Apple Crisp Cold Brew is everything you love about the seasonal coffeehouse favorite without the expensive coffee shop price tag. Smooth cold brew, homemade apple brown sugar syrup, and creamy apple crisp cold foam come together in just minutes to create a refreshing fall drink that's every bit as delicious as the original. Once you make it at home, you'll wonder why you ever waited in line.
Apple Crisp Cold Brew (Starbucks) Recipe Essentials
- 🍽️ Course: Drinks, Coffee, Breakfast, Brunch
- ⏱️ Cooking Time: Prep: 5 minutes | Cook: 0 minutes | Total: 5 minutes 🍴 Servings: 1 drink
- 🍎 Flavor Profile: Smooth, bold, creamy, sweet apple, brown sugar, warm cinnamon, and lightly spiced
- ☕ Best Served With: Muffins, coffee cake, croissants, cinnamon rolls, breakfast sandwiches, or fresh fruit
- 🧊 Make Ahead?: Yes! Prepare the apple brown sugar syrup up to 2 weeks ahead and the apple crisp cold foam up to 24 hours ahead.
Summarize and Save This Content On
One of my favorite things about this copycat recipe is that it tastes incredibly close to the Starbucks version while using simple homemade ingredients. You can easily adjust the sweetness, coffee strength, and amount of cold foam to make every glass exactly the way you like it. Now we prefer our version better.
If you love Starbucks copycat recipes, be sure to try my Apple Brown Sugar Syrup, Apple Crisp Cold Foam, Pumpkin Spice Latte, and Pumpkin Chai Latte. They're all easy homemade coffeehouse favorites that let you enjoy seasonal drinks anytime.
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Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Just like Starbucks: Creamy apple crisp cold foam, smooth cold brew, and sweet apple brown sugar flavor in every refreshing sip.
- Ready in 5 minutes: A quick and easy homemade coffeehouse drink made with only a handful of ingredients.
- Better than buying it: Save money, customize the sweetness, and enjoy your favorite fall Starbucks drink whenever the craving strikes. Try our homemade pumpkin spice creamer too!
Ingredients
You only need four simple ingredients to recreate this apple crisp cold brew at home.
- Coffee base: Cold brew coffee provides a smooth, bold flavor that's naturally less acidic than traditional iced coffee.
- Sweetener: Apple Brown Sugar Syrup adds the signature sweet apple, caramelized brown sugar, and lightly spiced flavor.
- Ice: Chills the drink while keeping it crisp and refreshing.
- Creamy topping: Apple Crisp Cold Foam creates the rich, velvety finish that makes this Starbucks copycat taste authentic.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.
Variations
- Coffee choices: Use homemade or store-bought cold brew, iced coffee, blonde espresso, regular espresso over ice, or decaf coffee.
- Milk options: Make the cold foam with heavy cream, half-and-half, oat milk, almond milk, coconut milk, or your favorite coffee creamer.
- Extra fall flavors: Add vanilla extract, maple syrup, caramel syrup, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, apple pie spice, or nutmeg.
- Fun toppings: Finish with ground cinnamon, apple pie spice, caramel drizzle, crushed graham crackers, cookie crumbs, or freeze-dried apple pieces.
- Customize the sweetness: Add extra apple brown sugar syrup for a sweeter drink or reduce it for a stronger coffee flavor.
Apple Crisp Cold Brew (Starbucks)
In only a few minutes, you'll have a creamy, refreshing fall coffee that's every bit as delicious, if not more, without leaving home.
Step 1: Fill the Glass. Fill a tall glass about halfway with ice, then pour in the cold brew coffee.
Step 2: Add the Syrup. Pour the apple brown sugar syrup over the cold brew and stir until completely combined.
Step 3: Top with Cold Foam. Slowly spoon the Apple Crisp Cold Foam over the coffee so it floats on top.
Step 4: Garnish and Serve. Sprinkle with a pinch of ground cinnamon or apple pie spice, if desired. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Recipe Tips
- Refrigerator/Freezer: Store the apple brown sugar syrup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks and the Apple Crisp Cold Foam separately for up to 24 hours, re-frothing before serving if needed. Freezing is not recommended, as the cold foam will lose its thick, creamy texture once thawed.
- Keep everything cold: Use well-chilled cold brew, syrup, cold foam and serving glass so the drink stays refreshing and the foam floats beautifully.
- Build the perfect drink: Stir the syrup into the coffee before adding the cold foam, then spoon the foam on gently to create beautiful coffeehouse-style layers.
