Pumpkin Pie Cocktail

Flavored with a delicious pumpkin maple syrup, this pumpkin pie cocktail can be served hot or chilled and is best when garnished with whipped cream and spices.

This post contains affiliate links. Read the disclosure policy.

About Pumpkin Pie Cocktail

Perfect for fall’s chilly weather, this pumpkin pie cocktail comes together with a simple homemade pumpkin maple syrup (full instructions below), a dash of spiced rum, and a plethora of fall-themed garnishes.

I mean, you guys, this drink is garnished with whipped cream and cookies. It’s a cocktail that comes with its own dessert!

What’s not to love?

What type of rum should you use?

This recipe calls for spiced rum, which is not the same as light or dark rum. In short, spiced rum is a rum that’s been infused with spices, usually at or near the end of the aging process. And while many of the popular brands keep their blend of spices a secret, most will use a combination that includes vanilla, brown sugar, and other earthy flavors – making it ideal for fall foods and drinks.

So, with all that being said, which spiced rum should you use?

For this drink, it really comes down to your price point and what brands you’re familiar with. If you’re looking to stay within a budget, try Bacardi Spiced Rum or Captian Morgan Spiced Rum. If you have some splurge money, check out Boukman Botanical Rhum or Twenty Boat Spiced Rum. But really, any brand of spiced rum you can get your hands on should do the trick.

Pumpkin Puree vs Pumpkin Pie Filling

When it comes to holiday treats, you’re going to be faced with two types of canned pumpkin in the baking aisle:

Pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie filling.

And while these types might seem interchangeable, there is a slight (yet significant) difference.

With pumpkin puree, the only contents are cooked and mashed pumpkin (or a variety of winter gourds), with no added flavors or spices. Pumpkin pie filling is made with cooked and mashed pumpkin, too, but it also has flavor added, typically with pumpkin pie spice.

The key difference here is convenience. If you don’t have (or don’t want to buy) pumpkin pie spice, using pumpkin pie filling can save you some time and effort; you simply add it to the recipe and skip measuring the spices. However, it does limit your ability to control the taste, and if you’re using the pumpkin pie filling with other flavors, there’s no way to guarantee how they’ll interact.

This is why you’ll see many homemade recipes use pumpkin puree (which, again, is just the gourds, no added flavor) and season and spice the recipe by hand as needed. It is a tad more work but it also gives you more control over the flavor of your fall treats.

Is this cocktail served hot or cold?

If making this recipe as written, the cocktail will be somewhere between lukewarm and room temperature, thanks to the freshly prepared pumpkin maple syrup that will still be a bit warm when mixed.

If you’d prefer the drink to be hot: Use the pumpkin maple syrup immediately after preparing and do not use ice in the cocktail shaker when mixing the drink (or simply mix it directly in the serving glasses).

If you’d like a cold cocktail: The ice from the cocktail shaker will cool it down some, but maybe not enough for the poured drink to be considered “chilly.” To get a cooler drink, you can refrigerate the pumpkin maple syrup before mixing (roughly two hours.) You can also chill the rum and fill the cocktail glasses up with ice to help keep the temperature down.

Notes & tips for this pumpkin pie cocktail

• Like most mixed drinks, you’ll need a trusty cocktail shaker. I like to use a Mason Jar and Stainless Steel Cocktail Shaker Set that has a rustic look that’s fun for parties. If you already have a ton of mason jars and just need a cocktail shaker lid, you can pick up on here: Mason Jar Cocktail Shaker Lid.

More delicious pumpkin recipes

Other great drink recipes

How to make a pumpkin cocktail

This next part is only a photo tutorial of the recipe steps. If you’re looking for the full recipe measurements and instructions, scroll down to Recipe Details.

Step 1 – In a medium saucepan, whisk together the following ingredients: water, pumpkin puree, maple syrup, and pumpkin pie spice. Bring the mixture to a simmer, then remove from heat.

Step 2 – Strain the syrup through a fine mesh sieve and discard any solids.

Step 3 – In a cocktail shaker filled with ice (or directly in the glass), add the prepared pumpkin maple syrup and the spiced room. Give it a thorough stir (or shake!)

Step 4 – Garnish the drinks with whipped cream, a dusting of pumpkin pie spice, and a crumbled gingersnap cookie. All optional, of course, but all absolutely delicious as well.

Step 5 – Serve and enjoy!