Homemade Iced Apple Crisp Macchiato

Name: Homemade Iced Apple Crisp Macchiato
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1 green apple (diced); 1 cup apple cider; 1/2 cup water; 1/2 cup brown sugar; 2 cinnamon sticks; 2 tablespoons brown sugar apple syrup; 1 cup milk; 2 shots espresso; 1 cup ice cubes

This copycat Starbucks iced apple crisp macchiato is the perfect Fall coffee drink you can make at home.

The combination of espresso, milk and homemade brown sugar apple crisp syrup is sweet with a subtle spiced apple crisp aroma that screams Fall! If you enjoy drinking iced coffee drinks in the Fall, you will love this homemade iced apple crisp macchiato recipe.

iced apple crisp macchiato in glass topped with cinnamon stick.

What Is An Iced Apple Crisp Macchiato?

The iced apple crisp macchiato recipe combines espresso, milk, ice and a sweet brown sugar apple syrup.

Much like the Starbucks iced caramel macchiato, the result is a pretty layered espresso coffee drink.

Fruit and espresso seems like an unusual iced coffee drink flavor combination, right? But the crisp apple macchiato flavor comes from a lovely spiced and caramelized apple brown sugar syrup.

The syrup gives the drink the subtle aroma and flavor of fresh baked apple crisp without being overly fruity.

If you like flavored iced coffee drinks you may also like my iced pecan latte, this easy strawberry cold foam coffee, a dulce de leche latte, or an iced brown sugar latte.

What’s In The Starbucks Apple Crisp Macchiato?

The apple crisp macchiato Starbucks drink was released in Fall 2021 as a seasonal coffee drink alternative to the forever popular hot PSL coffee and pumpkin cream cold brew.

The objective was to create a Fall coffee drink that represented the classic flavors of the season and so the apple crisp macchiato was born.

The Starbucks apple crisp macchiato recipe includes ice, espresso, 2% milk, Starbucks apple brown sugar syrup and a Starbucks spiced apple drizzle.

There are 280 calories in a standard Grande iced apple macchiato drink.

apple crisp macchiato in tall glass with text homemade caramel apple iced coffee.

More Starbucks Copycat Iced Coffee Recipes

Hand pouring espresso in to glass of flavored milk to make a copycat starbucks iced apple crisp macchiato.

Homemade Iced Apple Crisp Macchiato Ingredients

To make the homemade apple crisp syrup from scratch you will need:

Green apple – I like the tartness of green granny smith apples, but feel free to use a sweeter red apple if you prefer.
Apple cider – be sure to use a good quality apple cider, not apple juice.
Brown sugar – the molasses in brown sugar is what gives the syrup a deep caramel flavor.
Cinnamon sticks – essential for that aromatic spiced apple aroma.

Then to construct the DIY apple crisp macchiato you will need:

Milk – I use whole milk for this recipe but you can use oat milk (like Starbucks do) if you prefer.
Espresso – this recipe calls for 2 shots of espresso.

If you don’t have any of these ingredients, check out the substitutions and variations below for ideas on what you can use.

Iced Apple Crisp Macchiato Recipe Substitutions And Variations

Cinnamon Sticks: If you don’t have cinnamon sticks on hand for the syrup, substitute with 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon.

Brown Sugar: You can use granulated sugar instead of brown sugar to make the syrup, but it won’t have the same taste as the molasses in brown sugar is what gives that delicious caramelized flavor.

Espresso: The recipe calls for espresso, but if you don’t have an espresso machine, brew a strong batch of coffee and use 1/2 cup of coffee with 3/4 cup milk. You can even use cold brew concentrate.

Milk: If you want to make the iced apple crisp macchiato vegan and dairy free, milk alternatives such as oat milk or almond milk work well in place of whole dairy milk.

Hand holding glass of iced apple crisp latte.

How To Make Apple Crisp Macchiato At Home

Be sure to read the recipe card below for the full ingredient list and detailed instructions.

1. Make The Brown Sugar Apple Crisp Syrup

The first step is to make your homemade brown sugar apple crisp syrup.

This will make more than you need for one drink, so you can store it in the fridge for up to two weeks and make your iced macchiato recipe in seconds the next time you make it!

Or you can use the leftover syrup to drizzle over waffles or pancakes!

ingredients in spiced apple brown sugar syrup.

Process step for how to make apple brown sugar syrup.

Dice the apple and place in a small saucepan with the other syrup ingredients.

Bring the mixture to the boil then reduce to medium-low and cook for around 10 minutes – or until the apples are tender.

Turn off the heat and leave to steep for around 15 minutes.

Process step to make apple crisp macchiato syrup for an iced apple crisp latte recipe.

Top view of apple crisp syrup - process step for iced apple crisp coffee.

Then grab a fine mesh sieve and drain the syrup from the apples into a bowl.

Be sure to use the back of a spoon to press as much flavor as possible from the apples into your syrup!

That’s it – store the syrup in the fridge in an airtight container until needed.

2. Prepare Your Apple Crisp Iced Macchiato Coffee Drink

When you are ready to make your iced latte macchiato, grab yourself a tall glass and pour the milk into the glass.

Leave an inch or two of space for ice. Add your syrup and stir to combine.

Add enough ice to fill the glass then gently pour the espresso shots over the milk for a gorgeous layered effect.

Leave as is or stir to combine then enjoy immediately!

Process steps showing how to make iced apple crisp macchiato.

How To Store Apple Crisp Syrup

Store leftover apple crisp syrup in a lidded jar or container in the fridge for up to 10 days.

In fact why not make a double batch of syrup and store it in the fridge – then you can make this drink in under 5 minutes!

Copycat Apple Crisp Macchiato Recipe FAQs

Is Starbucks Apple Crisp Macchiato Seasonal?

Yes, the apple crisp macchiato is a seasonal drink on the Starbucks Fall Menu. If you love this iced macchiato and want to enjoy it year round, try our DIY recipe.

Can I Make A Hot Apple Crisp Macchiato?

Yes, to make a hot apple crisp macchiato, simply ditch the ice and heat the milk using a milk frother or microwave.

How Does The Apple Crisp Macchiato Taste?

The apple crisp macchiato has a subtle fresh baked apple crisp aroma and a sweet caramelized apple flavor.

Is The Apple Crisp Macchiato Gluten Free?

Our iced apple crisp macchiato recipe is gluten free – however be sure to check the apple cider ingredients when you purchase as some brands are not gluten free.