The first crisp autumn morning reminds me of walking into Starbucks and being greeted by the warm aroma of cinnamon, apples, and perfectly steamed oat milk. Their Apple Crisp Oatmilk Macchiato became my seasonal obsession, but recreating it at home revealed something magical: homemade syrups create an even more complex and satisfying flavor than the original. Combining fresh apple juice, warming spices, and creamy oat milk transforms your kitchen into a cozy café.
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Why the Apple Crisp Oatmilk Macchiato Is the Perfect Fall Macchiato
The secret lies in creating two distinct syrups that complement rather than compete with each other. The apple crisp syrup uses real fruit and warming spices that infuse during slow simmering, while the brown sugar syrup provides caramelized sweetness. Oat milk’s natural creaminess and slight sweetness perfectly bridge these flavors, creating a harmonious balance that dairy milk can’t replicate in this recipe.
Why This Is the One Recipe You Want To Try To Make Your Apple Crisp Plant-Based Macchiato
While other Starbucks copycat recipes for this plant-based specialty coffee call for using store-bought syrups, making Apple Crisp Syrup and Brown Sugar Simple Syrup yourself will take this drink to the next level of deliciousness. While it may take a little longer, it is worth the time!
Ingredients to Prepare a Vegan Apple Crisp Oatmilk Macchiato
Apple Crisp Syrup Ingredients
- Apple juice – Provides concentrated apple flavor base and natural sweetness for authentic fruit taste
- Brown sugar – Adds caramelized sweetness and deepens the apple flavor complexity
- Cinnamon sticks – Infuse warm spice notes without overwhelming powder texture
- Ground nutmeg – Contributes subtle warmth and traditional apple pie seasoning
- Fresh apple – Intensifies fruit flavor and adds natural pectin for body
- Fresh lemon juice – Brightens flavors and prevents oxidation of fresh apple pieces
- Salt – Enhances all flavors and balances sweetness naturally
Brown Sugar Simple Syrup Ingredients
- Dark brown sugar – Creates rich molasses flavor and signature caramelized taste
- Water – Dissolves sugar completely for smooth syrup consistency
Macchiato Assembly Ingredients
- Brown sugar syrup – Provides sweetened base layer and caramelized flavor foundation
- Apple crisp syrup – Delivers signature spiced apple taste and seasonal aromatics
- Oat milk – Creates creamy texture and slight natural sweetness without dairy
- Blonde espresso – Offers mild coffee flavor that won’t overpower delicate fruit notes
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
Starbucks’ blonde roast uses a lightly roasted blend of Latin American arabica beans, creating a mild, slightly sweet espresso experience. If you don’t want to use Starbucks blonde espresso, you can purchase lightly roasted beans and grind them using the espresso setting.
Alternatively, you can make lightly roasted coffee with your usual brewer and reduce the amount of water you use to give the coffee a bolder flavor.Â
If you don’t have an espresso machine, you can buy a separate automatic milk frother or heat the milk in the microwave and use a whisk. If you don’t already have a favorite brand, oat milk from Califia Farms is excellent for this recipe.
How To Make a Non-Dairy Apple Crisp Oat Milk Macchiato
To make the Apple Crisp Syrup:
- Chop the apple into half-inch pieces.
- Bring a small saucepan with the apple juice, chopped fresh apples, brown sugar, cinnamon sticks, ground nutmeg, lemon juice, and salt to a boil.
- Reduce the mixture to a slow simmer and heat for 20 minutes. Adjust the heat as needed to maintain a slow simmer, and stir the syrup occasionally.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat and allow the syrup to cool.
- Strain the cooled syrup into a glass container or jar with a lid. Place in the fridge, and when cold, put on the cover. The syrup will make up to 10 servings and last five days in the fridge.
To make the Brown Sugar Simple Syrup:
- Pour the water and brown sugar into a small saucepan.
- Bring the water to a simmer.
- Stir until the water dissolves.
- Cool the simple syrup and transfer it to a glass container with a lid. Put the syrup in the refrigerator until cold. Cover and keep for up to a week. This recipe makes 16 servings.
To assemble a vegan Apple Crisp Macchiato:
- Pour an ounce of Brown Sugar Syrup and half an ounce of Apple Crisp Syrup into a mug.
- Froth the oat milk and pour the hot oatmilk into the mug. Stir well.
- Spoon the froth on top of the milk.
- Slowly pour the espresso into the mug. Do not stir.
- Drizzle half an ounce of the spiced apple drizzle on top of the froth and serve.
What To Serve With It
Pair this plant-based coffee drink with a vegan apple tart or ginger snap cookie.
Recipe Variations
You can replace oat milk with your favorite non-dairy milk. If you want a plant-based option that will give you good-quality foam, try pea or cashew milk. Â
Storage & Reheating Instructions
- Refrigerator Storage: Store apple crisp syrup for up to 5 days and brown sugar syrup for up to 1 week in airtight glass containers.
- Serving Method: Bring syrups to room temperature before using, or warm slightly for easier pouring. Never reheat the assembled drink.
- Freezing: Apple crisp syrup can be frozen in ice cube trays for up to 3 months. Thaw individual cubes as needed.
Love Starbucks? Try These Copycat Recipes
- Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso
- Iced Apple Crisp Macchiato
- Oleato Caffe Latte with Oatmilk
- London Fog Drink
- Pumpkin Spice Latte
- Starbucks Iced Caramel Macchiato
- Starbucks Medicine Ball
- Starbucks Vanilla Syrup
Favorite Fall Apple Recipes
- Apple Cinnamon Muffins
- Apple Crisp with Oats
- Apple Pecan Salad
- Apple Pie Cheesecake
- Quick Apple Cobbler
- Fried Apple Pie
Check out my delicious and easy drink recipes and the best copycat Starbucks recipes on CopyKat!
Starbucks Apple Crisp Oatmilk Macchiato
Ingredients
Apple Crisp Syrup
- 1 cup apple juice
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg
- ¼ cup chopped apple
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Brown Sugar Simple Syrup
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- ½ cup water
Apple Crisp Macchiato
- 2 teaspoons brown sugar syrup
- 1 teaspoon apple crisp syrup plus more for topping
- 1 cup oat milk
- 2 ounces espresso (2 shots) or strong brewed coffee
Instructions
Apple Crisp Syrup
- In a small pot, combine apple juice, brown sugar, cinnamon sticks, nutmeg, lemon juice, chopped apple, and salt.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer on low for about 20 minutes.
- Remove from the heat and allow syrup to cool to room temperature.
- Strain and pour the syrup into a glass container. Refrigerate. This will make about 8 to 10 servings.
Brown Sugar Simple Syrup
- Heat the water in the microwave for about 30 seconds.
- Add brown sugar and stir.
- Pour the brown sugar syrup into a glass container.
- Store in the refrigerator. This will make about 16 servings.
Drink Assembly
- Place 2 tablespoons of brown sugar syrup into the bottom of a mug.
- Place 1 teaspoon of apple crisp syrup into the mug.
- Heat oat milk and froth it with a milk frother.
- Pour the frothed oat milk into the mug.
- Spoon froth on top.
- Pour two shots of espresso over the milk. Do not stir.
- Drizzle apple crisp syrup over the foam in a crosshatch pattern.
Hi! In the Ingredients part of the recipe the drink calls for 2 teaspoons of Apple syrup. In the Instructions part of the recipe the drink calls for 2 tablespoons of Apple syrup. Which is correct?
Please follow the instructions, under Drink Assembly, I believe steps 1 and 2 will answer your question.
So easy to make, I love the apple syrup.