Apple Crisp Macchiato

There’s a new fall drink in town, and it surprisingly has nothing to do with pumpkin. Check out the Apple Crisp Macchiato – the sweet and spiced drink that’ll remind you of picking apples in crisp fall weather, and all the apple desserts that follow.

Ingredients

For the Apple Crisp Syrup:

• 2 apples, sliced
• ½ cup brown sugar or coconut sugar
• ¼ cup apple juice
• ¾ cup water
• 1 cinnamon stick or ¼ tsp cinnamon
• ½ tsp vanilla

Apple Crisp Macchiato:

• 2 oz espresso or 4 oz strongly brewed coffee
• 6-8 oz milk of choice
• 1-3 Tbsp of prepared apple crisp syrup
• Whipped cream for topping (optional)
• Caramel sauce for drizzling (optional)
• Cinnamon for sprinkling (optional)

Directions

Prepare the Apple Crisp syrup:

1. Place washed, sliced apples in a medium saucepan and top with other ingredients.
2. Bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat and simmer on medium-low heat for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3. Strain syrup into a jar. Press down on apples with a spoon to release all juices.
4. Let syrup cool completely in the fridge before use. It will thicken as it cools.
5. Syrup will keep in the fridge for 1-2 weeks. If it hardens too much before.

Make your Apple Crisp Macchiato:

1. Brew espresso or coffee and pour into your Ember Mug² , set at 133°F.
2. Add 1-3 Tbsp of apple crisp syrup directly in coffee.
3. Heat and froth milk, creating more froth than usual to top your drink. Pour over espresso and spoon additional froth on top.
4. Top with whipped cream and caramel sauce, if desired.
5. Sprinkle a pinch of cinnamon on top of the foam or whipped cream.

Ember Tips

What type of apple works best in this recipe?

Granny Smith apples are the type traditionally used in baking, so they may lend a more authentic taste to your apple crisp macchiato. Their tartness helps the apple flavor shine through in baked goods, and it’ll do the same in this drink. If you’re really set on having the sweetest syrup possible, Honeycrisp apples are the way to go. An excellent middle-of-the-road choice is pink lady apples, which fall somewhere between the two in terms of both tartness and sweetness.

What’s the difference between a macchiato and a latte?

We’ll be the first to say that this recipe is far from a traditional macchiato, consisting of a straight espresso shot topped with a few dollops of milk foam. When coffee shops advertise flavored “macchiatos,” the resulting drink is actually much closer to a latte in terms of the milk: espresso ratio. Sometimes, the baristas may make the milk extra foamy to have a thicker froth layer on top. For more on the differences between your favorite menu items, check out our post on The 7 Most Popular Espresso Drinks.

Can I make a sugar-free apple crisp macchiato?

You’ll still get some natural sugar from the apples, but you can avoid all refined sugars. Substitute the brown sugar for Swerve brown sugar replacement and replace the apple juice with an additional ¼ cup of water.

How long will the simple syrup last?

Plain homemade simple syrups can last anywhere from one to six months, depending on the ratio of sugar to water. Adding additional ingredients, however, usually shortens the shelf life. We recommend keeping this syrup sealed in the fridge and using it within two weeks. Feel free to half the recipe if you don’t think you’ll use it up within that time frame.