Pumpkin Spice Coffee Sauce

Sweet Guilt Free Treat

I bet you are wondering how this sweet invention came about, right? When you have a huge hankering for a healthier pumpkin latte, but can’t afford an overpriced coffeehouse beverage - unique recipes are born! We wanted a guilt free treat with natural sweeteners and no added fat. After countless rounds of testing (and enough caffeine to fuel a rocket), we finally nailed it!

Packed with sun-dried sweet prunes, this coffee sauce not only caffeinates, but it’s also high in fiber and sorbitol to get things moving. It's ready in just 20 minutes, can be made a week in advance and it freezes fabulously.

Ways to Use Coffee Sauce

The sky is the limit on the different ways that you can use this dessert sauce. It's so rich with deep caramel sweetness and warming spices, we could eat it by the spoonful. Here are some of our favorite ways to enjoy this pumpkin coffee sauce.

• Use it as a substitute for applesauce in your baked recipes. 
• Drizzle a little on top of a pumpkin affogato dessert.
• Add a pop of flavor to baked pork tenderloin recipes. Slather on a little sauce during the last few minutes of baking.
• Make yourself a delicious cup of hot cocoa and add a few tablespoons of the prune sauce.
• Rise and shine with a dollop of pumpkin spice coffee sauce in your morning oatmeal, yogurt or on top of your coffee pancakes.
• Drizzle a little dessert sauce on spiced pumpkin breads, brownies, and more.
• Spoon a little over gingerbread cake. It has all the flavors of the holiday to take your baked goods to the next level.
• Flavor your hot or iced lattes or even bubble tea.
• Kick up your tiramisu cups with a layer of coffee prune sauce between the espresso-soaked lady fingers and mascarpone cream.
• And the list goes on…

Ingredients

Dried Pitted Prunes – we cut them into quarters so they could easily absorb all the coffee flavors. Not only do they naturally sweeten but they add a delicious caramel-like flavor to the sauce.

Instant Espresso Granules + Boiling Water – You can also use instant coffee or even instant decaffeinated coffee, but you will need to increase the amount to achieve a robust coffee flavor.

Pumpkin Pie Spice - is a combination of ground cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and allspice.

Cinnamon – a little extra ground cinnamon is not only warming but makes recipes taste sweeter.

Light Unsulfured Molasses – gives the sauce that complex sweet holiday caramel flavor. We used Grandma’s original unsulfured molasses for this prune recipe and our gingerbread cookies. Be sure to use not to use full flavored or blackstrap molasses as they are too strong. If you do not have molasses, you can add more maple syrup to your desired sweetness level.

Maple Syrup and Vanilla – is a delicious addition to round out the flavors of the coffee and prunes. The vanilla must be a little camera shy as it did not make it into the photo.

Recipe Tips

• Measure the dried prunes by packing them into a US measuring cup. Every prune may be a different size and many of you do not own a scale, so this might be the best measurement for you. If you have a scale, please use between 8 to 9 ounces (226 – 255 grams) of pitted dried prunes.
• Chop the prunes so they can absorb the espresso flavor and plump up.
• Boil the water for the espresso either in a tea kettle, in a pot on the stove top or in the microwave.
• Use a high-speed blender and not a food processor if you want the coffee dessert sauce to be smooth.
• Adjust the additions of maple syrup and molasses to your desired sweetness level.
• Add a shot or two of spiced rum, Frangelico, or Kalua if you are feeling extra saucy! 

How to Store?

Pumpkin spice coffee sauce can be stored in the refrigerator for up to one week in a covered container or frozen for up to 3 months. Place the sauce in the refrigerator overnight to thaw.

What’s the difference between coffee sauce vs syrup?

Coffee sauce is thicker and richer, often containing ingredients like mashed fruit or milk for added flavor. We used prunes. In contrast, syrup mainly consists of juice liquids. Coffee sauce is typically used as a topping for desserts or in lattes, while coffee syrup is meant for beverages like cocktails and specialty coffee drinks.