What are your favorite seasonal Starbucks drinks? If you said the Starbucks Caramel Apple Spice (a yummy, hot apple cider drink with cinnamon and caramel!), you aren't alone!
If you want to learn how to make a Starbucks caramel apple spice inspired hot apple cider drink, this recipe is for you!
Starbucks calls their version of this recipe a "Caramel Apple Spice".
I call it delicious!
Just here for the recipe? Don't want to read my helpful tips and tricks? Don't care about the photos of me making a caramel apple spice at home?
A printable recipe card is at the bottom of this post - just scroll all the way down to get to it!
There is just something comforting about the warm cinnamon and sweet caramel sauce mixed together to make yummy, warm drink that is perfect for fall or winter!
This homemade version of Starbucks apple cider is super easy to make.
Hosting a large gathering? You can even make this apple cider in your crockpot! (scroll down to the recipe card for help with the ratio!)
Just warm the apple cider (and keep it warm all day) and cinnamon syrup in the crockpot and add the caramel sauce and whipped cream immediately before serving.
In my humble opinion, this really is the very best apple cider recipe and I think you'll agree!
Of course, because we are huge fans of avoiding GMOs and eating organic as much as possible, I also have a clickable shopping list that will let you buy organic ingredients if desired so you can take your hot apple cider recipe to the next level!
Looking for more Starbucks inspired drink recipes?
I have a killer peppermint hot chocolate recipe and lots more delicious, Starbucks inspired drink recipes for your family. Check them out here >> Starbucks Copycat Drink Recipes
Copycat Starbucks Caramel Apple Cider Recipe
how to make hot apple cider at home
Ingredients
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- 12 oz organic apple cider* (or apple juice)
- 3 Tbsp organic cinnamon syrup*
- Whipped cream*, for garnish (make your own with organic cream and a DIY whipped cream dispenser like this one)
- Organic Caramel sauce*, for garnish
- Ground cinnamon for garnish if desired
*Creative Green Living recommends purchasing these ingredients as organic where available to avoid GMOs, pervasive pesticides and/or questionable farming practices.
Nutrition information is approximate and may vary based on the freshness and brand of your ingredients. Nutrition information calculated at: Calorie Count.
Directions
Caramel Apple Spice Starbucks knock off STEP 1:
Warm the apple cider in a medium saucepan and heat on medium heat for 5 minutes or until a low boil begins. Remove from heat.
Caramel Apple Spice Starbucks knock off STEP 2:
Add 3 Tbsp of the cinnamon syrup to your mason jar or heatproof mug. Mason jars with handles work great since the cider will be piping hot!
Caramel Apple Spice Starbucks knock off STEP 3:
Pour the hot apple cider on top of the cinnamon syrup.
Caramel Apple Spice Starbucks knock off STEP 4:
Add a generous drizzle of caramel sauce before topping with whipped cream and more caramel topping. Add a dash of cinnamon on top of the whipped cream for an additional garnish if desired.
Enjoy!
Caramel Apple Cider Recipe in a Crockpot or Slow Cooker
The recipe above is written for a single grande (16 ounce) serving of caramel apple cider.
How to make caramel apple cider or cinnamon apple cider for a party
You can prepare the same recipe for serving at a party by combining the apple cider or apple juice with cinnamon syrup using the following ratios:
If your apple juice or apple cider comes in a 32 ounce bottle:
- Combine 1 (32 ounce) bottle apple juice or apple cider with 1/2 cup cinnamon syrup in a crock pot or slow cooker.
If your apple juice or apple cider comes in a 64 ounce bottle:
- Combine 1 (64 ounce) bottle apple juice or apple cider with 1 cup cinnamon syrup in a crock pot or slow cooker.
If your apple juice or apple cider comes in a 96 ounce bottle:
- Combine 1 (96 ounce) bottle apple juice or apple cider with 1 1/2 (1.5) cups cinnamon syrup in a crock pot or slow cooker.
If your apple juice or apple cider comes in a 128 ounce bottle:
- Combine 1 (128 ounce) bottle apple juice or apple cider with 2 cups cinnamon syrup in a crock pot or slow cooker.
