We finally reached the best season of them all; the season of pumpkin spiced everything, warm apple cider, fresh pumpkin, and cooler weather. Our cravings begin to lead us to warm soups, teas, and anything cinnamon-y to fully immerse ourselves in the autumn spirit. The urge to order a Pumpkin Spice Latte (PSL) is at its strongest, but a 16 oz. Starbucks PSL with 2% milk is 390 calories (Center for Science in the Public Interest)! There is no need to worry though. This article has a variety of fall-themed, low-calorie drinks you can make at home to fulfill that seasonal craving.

Pumpkin Spice Latte, 83 calories

I bet that intro has you worrying that you’ll never have a pumpkin spice latte again, but I have you covered. This pumpkin spice latte recipe by Brittany Mullins mimics the same flavors of its Starbucks counterpart for only a fraction of the calories. This drink uses pumpkin puree in its recipe to hone in on the pumpkin flavor, but this addition also serves as a source of produce. To make this drink higher protein, you can opt for a low-fat milk. This drink will definitely ring in the fall season without piling on excess calories. 

Chai Concentrate and Latte, 74 calories

Nothing is more fall than chai… maybe pumpkin spice is, but I am more of a chai girlie. This recipe by Kristin Marr contains instructions to create a chai concentrate as well as a latte. The concentrate is full of yummy spices, some of which are health promoting like ginger and cardamom. Spices are a great way to add rich flavor without adding calories. For the latte portion, you can use low-fat milk to increase your protein intake and opt for a lower calorie, natural sweetener like honey or maple syrup. 

Starbucks Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso, 120 calories

Warning to all iced coffee lovers: this drink is truly addicting. Once you try it, you have to have it again! This is a great low-calorie option to order at Starbucks, but Starbucks gives you the recipe for you to make it at home too. This drink is great for those who have an espresso machine at home since it creates a subtly sweet, fun drink with minimal ingredients. This drink uses a little brown sugar and cinnamon to enhance its flavor. You can play around with the drink by adjusting the amount of sugar you add or the type of milk you use to make it 100% your own.

Healthy Hot Maple-Apple Cider, 129 calories

There are so many things that make fall so special and comforting, but apple cider tops the list. This Hot Maple-Apple Cider recipe by Nancy Lopez-McHugh is a healthy, lower-calorie recreation of this autumn favorite with only 4 simple ingredients: apples, water, maple syrup, and cinnamon. The apples and the natural maple syrup bring a sweetness to the drink without adding excess sugars and calories. Cinnamon is the perfect fall ingredient and is linked to helping sugar regulation in the body and brain and being a treatment for digestive ailments (Plante). As the upcoming nights hopefully get cooler, you can count on this drink to warm you up and get you in the fall spirit. 

Apple Ginger Fizz Mocktail, 40 calories

Nothing is more fun and fresh than a homemade mocktail. Mocktails are a great option to enjoy a unique mixed drink without extra calories or extra buzz. This Apple Ginger Fizz drink by Nat from The Mindful Mocktail combines cool, refreshing flavors with cozy fall staples like cinnamon and apple cider. The base of this drink is diet ginger ale, but uses apple cider, apple cider vinegar, lime, mint, and cinnamon to add an autumn flare. 

As autumn approaches or if you’re already feeling the fall vibes, I hope that these drinks can leave you feeling cozy and comfortable wherever you are. All of these drinks are low in calories but high in flavor so there’s no need to worry about missing out on all the fun seasonal drinks that are resurfacing. Regardless of whichever drink or drinks you choose to recreate, I guarantee you’ll be ready for the weather to cool down, the leaves to fall, and for the sweater weather to commence. Happy drinking and stay cozy!