Apple Spice Latte (Dairy Free)

When you want a little kiss of fall in that morning or afternoon latte, I’ve got you covered and my goodness is this one a treat. My Apple Spice Latte is the fall coffee drink of my dreams: strong cold brew or freshly brewed coffee layered over ice with a swirl of caramel around the inside of the glass, a generous pour of my Caramel Apple Simple Syrup, Maizly corn milk (or milk of choice), and a gorgeous frothy top. Finished with crushed dried apple chips and a pinch of apple pie spice — it looks completely stunning and tastes like everything fall should be. Promise that this one is going to be a regular in your rotation!

The Caramel Apple Simple Syrup is honestly the star of this drink. That syrup — infused with Granny Smith apple, brown sugar, and warm apple pie spice gives the latte a deeply layered apple flavor that is so much more interesting than any store-bought apple syrup you’ll find. And the caramel swirl trick at the beginning? One of my favorite little barista moves. Dip your milk frother into some caramel right in the bottom of the glass, lift up and spin — and it creates the most gorgeous caramel swirl all around the inside of the glass. I highly recommend you try it!

Why You’ll Love This Apple Spice Latte

It’s kind of paleo (if use coconut sugar when you make the syrup), dairy free, and takes about 5 minutes to put together — which means you can have a genuinely scrumptious, fall-forward coffee drink every single morning without waiting in line or spending a small fortune at a coffee shop. The Caffe Ibis Light Side of the Moon blend is my current coffee obsession and works beautifully here — but use your favorite cold brew or strong brewed coffee. Make it as concentrated as you like! And that frothy milk top with the apple syrup whisked in? Absolutely the finishing touch that makes this look completely irresistible.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Here’s a quick look at what goes into this latte. Full amounts are in the recipe card below.

Pick your favorite dairy-free caramel for the swirl and the garnish, 8 to 10 tablespoons of your favorite strong brewed coffee or cold brew, Caramel Apple Simple Syrup, milk, and ice cubes. For the frothy top: more milk and Caramel Apple Simple Syrup frothed together until gorgeous and foamy. Then crushed Bare Snacks dried apple chips and a sprinkle of Primal Palate Apple Pie Spice as the finishing garnish. That garnish is not optional in my kitchen — just sayin’!

How to Make the Apple Spice Latte

Start by placing the caramel in the bottom of your serving glass. Dip a milk frother into it, lift up and spin a few times, this creates that gorgeous caramel swirl around the inside of the glass. Repeat 2 to 3 times until you have a beautiful swirl all the way up the sides.

Pour in your brewed coffee or cold brew, the Caramel Apple Simple Syrup, and the milk. Add ice nearly to the top of the glass. For the frothy top, pour the milk and additional apple syrup into a thin glass or small pitcher and froth until foamy and gorgeous. Pour gently over the top of the latte.

Finish with a sprinkle of crushed dried apple chips and a pinch of apple pie spice right over the foam. Sip immediately through a straw and enjoy every single sip! ☕🍎

Tips for the Best Apple Spice Latte

The caramel swirl trick is worth the extra 30 seconds. Dipping your frother into the caramel in the bottom of the glass and spinning it up the sides is such a fun little barista move — it distributes the caramel beautifully and makes the drink look absolutely stunning. Guests will be so impressed!

Use cold brew for a smoother, less bitter base. Cold brew is naturally less acidic than hot-brewed coffee and pairs beautifully with the sweet caramel apple flavors in this latte. If using cold brew, you may want to add a splash of water to taste depending on how concentrated yours is.

Make a big batch of the Caramel Apple Simple Syrup. It keeps beautifully in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 weeks and is a tasty tip for having this latte ready to go every morning with barely any effort! It’s also gorgeous in the Caramel Apple Smoothie and drizzled over oatmeal, pancakes, and waffles.

Customize the sweetness. Start with 2 tablespoons of the simple syrup and add more to taste. The caramel adds sweetness too so the combination is quite lovely at the lower end of the syrup range.

More Fall Drinks and Apple Recipes

• Caramel Apple Simple Syrup — make a big batch and keep it in the fridge all fall!
• Caramel Apple Smoothie — another gorgeous fall sip using the same syrup
• Apple Cider Pie Filling — for all your fall baking
• Browse all Back Porch Paleo beverages

If you make this Apple Spice Latte I would absolutely love to see it! Tag me on Instagram or drop a comment below. It is one of those simple fall pleasures that makes every morning feel a little more special. ☕🍎🍂