This fall, cozy up with a warming twist on a classic cocktail. A great little pick-me-up for rainy days, this pumpkin spice espresso martini is the perfect combination of intense espresso, boozy vanilla vodka, and homemade pumpkin spice simple syrup.
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Pumpkin Spice Espresso Martini Ingredients
Pumpkin Spice Simple Syrup
A normal espresso martini has just three ingredients (espresso, vodka, and coffee liqueur), but to make this one seasonally appropriate, let’s add some pumpkin spice!
This Starbucks favorite spice mix with pumpkin has been around for exactly 20 years now, and even the coffee giant has added it to an espresso martini served in limited locations to celebrate its anniversary.
You can buy pumpkin spice syrup, but it’s also easy to make a spiced simple syrup with real pumpkin for our pumpkin spice espresso martini recipe. Sounds totally fancy, but it’s a breeze. And the best thing is: you’ll have leftover syrup to use on pancakes, in your coffee, or for other fall-themed cocktails!
Here’s what you need to make pumpkin spice simple syrup:
- Pumpkin puree (I used homemade, but store-bought is fine)
- Sugar (try half white and half muscovado for intense flavor, or even maple syrup!)
- Water
- Spices: fresh ginger, vanilla bean, cloves, cinnamon sticks, allspice, nutmeg
You can find the details in the full post on making simple syrup, but the basic gist of preparing this one is so simple: place all the ingredients in a saucepan and simmer together. Let cool, strain through some cheesecloth or a coffee filter, and voilà!
FAQ: Is pumpkin spice gluten-free? It is indeed, so even the celiacs among us can have this pumpkin spice simple syrup. The entire pumpkin spice espresso martini has zero gluten.
Vanilla Vodka
You can of course use normal vodka, but vanilla vodka just goes perfectly with our pumpkin spice simple syrup. I’m using homemade vanilla vodka for my espresso martinis, but store-bought is also fine.
Espresso
The better the espresso, the better the martini. After all, this is still the star ingredient! You can also use cold brew or any other type of coffee you like, but keep in mind that it might not foam as well as espresso would.
Tip: Not much of a coffee enthusiast? Skip this recipe and have a pumpkin bourbon martini instead.
Coffee Liqueur
According to food bloggers and cocktail experts, Tia Maria is generally considered superior to Kahlúa as far as coffee liqueurs go.
You can use either in this pumpkin spice espresso martini recipe, but Tia Maria has a more intense coffee flavor and more complex flavor notes.
Garnishes
Half of the fun of making espresso martinis is that they’re so nice to look at! You can wow your guests with a range of different garnishes.
I rimmed my martini glasses with cinnamon sugar for this one, dusted the foam with some nutmeg and served the cocktails with cinnamon sticks, but you can also go for the three classic coffee beans. Or maybe some star anise?
Pumpkin Spice Espresso Martini Method
Once you’ve made (or bought, I don’t judge) the pumpkin spice simple syrup and gathered the other ingredients, putting together your pumpkin spice espresso martinis is a breeze. Before you do anything else, pop the martini glasses in the freezer for at least 15 minutes to chill them.
Once the glasses are cold, you can rim them with cinnamon sugar (or maybe vanilla sugar?!). Just place some of the pumpkin spice syrup in one shallow dish and sugar on another. Dip in the syrup first, using it as a sort of glue, and then in the sugar.
To make the cocktails, combine all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker with plenty of ice. Shake really well (30-60 seconds) to make sure you get a nice foam layer. Carefully strain into the prepared glasses and serve immediately.
Tip: If you loved this pumpkin spice espresso martini recipe, be sure also to try my equally warming spiced chai espresso martini!
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Pumpkin Spice Espresso Martini
Equipment
- 1 Cheesecloth see notes
- 1 Saucepan
Ingredients
For the pumpkin spice simple syrup
- ½ cup pumpkin puree
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup sugar see notes
- ½ teaspoon minced fresh ginger
- ¼ teaspoon powdered nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon powdered allspice
- 10 cloves
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- 1 vanilla bean
For the pumpkin spice espresso martinis
- 2 ounces pumpkin spice simple syrup
- 2 ounces vanilla vodka
- 2 ounces coffee liqueur
- 3 ounces espresso
- ice
- garnishes see notes
Instructions
- Place the martini glasses in the freezer.
- Score the vanilla bean lengthwise to release the flavor. Combine all ingredients for the simple syrup in the saucepan and bring to a gentle simmer for 10 minutes. Let cool a little and strain through cheesecloth.1/2 cup pumpkin puree, 1 cup water, 1 cup sugar, 1/2 teaspoon minced fresh ginger, 1/4 teaspoon powdered nutmeg, 1/4 teaspoon powdered allspice, 10 cloves, 3 cinnamon sticks, 1 vanilla bean
- Take out the martini glasses and rim them with cinnamon sugar (or whatever you prefer).garnishes
- Add the martini ingredients to your cocktail shaker with plenty of ice and shake vigorously for up to a minute.2 ounces pumpkin spice simple syrup, 2 ounces vanilla vodka, 2 ounces coffee liqueur, 3 ounces espresso, ice
- Strain into the glasses, making sure to divide the foam evenly. Add garnishes and serve immediately. Cheers!garnishes
Notes
- If you don’t have a cheesecloth, I’ve found coffee filters or even kitchen paper towels also work reasonably well.
- Instead of just white sugar, try substituting half with brown or muscovado sugar for a more complex and fall-appropriate warming flavor. You could even use maple syrup!
- Garnish idea: cinnamon sugar rim, powdered nutmeg dusting, cinnamon sticks
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