The Apple Crisp Macchiato rivals the flavors of everyone’s favorite pumpkin coffee. Spiced apple syrup pairs beautifully with espresso and milk to create a hot or iced drink.
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About this copycat Starbucks Iced Apple Crisp Oatmilk Macchiato recipe
Move over, pumpkin spice latte. There’s a new girl in town: the Apple Crisp Macchiato. This fruity coffee drink is the most fabulous drink for the fall season. If you’ve been wanting to try this copycat Starbucks drink at home, you absolutely can, and it’s even better when homemade.
The Apple Crisp Oatmilk Macchiato is one of the drinks in the Starbucks fall line-up of seasonal beverages, alongside the pumpkin cream cold brew. It was a new drink added to their fall menu in 2021. It’s essentially a caramel macchiato, but with spiced apple brown sugar syrup instead of caramel sauce. Macchiatos are made upside-down: The syrup and milk are added first, then the espresso on top. The drink can be served ice or in a hot version.
But, we all know that Starbucks doesn’t always bring every seasonal drink back each year. So learning to make this one at home means that you can enjoy it year and year, no coffee shop needed! I like making my iced caramel macchiato recipe year-round, but this fall version is really perfect once cooler weather hits.
It starts with a homemade apple syrup made with real apples and spices. It’s simple and sweet and works in cocktails as well. Then combine it with milk and espresso, hot or iced. Let’s make this delicious coffee drink together!
More apple recipes: Apple Cider Sangria • Apple Cider Mule • Caramel Apple Mimosa
Why you’ll love this recipe
- It’s versatile: The Apple Crisp Macchiato can be served hot or iced, so it’s perfect no matter the weather!
- It’s easy: You’ll love how easy it is to make this recipe at home, especially if you have an espresso maker. (But you’re not out of luck if you don’t have one!)
- It’s delicious: This is one delicious, refreshing, and cozy afternoon pick-me-up or way to start your day.
Ingredients
In Italian, the word “macchiato” means “marked” or “stained.” When it comes to coffee, a traditional macchiato means espresso coffee with a little milk, so an apple one is pretty similar.
The apple macchiato is made with simple ingredients. Here’s what you want to get from the grocery store to make the apple macchiato at home:
👇 For full measurements and step-by-step instructions, scroll down to the printable recipe card. It’s all there waiting for you!
- espresso: Starbucks uses its blonde espresso, which is a lighter roast. A dark or medium roast also work well to pair with the sweet apple syrup. You can also use any very strong brewed coffee or cold brew.
- milk of choice: Creamy oat milk is what Starbucks uses, but you can use almond milk, soy milk, whole milk, 2% milk or half-and-half too.
- apple simple syrup: You can buy apple syrup or make your own with real apples and the warmth of fall spices. It tastes like apple pie.
- ice: Not needed if you want to make a hot macchiato!
how to make espresso
The easiest way is with an espresso machine — I use a Nespresso* for quick lattes, cappuccinos and even the occasional espresso martini. But you don’t need one to make this drink. A strong pot of coffee, a stovetop moka pot* or even cold brew concentrate will work too.
Variations and substitutions
Hot apple crisp macchiato: Use steamed milk and no ice to make this a hot drink.
Caramel apple macchiato: Make it like the caramel version by using apple syrup with the milk but drizzling caramel sauce over top. Or use half apple syrup and half caramel syrup.
Decaf apple macchiato: Stock up on decaf espresso if you need your afternoon pick-me-up to pack less of a punch.
Cinnamon sugar rim: Rim the glass with cinnamon sugar to give it more of a fall flavor. Or sprinkle the top of the drink with a little ground cinnamon *.
Coffee ice cubes: Freeze coffee into ice cube trays ahead of time. When added to a drink, it becomes infused with more flavor as the ice melts.
Homemade apple syrup
To make this ultimate fall drink, the key ingredient is the spiced apple drizzle that goes into the recipe.
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You can buy apple syrup but it’s actually quite easy to make at home, plus it will have natural apple flavors versus artificial ingredients. You’ll want to use real apples and whole spices like cinnamon sticks, cloves and nutmeg.
Homemade apple syrup comes together with sugar and water on the stove. You’ll wind up with a sweet spiced apple crisp syrup with all the flavor of apples. You can use white sugar or brown sugar or a mix of both.
I like to use red apples such as Honeycrisp, Fuji, or Gala apples in this syrup, but feel free to use your favorite. This is a great way to use apples picked during a trip to the orchard!
My spiced apple syrup recipe makes about 6 ounces (¾ cups of simple syrup). Got leftovers? Use it to make an apple pie old-fashioned with your favorite bourbon. You can also drizzle it over apple pie, or use it in place of the brown sugar syrup in an iced shaken espresso to turn it into an apple crisp oatmilk shaken espresso.
favorite syrup storage
These syrup bottles and jars make fridge storage easy and gifting even easier.
