Last year my sister introduced me to Starbucks Caramel Apple Spice. It instantly became my holiday drink of choice. I would go to Starbucks all the time on cold, snowy days to get it. The downside was… it was burning a hole in my pocket (Starbucks is expeeennnsive)! Finally I decided to ask the girl at Starbucks how they make it. She said she couldn’t tell me but I could watch her. So she did it all right in front of me. When I asked her how much syrup is in one pump she said “it is supposed to be 1/4 oz. but it can vary slightly”.. that was all I needed to know.
So then I did some math. 1oz. = 2 Tbsp. so we can figure that .25oz = 1/2 Tbsp. The Starbucks people put 3 pumps of syrup in a 12oz cup, making it 1 1/2 Tbsp per 12oz of apple juice. To simplify it further… 2/3 of 12oz. is 8oz (or 1 cup) and 2/3 of 1 1/2 Tbsp is 1 Tbsp. Sooooooo, for each cup of cider you simply add 1 Tbsp. of syrup. Easy enough right? See, MOM, I didn’t waste ALL of my time goofing off in school 
Ingredients
- 2 c. apple juice
- 2 Tbsp. Starbucks Cinnamon Dolce Syrup (buy it straight from Starbucks for about $7. It will last you a very very very long time. Totally worth it.)
- Whipped cream
- Caramel topping
Instructions
- Combine apple juice and syrup. Warm to desired heat (I did it in a hot chocolate maker and it turned out perfect. I loved the "whipped" taste it added. You could possibly try it in a blender for the same effect.. just be careful if it's really hot).
- Top with whipped cream and caramel topping.
Oh. My. Goodness. My husband and I LOVE LOVE LOVE this drink! We recently moved to a very small rural area where there are no Starbucks (a place like this really does exist)and I was just thinking I was going to have to treat myself when we go visit family for the holidays. THANK YOU! Now we can make it anytime, yay!!
OH MY! I LOVE this stuff! Can't wait to try it out myself! Thanks!
I look forward to trying your recipes! Love the simplicity!
i love these too! and disneyland has even a better version.
THANK YOU!! So good & perfect for the upcoming winter season.
hELP!!! What kind and how much caramel sauce do you use?? This looks soooo good!!! I love your website!!!
I just used the caramel in the jar that you put over ice cream. I just did a heaping spoonful. You just drizzle it over the whipped cream so you can put as much or as little as you want on it and it won't really affect the taste.
Enjoy!
Erica
mmmmmm….sounds yummy. Just sent my husband to Starbucks and picked up a bottle! This will perfect for our Christmas Eve Dessert beverage!
Oh my gosh can I tell you how much I love you right now?!!! This is one of my most favorites! Yay!!!! THANK YOU!
Hawdy! Your postblog seems to be so promising and I hope the you will continue working in the same style.
Divine!!!! Hot Chocolate Maker?? Which kind to you have?? Would you recommend buying one? Love all your recipes!! Thanks!!!
I just have the Cocomotion brand hot chocolate maker. I think I got it at Walmart for like $10. Nothing fancy but it does the trick! You don’t need one for the recipe but it makes it nice and frothy and it mixes it up really well. Thanks for the compliments!!!
Love the recipe! If you have an espresso machine/steamer, I usually just mix all that (Cinnamon Dolce, I add the Caramel with the cinnamon dolce, and apple juice) and then put it under the steamer to heat up
and then “fancy” it up with whipped cream and little caramel drizzle on top! Perfect fall drink. And to make it more “adult”, a little amaretto or grand marnier 
I really fell in love love to my drink caramel apple spice amazing that why I love it and my wife can make for me one
like everyday!!!! I will make give you treat in Love!!!!
Soooooo trying this ASAP!! I keep raving to my husband about how delicous this stuff is. But I think he would have a cow over the bill if I ever took him there. So excited!! Thank you!
I also found how to make the cinnamon syrup at home for even more cost savings:
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
Simmer in a pot over medium heat for 5 minutes while mixture reduces. Add 1 tbsp per 8 oz of cider per the recipe above.