How to serve caramel apple cider buffet-style at a party
Once you have the apple cider and cinnamon syrup combined in a slow cooker and set to simmer on low, set up your beverage station with:
- Crockpot or slow cooker full of cinnamon apple cider
- Ladle (I like to use a ladle rest like this one to help keep the table clean
- Mason jars or mugs
- Whipped cream dispenser (be eco-savvy with a reusable whipped cream maker)
- Organic caramel sauce
- Organic cinnamon in a shaker bottle
This will allow guests to build their own custom mug of either cinnamon apple cider or caramel apple cider.
Green lifestyle tip: Hardcore greenies will notice there are green plastic straws in the apple cider recipe photos. The straw is for photo styling only! I strongly advise against drinking your hot apple cider with a plastic straw!
If you love this Copycat Starbucks Caramel Apple Spice recipe, be sure to pin it to save it for later!
Printable Caramel Apple Spice Starbucks Knock Off Recipe
Starbucks Caramel Apple Spice Copycat
Yield: 1
prep time: 1 Mcook time: 7 Mtotal time: 8 M
If you love a good Starbucks Caramel Apple Spice, you'll love this recipe. Impress your friends at all your fall and winter parties with this yummy caramel apple cider recipe. This recipe is enough to make one large pint size serving (equal to a Stabucks grande) or two small servings.
ingredients:
- 12 oz organic apple cider (or apple juice)
- 3 Tbsp organic cinnamon syrup
- Whipped cream, for garnish
- Organic Caramel sauce, for garnish
- Ground cinnamon for garnish if desired
instructions:
How to cook Starbucks Caramel Apple Spice Copycat
- Warm apple cider in medium saucepan on medium heat for 5 minutes or until a low boil begins. Remove from heat.
- Add 3 Tbsp cinnamon syrup to mason jar or heatproof mug.
- Pour hot apple cider over cinnamon syrup.
- Top with caramel sauce, whipped cream, additional caramel sauce and a dash of cinnamon if desired.
NOTES:
You can prepare the same recipe for serving at a party by combining the apple cider or apple juice with cinnamon syrup using the following ratios:
1 (32 ounce) bottle apple juice or apple cider with 1/2 cup cinnamon syrup.
1 (64 ounce) bottle apple juice or apple cider with 1 cup cinnamon syrup
1 (96 ounce) bottle apple juice or apple cider with 1 1/2 (1.5) cups cinnamon syrup.
1 (128 ounce) bottle apple juice or apple cider with 2 cups cinnamon syrup.
Calories
431
431
Fat (grams)
3.7
3.7
Sat. Fat (grams)
2.2
2.2
Carbs (grams)
103.3
103.3
Fiber (grams)
.7
.7
Net carbs
102.6
102.6
Sugar (grams)
86.3
86.3
Protein (grams)
1
1
Sodium (milligrams)
101
101
Cholesterol (grams)
12
12
Nutrition info is per 16 ounce ("grande") size serving
Copyright 2018
Looking for more Starbucks Copycat Recipes?
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No need to drop your hard earned cash at Starbucks for this cold coffee treat. Get the recipe and see how easy it is to make at home!
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About the Author:
Carissa B is a cookbook author and busy mom of two creative boys. The owner and lead writer at Creative Green Living, she has won multiple awards for her work on Creative Green Living including the "Best Green Lifestyle Blogger" award in 2019 from ShiftCon.
She is the author of the hardcover cookbook, Beautiful Smoothie Bowls, as well as the backyard chicken keeping guide: Proven Techniques for Keeping Healthy Chickens. Her recipes have been featured in Urban Farm Magazine and in several cookbooks where she was a contributing author. Follow her on Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter or join the Creative Green Living Tribe on Facebook.
She is the author of the hardcover cookbook, Beautiful Smoothie Bowls, as well as the backyard chicken keeping guide: Proven Techniques for Keeping Healthy Chickens. Her recipes have been featured in Urban Farm Magazine and in several cookbooks where she was a contributing author. Follow her on Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter or join the Creative Green Living Tribe on Facebook.
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I had no idea you could get cider in Starbucks, I'm a huge cider fan so this is something I have to try! Thanks for linking to my Cheat's Iced Salted Caramel Mocha drink:-)
ReplyDeleteOh man, now I need to make this! Is it nap time yet? I don't want to share with my kids... ;)
ReplyDelete