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How to make an Iced Apple Crisp Macchiato
Ready to make your own own apple macchiato? It is super simple! Here’s what to do:
First, fill a tall cup or glass with ice. Add apple syrup and milk to the glass and stir them together to combine. (Skip the ice and use steamed milk if you want a hot drink.)
Then, add the shot of espresso (either decaf or regular espresso) over the top. If you are making an iced macchiato, the espresso should be slightly cooled. The espresso will sit on top and blend slowly into the creamy froth layer to make a pretty gradient, ombré look.
Drizzle apple syrup over the top of the ice around the edge of the glass so that it drips down and creates a pretty effect. Sprinkle with apple pie spice or ground cinnamon *.
Tips & tricks
For an iced drink, the espresso should be slightly cooled so that it doesn’t melt the ice.
Ensure that the apple sauce is drizzled around the edge of the glass, not directly over top of the ice. You don’t want it to be stuck on the ice — you want it to seep down between the ice and the inside edge of the glass.
Be sure to add the ingredients in the order described. To get the layered, ombré effect, you need to add them in the correct order:
- Add syrup and milk first.
- Then add ice cubes.
- Add your shots of espresso.
- Finally, add apple spice sauce to the top of the drink.
Food pairings
Enjoy this copycat Starbucks drink with some fall coffee-time treats as well. Dust madeleines with cinnamon sugar or serve them with apple pie bars.
This delicious drink would also be great with a slice of copycat Starbucks pumpkin bread — a must, if you ask me!
It would be a great coffee drink to serve after dinner at Thanksgiving alongside a slice of apple, pumpkin or pecan pie.
FAQ
In Italian, the word “macchiato” means “marked” or “stained.” When it comes to coffee, a traditional macchiato means espresso coffee with a little milk.
The caramel macchiato is a coffee drink sold at Starbucks coffee shops. It is made inverted, so the milk and syrup are added first and then the espresso is added on top. This means the drink is a little bit sweeter at the bottom and gets less sweet as you sip, unless you stir it up with your straw or a spoon to equalize the sweetness.
Starbucks also carries other flavors of macchiatos, including the Coconutmilk Mocha Macchiato, Iced Cinnamon Almondmilk Macchiato, Apple Crisp Oatmilk Macchiato, Hazelnut Macchiato and Espresso Macchiato.
The first version of the apple crisp macchiato was made with 2% milk or whole milk, but the 2022 and 2023 versions include oat milk instead.
The apple crisp macchiato is one of Starbucks’ fall drinks. It is made with blonde espresso, oat milk and apple syrup. It can be served hot or iced.
More Starbucks copycat recipes
- Cinnamon Dolce Latte
- Gingerbread Latte
- Chestnut Praline Latte
- Irish Cream Cold Brew
- Iced Brown Sugar Oat Milk Shaken Espresso
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Apple Crisp Macchiato
ingredients
Apple Crisp Syrup
- 1 large red apple diced
- 1 cup water
- 1 whole cinnamon stick
- 2 whole cloves
- ½ cup sugar
Apple Crisp Macchiato
- 1 shot espresso slightly cooled
- ¾ cup dairy or plant-based milk steamed or cold
- 1 ounce apple syrup divided
- 1 cup ice optional
- 1 pinch apple pie spice or cinnamon
instructions
Apple Crisp Syrup
- Place diced apple, water, cinnamon stick and cloves in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil.1 large red apple, 1 cup water, 1 whole cinnamon stick, 2 whole cloves
- Lower heat to a simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Don’t stir too much or press on the apples or the syrup will become cloudy.
- With a fine-mesh strainer *, strain the liquid into a measuring cup. Discard the solids.
- Pour the liquid back into the saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the sugar until dissolved, but don’t boil. Remove from heat.½ cup sugar
- Store in an airtight, food-safe container such as a bottle or mason jar in the fridge for up to 1 month.
Apple Crisp Macchiato
- Prepare espresso. If making an iced macchiato, allow it to cool slightly.1 shot espresso
- To a heat-proof mug (for hot drink) or a highball glass * filled with ice (for iced drink), add ½ ounce apple syrup and milk. Stir together1 ounce apple syrup, ¾ cup dairy or plant-based milk
- Top with ice. (Skip this step for a hot drink.)1 cup ice
- Pour espresso over the top.1 shot espresso
- Drizzle the top and inner rim of the glass with more apple syrup or caramel sauce.1 ounce apple syrup
- Top with a sprinkle of apple pie spice or cinnamon.1 pinch apple pie spice
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