Apple Pie Latte Recipe: It’s As Easy As… Apple Pie!
Despite what the cult of the PSL would have you believe, fall flavors don’t start and end with pumpkin spice. Pair those same warm spices with a sweet, juicy apple; you’ve got another winner!
So if you’ve had your fill of pumpkin, try this delicious recipe for an Apple Pie Spice Latte. It’s a little different yet still wonderfully familiar. We think you’ll love it!
What You Need
- Double shot espresso
- 6 ounces whole milk
- 1 or 2 tablespoons apple pie syrup (recipe follows)
- Optional toppings: whipped cream, caramel sauce
- Espresso machine with steam wand
At A Glance
Time:
5 minutes
Yield:
10 ounces
DIY Apple Pie Syrup Ingredients
- ½ cup water
- ½ cup apple juice or apple cider
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 cinnamon stick
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon allspice
- ¼ teaspoon ginger
At a Glance
Time:
15 minutes
Yield:
8 ounces of apple pie syrup
How To Make An Apple Pie Latte
The highly customizable list of coffees at Starbucks always gets my creative juices flowing. Nothing less is a Starbucks latte menu inspiring copycat recipe ideas and new flavor combinations – from classics like the Hazelnut Bianco Latte to wacky creations like popcorn-flavored coffee.
This Apple Pie Latte falls somewhere between classic and out-in-left-field. Apple coffee is a little unusual, but the warm flavor profile is familiar.
Step 1: Make the Apple Syrup
Heat the water, apple juice, brown sugar, and spices in a saucepan over medium heat until it comes to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
Remove the mixture from the heat, and cool slightly. Strain it through cheesecloth to remove the cinnamon stick and any ground spice graininess.
You’ll end up with enough apple syrup for eight lattes. Leftover syrup can be kept for up to three weeks in an airtight container in the fridge.
Pro tip: You can replace the spice mix with one or two chai tea bags for a similar flavor profile with less effort.
Step 2: Prepare The Espresso Base
Pull a double shot of espresso into a pre-heated 10-ounce mug. If you don’t have an espresso machine, use 3 ounces of strong brewed coffee. I recommend a coffee brewer with a metal filter to get a similar mouthfeel – such as a French press, Moka pot, or Aeropress.
Add 1 or 2 tablespoons of the apple syrup to your espresso, to taste.
Pro tip: A dark roast coffee is traditional for an Italian caffè latte, but the fruity flavor profile of this delicious latte is better complimented by a medium roast (1).
Step 3: Steam The Milk
Pour 6 ounces of cold, whole milk into a frothing pitcher. Use the steam wand of your espresso machine to steam it to a consistency similar to wet paint. For a hot latte, there should be just a thin layer of foam on top.
You can also froth warm milk using a frother, French press, or even an old-fashioned whisk if you don’t have a steam wand. These methods produce an aerated foam but can’t mimic the silky texture of steam milk.
Pro tip: To make a dairy-free version, opt for oat milk, and look for one labeled “Barista Style.” Barista-style plant-based milks are specially formulated to match the fat-to-protein ratio of dairy.
Step 4: Assemble The Latte
Pour the steamed milk into the mug of espresso and syrup. If you have the skills, pour a decorative latte art design. Serve immediately, or proceed to step 5.
Step 5: Add Toppings (Optional)
A classic latte is rarely topped with more than a cinnamon or cocoa powder sprinkle. But an apple pie spice latte is hardly classic, so feel free to break with tradition and deck out your drink.
The obvious choice is a swirl of whipped cream, a drizzle of caramel sauce, and a dusting of apple pie spice. Use a scattering of chopped nuts or crunchy caramel bits to add texture.
Pro tip: Making your own caramel sauce is easier than you think. Put 1 cup brown sugar, ½ cup butter, and ¼ milk in a medium saucepan and heat until boiling. Cook for another minute or two until the mixture has thickened. Remove from the heat, and stir in 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract, if desired.
Final Thoughts
The Apple Pie Latte is the perfect drink for the fall season. It’s warm, creamy, and comforting. And with this great recipe, it’s only minutes away. Try this drink once, and I promise you’ll be glad to have all that leftover apple pie spice syrup in the fridge!
FAQs
No, Starbucks offers no apple pie latte on the Starbucks Latte Menu. However, the chain has an Apple Crisp Oat Macchiato with a similar flavor profile (2). Likewise, while Starbucks makes no apple pie chai latte, you can enjoy an equivalent by ordering a Chai Tea Latte and adding one pump each of apple and caramel syrups.
Make an iced apple spice latte using the same ingredients above. Combine the espresso and syrup, and pour it over ice in a glass. Top it off with 6 ounces of cold-frothed milk. Add whipped cream and caramel sauce as desired.
This apple pie spice latte’s nutrition content, if made without substitutions and using 1 tablespoon of apple pie spice syrup, is 135 calories with 5.5 grams of fat, 15.3 grams of sugar, and 5.6 grams of protein.
References
- Dombrowski, J. (n.d.). 8 Types of Italian Coffee, Explained. Retrieved from https://luxeadventuretraveler.com/types-of-italian-coffees/
- Starbucks. (2023). Apple Crisp Oat Macchiato. Retrieved from https://www.starbucks.ca/menu/product/2123563/hot
