The delicious Caramel Apple Spice has a combination of apple juice and caramel sauce that is paired with a homemade cinnamon syrup to create a delicious warm drink that’s packed with fall flavor.
When it comes to the Fall season, pumpkin spice gets so much attention. But once you try this Starbucks copycat Caramel Apple Spice drink, it’s going to be your new fall obsession!
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This seasonal Starbucks drink is typically made by combining warm apple juice with cinnamon syrup and caramel sauce. And since it’s difficult to find cinnamon syrup we have an easy recipe for you to make your own.
This easy Starbucks Caramel Apple Spice copycat recipe features instructions and ingredients to make your own warm cinnamon syrup to add to your homemade apple drink.
Ingredients
See printable recipe card below for all ingredients, specific measurements, and complete instructions.
To make your own cinnamon syrup, you’ll need:
- Water
- Sugar
- Cinnamon sticks
Once you have your syrup prepared, you can create your copycat Starbucks caramel apple spice.
In addition to your homemade simple syrup, you’ll also need these ingredients to make this fall drink:
- Apple juice
- Caramel sauce
- Whipped cream
How To Make Caramel Apple Spice
You won’t believe how easy it is to make your own apple spice drink at home! But before you can whip up this delicious fall drink, you’ll need to make your simple syrup to add that warm cinnamon spice to your hot apple juice. Luckily, it’s easy to make simple syrup at home.
To make this cinnamon flavored syrup, simply combine the water, sugar, and cinnamon sticks in a small saucepan.
Heat the ingredients over medium heat until the water begins to simmer, then reduce the heat to low and allow it to continue simmering for around five minutes. Make sure to stir your syrup often to keep the sugar form burning on the bottom and sides of the pan.
Once the syrup has simmered and begun to thicken, remove the pan from the heat and allow it to rest for a few minutes to cool. After that, you can transfer your syrup to a storage container, like a mason jar. Allow the syrup to cool to room temperature, then store it in the refrigerator until you’re ready to use it.
When you’re ready to prepare your caramel apple spice, combine your apple juice with two tablespoons of the homemade cinnamon syrup in a saucepan. Heat the juice over medium heat until it begins to simmer, allowing it to cook for around five minutes until it’s heated through.
Drizzle some caramel sauce over the sides of two glasses.
Pour the warm apple juice into each cup. Stir to mix the caramel into the apple juice, then top your drinks with a dollop of whipped cream and a drizzle of caramel sauce.
Recipe Variations and Substitutions
Making your own specialty drinks at home is a great way to save money. And it’s also a fun way to experiment with popular recipes! That means you can have some fun trying different ingredients to create your favorite version of this popular drink.
Try these variations and substitution ideas to create a delicious drink that satisfies your taste buds.
- Use store-bought syrup. Making your own cinnamon syrup is quick and easy. But if you don’t want to mess with simmering cinnamon sticks on the stovetop, you can purchase premade cinnamon syrup. Torani syrup offers cinnamon and brown cinnamon syrup flavors that would work in this recipe.
- Make your own whipped cream. Have some fun preparing your own whipped cream to top your drink by beating heavy whipping cream on high until soft peaks begin to form. To sweeten the whipped cream, add one tablespoon per cup of cream you use.
- Prepare your own caramel sauce. Want to create a fully homemade version of this Starbucks drink? Make your own caramel sauce from scratch before mixing up your warm apple juice.
- Try it with apple cider. Although Starbucks uses plain apple juice to prepare their version of this recipe, there’s no reason you can’t take the flavor of your fall drink to the next level with apple cider. Use the same amount of apple cider as apple juice to prepare this drink recipe.
- Make it in the slow cooker. Are you planning to make a big batch of apple spice drink? Heat the apple juice and syrup in your slow cooker to make things easy on yourself. Combine one cup of apple juice with one tablespoon cinnamon syrup per serving in the bowl of your Crockpot. Stir to mix and place the lid on top. Cook your juice for 2 hours on low or one hour on high before serving.
Here are a few more drink recipes you might like to try!
Favorite Kitchen Items
Here are a few great kitchen items that every kitchen needs. (Affiliate links).
- These double wall glass coffee mugs are perfect for serving your favorite coffee, tea or holiday drink.
- This stainless steel Cuisinart 1.5 Quart Saucepan is a great addition to your cookware collection.
- I have this Silicone Spatula Set in the teal color. There are 5 more colors to choose from.
I hope you enjoy this Caramel Apple Spice recipe! If you try it, please come back and rate it and leave me a comment below. I love to hear from you!
Caramel Apple Spice Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups apple juice
- 2 Tablespoons cinnamon syrup
- caramel sauce
- whipped cream
Cinnamon Syrup Ingredients
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup sugar
- 4 cinnamon sticks
Instructions
Make The Cinnamon Syrup
- First step is to make the cinnamon syrup. In a small saucepan combine the water, sugar, and cinnamon sticks and stir until the sugar is dissolved.
- Heat the syrup ingredients over medium heat and bring the liquid to a simmer. Stir often and continue simmering for five minutes.
- Remove the cinnamon sticks from the saucepan and transfer syrup to a jar until ready to use.
Make The Drink
- In a small saucepan combine the apple juice with two tablespoons cinnamon syrup.
- Cook over medium low heat until the juice begins to simmer.
- Drizzle the caramel syrup around the sides of two glasses and then pour juice into each glass. Top them with whipped cream and more caramel syrup before serving.