To understand my love of fall drinks, I'll tell you a story from October 5th, 1996. Just kidding. Nothing hurts the thumbs like scrolling all the way to the bottom of a page to find a single recipe. This one has five. I tried three Starbucks fall drink staples: the pumpkin spice latte, the apple crisp oat milk macchiato, and the caramel apple spice. Then I set to work making them at home.
This is the ultimate and best Starbucks fall drink dupes and copycat recipes guide. No, seriously. I tested out several and have the best and only five you'll ever need. Two pumpkin spice latte recipes, a hot and iced apple oatmilk macchiato, plus the warm and gooey caramel apple spice. And I've included all the recipes for all the syrups. Because sometimes the store shelves just don't have what you need. Let's get brewing.
Copycat Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte
Happy 20th birthday to the pumpkin spice latte! This dupe recipe is a strong nine out of ten. I only wish it was a touch more decadent, so I adjusted this to use more of the pumpkin mix. But unlike Starbucks, I haven't had 20 years (twenty!) to perfect this recipe. If you like a more subtle pumpkin spice latte, the original recipe from Cooktoria is perfect.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces espresso or strongly brewed coffee
- 5 ounces pumpkin pie puree mix (recipe below)
- 10 ounces whole milk, warmed and frothed
- Whipped cream with ground cinnamon for garnish
Instructions
- In a mug or heat-safe glass, add espresso and pumpkin pie puree mix.
- Stir well to mix.
- Fill nearly to the top with warmed milk.
- Spoon frothy milk bubbles onto the top of the drink.
- Garnish with whipped cream, sprinkling a pinch or two of ground cinnamon on top.
Did you know that you can froth milk with a French press? Instead of slowly pressing down, plunge it quickly back and forth until the milk begins to froth. Cover the spout to make sure no warm milk escapes! Who knew a French press could be so useful?
Pumpkin Pie Puree Mix
I was incredibly skeptical about this mix recipe from Cooktoria (scroll down the page and you'll find the recipe for pumpkin sauce). Where's the liquid? How is this going to work? I doubted the process, and I mixed in a bit of water to thin it out. Spoiler alert: don't. If you're worried about the smoothness, toss everything in the blender once this is warm. Otherwise, follow instructions. You can store it in the fridge, tightly sealed, for about five days. Use cold.
Slow Cooker Pumpkin Spice Latte Dupe
I have to admit something. I don't know that I've had a pumpkin spice latte in the past 10 years. And that's not because I'm anti-pumpkin. I just have a hard time opting for something that isn't hazelnut or caramel. I'm a Taurus that loves routine.
But everyone say thank you to A Year of Slow Cooking for this absolutely genius version. The simplest, by far, of all the dupe recipes, and somehow, the closest to the real thing. That being said, 10/10, no notes. I will absolutely be making this recipe again. And I'll be making it exactly as is.
Hot Apple Crisp Oatmilk Macchiato Dupe
My first sip of the actual apple crisp oatmilk macchiato didn't knock my socks off. But I think that's because it was so hyped up by the internet, but I also didn't even know what to expect. Once I knew, then I started to appreciate its nuances a little bit more. Hat tip to Copy Kat for this at-home recipe that's even better. I made my own adjustments, such as making the syrup a bit thicker and using a little more of it, too.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar syrup
- ½ tablespoon apple crisp syrup (recipe below)
- 2 ounces espresso
- 10 ounces oatmilk, warmed and frothed
- Apple crisp syrup and grated nutmeg for garnish
Instructions
- In a mug, add brown sugar syrup and apple crisp syrup.
- Top off with warm oatmilk.
- Spoon froth over top.
- Add espresso. Do not mix.
- Drizzle apple crisp syrup over top as desired.
Apple Crisp Syrup
I wish I'd made this a bit thicker and more syrupy when it came time to drizzle over the top. But as for mixing, it was a total dream. If you're not so worried about the look, thinner is better. If you want this thicker, only use one cup of apple juice.
Ingredients
- ¾ cup chopped apples
- 1½ cups apple juice
- 1½ cups dark brown sugar, not packed
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- 1 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1½ teaspoons lemon juice
- Two dashes of salt
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, add apple cubes, apple juice, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon juice, and salt.
- Bring mix to a boil.
- Reduce heat and simmer for approximately 20 minutes.
- Remove from heat and allow to cool fully before pouring into a resealable container.
- Refrigerate until use. Will keep in the refrigerator for about a week.
Iced Apple Crisp Oatmilk Macchiato Starbucks Copycat
So, I cheated a little with the Starbucks iced version by letting the hot macchiato cool off. Then, I poured it over ice. Cold is where this drink shines, and We Are Not Martha's version of the iced apple crisp oatmilk macchiato is spot on. Possibly better than the Starbucks original.
I only had two king cubes of ice on hand, and that was perfect for chilling the dupe recipe. Although I did consider crushing the ice for the aesthetics. When it comes time to make the apple brown sugar syrup, I added more cubed apple, opting for 2½ cups instead of the 2 cups the recipe calls for.
Caramel Apple Spice Starbucks Dupe
The only — and I mean only — way to describe the caramel apple spice drink is that it is apple crisp in a glass. And I'm something of an apple crisp professional with my own secret recipe. For those, like me, who can't have caffeine after 11am but want something rich, warm, and swoonworthy, add this to your warm bevvie nightcap rotation. Most recipes call for apple juice OR apple cider, but I opted for both, and it was a good decision.
Ingredients
- 1½ cups apple juice
- ½ cup apple cider
- 2 tablespoons cinnamon dolce syrup (recipe below)
- 1 tablespoon caramel syrup
- Whipped cream and caramel syrup for garnish
Instructions
- In a small saucepan over medium heat, add apple juice, apple cider, cinnamon dolce syrup, and caramel syrup.
- Slightly simmer, but do not boil.
- Stir occasionally and allow to warm up for approximately five to ten minutes.
- Carefully pour into a mug.
- Garnish with whipped cream and drizzle with caramel syrup.
I'm not typically a whipped cream on my drink kind of person. No reason other than I always manage to get some on or in my nose. But the whipped cream here is an absolute must for flavor. If you, like me, are challenged with whipped cream, spray a healthy dollop on, or use Cool Whip, and stir it in with the extra caramel syrup before enjoying.
Cinnamon Dolce Syrup
You want this to be oh-so nice and syrupy. Snacks and Sips calls for more water than sugar, but I wanted that sweet, sweet goodness, so I used equal parts water and brown sugar.
Ingredients
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup water
- 2 tablespoons white sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 2½ teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
- In a medium pan over medium heat, add brown sugar, white sugar, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and water.
- Bring to a low simmer and stir constantly until the mixture is totally combined.
- Remove from the heat.
- Once completely cooled, store in a resealable container.
- Refrigerate until use. This syrup will keep for up to one month in the fridge.
Starbucks Fall Drink Dupe Recipes for All Year
Fall is the superior season when it comes to flavor anything. No other season has such an incredible coordination or consistency. Spring? Always floral, but never predictable. Winter? Could be crisp, could be fruity. Fall? Fall always hits the spot. Kind of like homemade Starbucks fall copycat recipes. The only way to know for sure is to try for yourself.
