Try my lower sugar blood sugar friendly apple crisp macchiato for the perfect warm coffee drink to start your day!
Did you try the new apple crisp macchiato from Starbucks this past fall? It was delicious but packed a ton of sugar, so I decided to create a more balanced and diabetes friendly version at home.
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What is a macchiato?
A macchiato resembles a latte, but has less milk and more espresso. It also typically gives a bolder flavor since there’s more espresso and less milk.
What does an apple crisp macchiato taste like?
A Starbucks apple crisp macchiato gives off a lot of cinnamon, apple, and warm cozy flavors. It was definitely delicious! But, a bit to sweet for my tastes and not something I’d want to drink very often.
Is the apple crisp macchiato good?
The Starbucks apple crisp macchiato was tasty as I described above, but I think this homemade version is even better! Without all that sugar, you can really taste the notes of apple and cinnamon. And if you’re a coffee addict like me, you can taste the espresso a lot better in my homemade version.
What is in the apple crisp macchiato at Starbucks?
A quick trip over to the Starbucks website and we can see what exactly they put in this new drink. Their ingredients include:
- Milk
- Espresso
- Apple flavored brown sugar syrup
- Apple/caramel type sauce
- Water
- Apple juice concentrate
- Apple puree (kind of like applesauce)
- Cinnamon
- Salt
- Lemon Juice
- Caramelized sugar
- Preservatives
So, as you can see using this as a guide, it was fun to try to recreate a more blood sugar friendly option at home!
Starbucks apple crisp macchiato calories and sugar
A Tall (12 fl oz.) apple crisp macchiato at Starbucks packs a whopping 35g sugar! And while yes, some of this comes form the milk, most of it is from the added syrups and sweeteners.
My apple crisp macchiato recipe
We use many of the same ingredients listed above to make my homemade version, and when you make it at home, you can enjoy this delicious coffee drink year round! And, I’ll tell you how to make it hot or iced! We use a very small amount of brown sugar and maple syrup to give it just enough sweetness and then load it up with cinnamon and a splash of apple juice!
Is Starbucks apple crisp macchiato seasonal?
Yes, this new drink from Starbucks was only available in the Fall. It appeared to be quite popular though, so I’d expect to see it back on their menu next August. In the meantime, make sure to try my healthier homemade apple crisp macchiato.
How to make an iced apple crisp macchiato
The recipe below describes how to make a hot macchiato. But, you can easily make an iced apple crisp macchiato as well!
First, brew your espresso over ice or chill your brewed espresso before making your beverage. Next, you’ll follow the instructions as listed below, but do not heat your almond milk before frothing it. Froth the milk using a stick frother as directed and add the other ingredients to your cold/chilled espresso once you’re ready! (The milk will not froth as well as if it had been warmed but you should be able to still get a decent amount of foam.)
More low sugar coffee drink recipes
Want more low sugar and low carb homemade coffee drinks? Try one of these recipes…
Homemade Apple Crisp Macchiato (Starbucks copycat)
Ingredients
- 2 oz brewed espresso
- 4 fl oz unsweetened almond milk
- 1 fl oz apple juice
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp brown sugar unpacked
- ½ tsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp maple syrup
Instructions
- Depending on the type of coffee machine or espresso maker you have, brew your espresso and have it ready to go.
- While your espresso is brewing, heat your almond milk in the microwave for about 60-90 seconds. You want it to be hot but not boiling.
- Next, add the remaining ingredients (apple juice, cinnamon, brown sugar, lemon juice, and maple syrup) to a mug. Use a stick frother to mix it up for 5-10 seconds.
- Then, use your stick frother again to froth your warmed almond milk.
- Pour the frothed almond milk into the apple juice mixture.
- Then, pour your espresso into the mug. Enjoy!
