup!
Step Two: Mix! While the coffee is going, add the pumpkin, cacao butter, pumpkin pie spice, maple syrup, and oat milk to an electric milk frother and heat/froth. You can also add everything to a heat-safe jar and microwave for 1 minute. Once hot, either froth with a whisk or hand frother or cover with a lid and shake vigorously.
CAUTION - If shaking by hand, hold the jar with a towel to prevent burning your hand should the liquid spill and when you open the lid again. Heated liquids build pressure as you shake, so open carefully.
Step Three: Combine. Pour coffee into cups until it is ¾ths full and top with oat milk mixture.
Watch How to Make This
Quick Facts and Common Questions
What is Caribou Coffee?
Caribou Coffee is the Midwest version of Starbucks and every year they come out with their fall menu! They have many tasty fall flavors ranging from every pumpkin drink you can imagine, to their Apple Blast and campfire cake pops. Our favorite fall drink of theirs is this Pumpkin White Mocha, which is so easy to make at home!
What is a Pumpkin White Mocha?
A pumpkin white mocha is like the cool cousin to the pumpkin spice latte or pumpkin latte. It's warm and cozy with real pumpkin puree but with that classic pumpkin tang of all the extra spices of pumpkin pie spice. Unfortunately for me (since it's one of my favorite drinks ), it is made with an espresso machine, vanilla extract, heavy cream, premium white chocolate, pumpkin syrup, and sugar syrup.
Most of these items are not easily available or have way too much sugar for me. So, this homemade version gives you fancy coffee drinks with simple and natural ingredients!
Fun Fact!
Cacao Butter is the edible fat extracted from the cacao bean. Cacao Butter is the raw fat from the plant while Cocoa Powder is the roasted and ground chocolate powder that comes from the Cacao bean.
Cacao Butter is a known superfood. It can strengthen the immune system and be used as a lotion to avoid stretch marks and soften skin! When mixed with sugar, it heavily resembles the taste of white chocolate, hence why it’s perfect for this recipe! (Source)
Try these other fall recipes!
Mashed Potatoes and Butternut Squash
Did you make this and love it? Leave us a review, we’d love to hear from you!
Recipe
Vegan Copycat Caribou Pumpkin White Mocha
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon pumpkin puree
- 3 tablespoon oat milk unsweetened
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- ½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- 1 teaspoon cacao butter
- 1-½ cup coffee
Instructions
- Make a pot of hot coffee as you would regularly (coffee pot, french press, pour over, however!)
- While the coffee is going, add the pumpkin, cacao butter, pumpkin pie spice, maple syrup, and oat milk to an electric frother and heat/froth. You can also add everything to a heat-safe jar and microwave for 1 minute. Once hot, either froth with a whisk or hand frother or cover with a lid and shake vigorously. CAUTION - If shaking by hand, hold the jar with a towel to prevent burning your hand should the liquid spill and for when you open the lid again. Heated liquids build pressure as you shake, so open carefully.
- Pour coffee into cups until it is ¾ths full and top with oat milk mixture.
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