Starbucks Apple Crisp Macchiato Recipe

This Starbucks Apple Crisp Macchiato recipe is a copycat that you can make at home with simple ingredients, and for a fraction of the price you’d pay. Great for holiday parties or just for sitting on your porch, wrapped in a blanket, watching the leaves fall.

Why I Love This Recipe

• I’ve been obsessed with this Starbucks apple crisp oatmilk macchiato for a few years now. The downfall? It is only offered in the fall. Now I can make it any time I want!
• It’s like the taste of fall in a coffee mug.
• When the syrups are simmering on the stove, your house will never smell better.
• It’s the best of all the worlds - strong coffee + flavors of apple + touch of sweetness + fall flavors.
• Great enjoyed on a crisp fall day, with or without breakfast.

I’ve been obsessed with the Starbucks Apple Crisp Macchiato for years. But the downside is they only offer it in the fall, and you have to wait in line with all the pumpkinheads who are there for that other fall flavor coffee drink. (No offense, pumpkin lovers.)

Now you can skip the Starbucks line and make your own Homemade Apple Crisp Oatmilk Macchiato in your own kitchen! It’s incredibly easy and costs a fraction of the price. And it's a great way to control the ingredients and sweetness levels!

This is the ultimate fall drink, better than the pumpkin spice latte. And it's great for serving at a holiday brunch or party, or just for a perfect porch morning. And the best part is you can make this Apple Crisp Macchiato any time of year! Perfect for when you need a little fall season flavor vibes to get you through the warmer months.

Recipe Ingredients

Use fresh ingredients for the best tasting results.

Apples - Use one tart and one sweet for best flavor. 

Brown sugar - Light or dark brown sugar can be used.

Apple cider - Use cider (vs apple juice) for bolder apple flavor, but apple juice can be used in a pinch. Try to get “natural” apple juice if you can’t find cider.

Ground cinnamon 

Butter extract - Replace with rum extract or vanilla extract.

Espresso - you can use an espresso maker or French press.

Oat milk - The oat milk brings out the flavor in this drink.

How To Make Starbucks Apple Crisp Macchiato

Follow these simple instructions for the perfect Starbucks copycat Apple Crisp Macchiato.

Make the Apple Flavor Simple Syrup

1. In a medium saucepan, add the chopped apples, brown sugar, apple cider, cinnamon and butter extract.
2. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Let simmer for 30 minutes, or until the mixture is thick and syrupy. You should be left with 3/4 cup of liquid once it's reduced. Remove from heat and let cool.
3. Run the apple mixture through a fine mesh strainer and pour the apple brown sugar syrup into a mason jar.

Make the Caramel Syrup

1. In the same saucepan, add the apple cider, brown sugar and cinnamon.
2. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Let simmer for 20 minutes, or until the mixture resembles caramel. You should be left with 1/2 cup of liquid once it's reduced. 
3. Remove from heat and let cool. If you simmer for too long, the caramel will harden once it is cooled (which is actually fine - you can always throw it into the microwave to soften it before each use).

Assemble the Drink

• Pour the following into a large coffee mug in this order:
• 1 cup creamy oat milk, frothed
• 1 Tbsp Apple Syrup 
• 1 tsp Caramel Syrup 
• Stir
• Add 2 shots of Espresso
• Drizzle with Caramel Sauce or more caramel syrup and a sprinkle of cinnamon

Store the remaining syrups in separate mason jars and store at room temperature or refrigerate.

How To Prep Starbucks Hot Apple Crisp Macchiato Ahead of Time

• Make both of the syrups ahead of time, store in clean mason jars and refrigerate until ready to use.

Recipe Notes & Tips

• Adjust the amount of syrups to your liking. Some like sweeter drinks, others not as sweet.
• Make the syrups ahead of time for extra ease.
• Use a barista-style or “extra creamy” non-dairy milk for best results.
• Check the ingredients of the butter extract if you require dairy free ingredients or a vegan drink.
• Warm or slightly hot milk froths better than cold milk.
• You can also use whole milk if you are using regular milk.

How To Make the Perfect Creamy Espresso Shot

• Grind the coffee - Espresso is a style of finely ground coffee beans, not a roast or bean type.
• Pack coffee grounds - Add the coffee grounds to the espresso basket (portafilter) until heaping. 
• Tamp the filter a little but don’t overpack the grounds.
• Pull the shot - Place the portafilter in the espresso machine and press the button to “pull the espresso shots.”

How To Froth Milk

There are a few different ways to get perfectly frothy milk for your macchiato.

Steam wand - invert the steam wand into the milk and tilt the cup a little so the steam circulates and froths the milk better. 

Hand mixer - warm the milk slightly and, using the whisk attachment of your electric mixer, whip on medium high speed for a few minutes to agitate and froth the milk to your desired consistency.

Milk frother - These are handy, inexpensive, and convenient gadgets that you will fall in love with instantly.

They also sell super fancy all in one electric milk steamers + frothers, some of which even make cold foam!

Oat Milk vs Almond Milk vs Soy Milk

These are, in order, the best plant based milks to use for steamed and frothed milk.

Be sure to choose a barista style or extra creamy variety and check the ingredients for higher fat and protein for thicker milk. Oatly and Planet Oat both make great creamy styles of Barista blend plant milks.

Warm the milk slightly, about a minute in the microwave, before frothing for best results.

What is Blonde Espresso?

The Starbucks macchiato is made with Blonde roast espresso. That’s a lighter roasted coffee bean than the standard dark roast of traditional espresso. The lighter roast results in a nuttier taste but with a higher caffeine and acidity level than regular espresso.

How to Serve Homemade Apple Crisp Macchiato

You can enjoy this recipe with or without breakfast. I like to enjoy a cup on the porch in the morning before anyone else wakes up, wrapped in a blanket and watching the leaves fall and the sun rise.

Some great breakfast ideas to include are Chocolate Coffee Cake, Cherry Coffee Cake, or Easy Homemade Cinnamon Rolls. And of course you can’t go wrong with some Simple Scrambled Eggs, Snoop Dogg’s “Billionaire Bacon” and Cheesy Breakfast Potatoes.

How To Store Syrup for Coffee

Place remaining homemade syrup in a couple of clean glass jars with an airtight lid. Mason jars work great. Apple and caramel syrup will both be good for 2 weeks at room temp. You can extend shelf life to 3-4 weeks by refrigerating the leftover syrup.

More Great Breakfast Ideas to Enjoy with Coffee

Apple Banana Bread
Crockpot Cinnamon Roll Monkey Bread
Apple Cinnamon Waffles
Sourdough French Toast