- Customize the flavor: Adjust the amount of apple brown sugar syrup and cold foam to make your drink sweeter, stronger, or creamier, then finish with a sprinkle of cinnamon or apple pie spice.
- Choose quality ingredients: Homemade or store-bought cold brew both work well, but a smooth cold brew and homemade apple brown sugar syrup create the closest Starbucks flavor.
- Serve fresh: This drink is best enjoyed immediately while the cold foam is thick and fluffy, but you can prepare the syrup and cold foam ahead of time for quick assembly.
If you love recipes like this, you may also enjoy our pumpkin cold foam and pumpkin syrup.
Serving Suggestions
- Breakfast favorites: Pair with muffins, coffee cake, croissants, cinnamon rolls, scones, breakfast sandwiches, or fresh fruit.
- Fall desserts: Enjoy with apple pie, apple crisp, pumpkin bread, cookies, donuts, or cheesecake for the ultimate autumn treat.
- Brunch menu: Serve alongside quiche, breakfast casseroles, yogurt parfaits, pancakes, waffles, or French toast.
- Coffeehouse toppings: Garnish with cinnamon, apple pie spice, caramel drizzle, whipped cream, or an extra spoonful of Apple Crisp Cold Foam.
- Perfect anytime: A delicious pick-me-up for busy mornings, afternoon coffee breaks, holiday brunches, or cozy fall weekends.
Apple Crisp Cold Brew (Starbucks) Recipe FAQs
Prepare the apple brown sugar syrup several days in advance and store it in the refrigerator. For the thickest, fluffiest cold foam, make it just before serving, although it can be prepared up to 24 hours ahead and re-frothed if needed. Store the syrup and cold foam separately, then assemble the drink over fresh ice in just a few minutes whenever you're ready to enjoy it.
Use very cold heavy cream and froth it until it's thick but still pourable. Chilled ingredients create the best texture.
Yes! Cold brew has a smoother, less acidic flavor, but chilled brewed coffee or iced coffee works well too.
Yes! Pour chilled espresso over ice, add the apple brown sugar syrup, and finish with the Apple Crisp Cold Foam for a stronger coffee flavor.
More Starbucks Copycat Recipes
If you're a fan of Starbucks copycat recipes, here are a few more homemade coffeehouse favorites to try. They're easy to make, budget-friendly, and let you enjoy your favorite seasonal drinks all year long.
If you try this recipe and love it please leave a star rating in the recipe card below or even better, drop a review in the comment section. I always appreciate your feedback. Be sure to follow along with me on Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube for more easy recipes!
Apple Crisp Cold Brew (Starbucks)
Ingredients
- 1 cup cold brew coffee homemade or store-bought cold brew iced coffee
- 2 tablespoons apple brown sugar syrup or store-bought Apple Crisp Coffee Syrup
- Ice
- ¼ cup apple crisp cold foam
Finishing touch sprinkle on foam
- 1 pinch ground cinnamon, apple pie spice or caramel drizzle
Instructions
- Fill a tall glass about halfway with ice, then pour in the cold brew coffee.
- Pour the apple brown sugar syrup over the cold brew and stir until completely combined.
- Top with Cold Foam. Slowly spoon the Apple Crisp Cold Foam over the coffee so it floats on top.
- Sprinkle with a pinch of ground cinnamon or apple pie spice, if desired. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
- Refrigerator/Freezer: Store the apple brown sugar syrup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks and the Apple Crisp Cold Foam separately for up to 24 hours, re-frothing before serving if needed. Freezing is not recommended, as the cold foam will lose its thick, creamy texture once thawed.
- Keep everything cold: Use well-chilled cold brew, syrup, cold foam and serving glass so the drink stays refreshing and the foam floats beautifully.
- Build the perfect drink: Stir the syrup into the coffee before adding the cold foam, then spoon the foam on gently to create beautiful coffeehouse-style layers.
- Customize the flavor: Adjust the amount of apple brown sugar syrup and cold foam to make your drink sweeter, stronger, or creamier, then finish with a sprinkle of cinnamon or apple pie spice.
- Choose quality ingredients: Homemade or store-bought cold brew both work well, but a smooth cold brew and homemade apple brown sugar syrup create the closest Starbucks flavor.
- Serve fresh: This drink is best enjoyed immediately while the cold foam is thick and fluffy, but you can prepare the syrup and cold foam ahead of time for quick assembly.
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