Name: Apple Cider Brown Sugar Latte
Prep time: 7 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 37 min
Yield: 1
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 ½ cups light or dark brown sugar, lightly packed; 1 ¼ cups water; ½ cup boiled apple cider; 1 tsp vanilla extract; 1 cinnamon stick; 2 - 3 oz of the apple cider brown sugar syrup (approximately 4 - 6 tbsp). Use 3 oz for a sweeter latte, if desired.; 2 shots of brewed hot espresso (approximately 2 oz); 8 oz milk (any variety - cow, coconut, soy, oat, almond, etc.)

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When the Starbucks fall drinks come out every year, I’m constantly thinking how I can make my own Starbucks copycat drinks at home. The Apple Cider Brown Sugar Latte is my latest creation! Made with cinnamon brown sugar syrup and a super special apple ingredient, you’ll LOVE being able to make this fall latte without having to get out of your pjs!

Apple Cider Brown Sugar Latte is served in a glass much. The foamy milk on top is dusted with ground cinnamon.

What’s So Great About a Brown Sugar Latte?

Want to know why this is THE BEST brown sugar latte out there? Here are just a few of the reasons I love it so much:

Full of apple cider flavor infused with cinnamon brown sugar syrup for the base for this special fall latte.
Easy to find ingredients that you may already have in your fridge and pantry.
Save your money at the coffee shop and make this latte at home for around $3.00 a cup.
After having made hundreds of lattes at home over the past 10 years, I’m giving you my best tips on how to make this fantastic coffee shop or Starbucks brown sugar latte at home.
Perfect fall Starbucks drink copycat that you can make at home, anytime!

Two mugs of Apple Cider Brown Sugar Lattes are set on a table. There is a bottle of apple cider brown sugar syrup and a basket of apples in the background.

We’ve seen the Starbucks brown sugar oat milk latte on the menu for a few years now but since I make my own cinnamon brown sugar syrup at home, I’ve never spent the ridiculous $6.00 (or more!) on the Starbucks latte.

I mean, why spend so much on a drink when you can just pull the ingredients from the pantry and fridge for a homemade latte?

A couple of years ago, Starbucks introduced the Apple Crisp Cold Brew Latte that included a cinnamon brown sugar syrup, and after being super excited about the prospect of an apple latte, I was incredibly disappointed in it. It was so bad that I dumped it down the drain when I got home!

This year (2025), it’s no longer on the menu, thankfully.

I say “thankfully,” because in this post, I’m giving you all my fantastic recipe and the best tips for making the best Apple Cider Brown Sugar Latte. It’s SO MUCH BETTER than the Starbucks version!

No, go forth and conquer making latte recipes at home!

Ingredients for the Apple Cider Brown Sugar Latte Recipe are set out on a white counter. There is a basket of apples in the background on the left.

Brown Sugar Latte Ingredients

Here’s the basic Ingredients list for this Apple Cider Brown Sugar Latte recipe. I’m willing to bet you already have most, if not all, of these ingredients in your kitchen already!

Be sure to keep scrolling down to the recipe card below for the full printable Ingredients list for this great recipe!

Light or dark brown sugar – Here’s how to make brown sugar!
Water
Boiled apple cider – See the Pro Tip below for more info!
Vanilla extract
Cinnamon stick
Brewed hot espresso
Milk – Any variety will work!

PRO TIP!

Boiled apple cider is generally available in many grocery stores, specialty food stores, and online (King Arthur Flour makes a fantastic boiled cider!). OR! You can make your own by simply boiling a ½ gallon of cider down until a thick syrup forms.

Two Apple Cider Brown Sugar Lattes are being served in glass mugs. The foamed milk on top is dusted with ground cinnamon.

How to Make an Apple Cider Brown Sugar Latte

Here are the incredibly simple instructions for how to make this outstanding fall-inspired latte. Be sure to keep scrolling down to the recipe card below for the full set of Instructions!

STEP 1: To make the apple cider brown sugar syrup, boil the sugar and water in a small saucepan. With the pan off the heat, stir in the boiled cider, vanilla extract, and cinnamon stick. Cool the syrup, remove the cinnamon stick, and pour it into a glass bottle or jar.

STEP 2: To froth the milk, use an electric milk frother or heat the milk in a small saucepan on the stove and whisk until it’s frothy.

Apple cider brown sugar syrup is being poured into a glass mug to make Apple Cider Brown Sugar Lattes.

STEP 3: To make the latte pour the syrup into a large coffee mug or heatproof coffee glass. Pour in the hot espresso and stir to combine. Pour the hot frothy milk into the mug and dollop with some of the milk foam. Sprinkle the top with a little ground cinnamon.

Steamed and frothed milk is being poured from a milk frother into the Apple Cider Brown Sugar Latte.

FAQs

What is boiled cider? It’s just what it sounds like – apple cider that has been boiled down. After boiling out most of the water from the cider, you’re left with a thick and concentrated apple cider syrup.
What else can boiled cider be used for? Boiled apple cider can be used in lots of fall apple recipes! I’ve made soft and chewy apple cider caramels and apple cider caramel crumb bars.
Can I make a brown sugar iced latte instead? Oh definitely! Instead of steaming and frothing the milk, you’ll simply add ice to the glass and pour cold milk over the espresso.
What kind of milk for a latte? Any kind of milk works in a latte. For a non-dairy latte, oat milk is a fantastic option and it’s what you’ll find offered in most coffee shops.

Two Apple Cider Brown Sugar Lattes are being served in glass mugs. The foamed milk on top is dusted with ground cinnamon. There is a basket of apples and bottle of coffee syrup in the background.

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