Starbucks Caramel Apple Spice Recipe

Y’all know I am all about making the best Starbucks copycat recipe that I can! I have shared several in the past such as my copycat peppermint mocha recipe or more recently, the copycat iced pumpkin spice latte recipe! So today I am going to share with you all my copycat Starbucks caramel apple spice recipe.

Have you guys ever tried the caramel apple spice Starbucks drink before?! If so, you know it really is like fall in a cup! And the best part is, literally anyone can love it because it doesn’t even have coffee in it. So if you’re not a huge coffee drinker, you definitely need to try this recipe out.

You can either swing by your local Starbucks to try it out, or make this delicious drink yourself at home! I am always opting to make drinks at home and not have to go out and spend money! You will definitely fall in love with this yummy caramel apple spice drink.

Not only is it festive and delicious, but the caramel drizzle on top is to die for! Perfect to sip on during a cold day in the fall! Be sure to get the full recipe card at the bottom of this post to make this favorite fall drink of mine too!

This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission off anything you purchase through here, at no additional cost to you. Please read my full disclosure policy for more details.

Ingredients Needed For Caramel Apple Spice

2 cups apple cider or apple juice (I used a sweet cider with cinnamon for this)

2 tablespoons of cinnamon dolce syrup (recipe is shared below for that!)

2 tablespoons caramel syrup or sauce

​Whipped Cream, totally optional but highly recommended! 

​For The Cinnamon Dolce Syrup:

1/2 cup of water

1/4 cup brown sugar

2 tablespoons granulated sugar

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 

2 teaspoons vanilla extract (I used my homemade vanilla extract for this as well!)

What’s In The Apple Spice From Starbucks?

As I mentioned above, the caramel apple spice is a non-coffee drink from Starbucks. Starbucks itself actually uses apple juice for their recipe. But, I like apple cider even better in place of the juice. They also add a cinnamon-sugar syrup (which is the copycat Starbucks cinnamon dolce syrup we are making here), and a caramel sauce. 

Starbucks also tops of their caramel apple spice with some whipped cream and even more caramel sauce on top! Which is totally not necessary, but absolutely delicious and makes this hot caramel apple cider even more tasty! 

Is The Caramel Apple Spice Available Year Round?

​You may think this yummy hot apple cider drink is one of Starbucks seasonal drinks. And not only is it available during the fall season, but year round as well. And if you learn how to make it at home too, you can have it year round and whenever you want to as well! 

Making The Cinnamon Dolce Syrup

The first part in making this delicious hot drink is to just make the cinnamon dolce syrup first. Just combine the water and the sugars and bring to a soft boil. You want the sugar to melt completely, and be sure to continue stirring during this process. 

Then, add in your cinnamon and vanilla extract. Continue cooking for about 3-5 more minutes, or until it reaches more of a syrupy consistency. Pour syrup into an airtight container and let cool. Once cool, place in the fridge until ready to use. This syrup contains super simple ingredients and is so easy to make. You can easily make this syrup for other tasty coffee drinks too! 

Make The Starbucks Caramel Apple Spice

Now, all you need to do is actually make the caramel apple spice drink itself! In a saucepan over medium heat, pour your cold apple juice or apple cider in. Then, add in the cinnamon dolce syrup and caramel sauce. Cook for about 1-2 minutes, or until everything is warmed up and combined thoroughly.

Pour into two cups and add some whipped cream with a drizzle of caramel sauce on top! I also sprinkled some cinnamon on top as well, but you could even add in some whole cinnamon sticks too. That would make it even more festive!

What Caramel Sauce Should I Use?

You could definitely make your own homemade caramel sauce, but I recommend using Torani’s Caramel Sauce if you’re looking for a store bought version too. It is in a convenient squeeze bottle which makes applying the caramel on top super easy.

Plus, it cuts back on the cooking time for the caramel apple spice recipe too. You don’t have to dirty up another pan to make another sauce!

Enjoy Your Caramel Apple Spice!

Well now you have created your very own Starbucks caramel apple spice! I hope you enjoyed it just as much as I did and I am sure it will quickly become a fall favorite! One of my favorite things to do on a chilly fall day is enjoy a warm drink like this while reading a good book! 

And the best part is, you don’t have to go to a coffee shop or own an espresso machine to do so! If you try this copycat Starbucks caramel apple cider drink out, let me know your thoughts below!