Apple Cider Donut Latte
Uses Apple Cider Donut Syrup — make a batch ahead of time; it keeps in the fridge for a week or two, so you won't need to make it again for every drink.
Ingredients & steps
StandardWritten hot. Switch to see the iced version's ingredients and steps.
Ingredients
- 2oz espresso (or 1/3 cup strong coffee/moka pot equivalent)
- 8oz milk, steamed or frothed
- 2 tbsp Apple Cider Donut Syrup (make a batch ahead of time -- it keeps about 1 week in the fridge)
- Optional: whipped cream and a cinnamon-sugar rim (see our plating guide) or a mini cinnamon-sugar donut on the saucer
Steps
- 1.Make a batch of Apple Cider Donut Syrup ahead of time if you haven't already -- it's a once-a-week step, not a per-drink one.
- 2.If you want the rim, wet the top edge of your cup and roll it in a cinnamon-sugar mix before you add anything else -- see our plating guide for the exact ratio.
- 3.Pull a double shot of espresso (or brew strong coffee) directly into your serving cup.
- 4.Stir 2 tbsp of the apple cider donut syrup into the hot espresso until fully combined.
- 5.Steam or froth 8oz of milk to about 150°F and pour over the espresso-syrup mixture.
- 6.Top with whipped cream if using. Serve with a mini cinnamon-sugar donut on the saucer for the full café presentation.
Swap the milk
This recipe is written with Kirkland Signature Organic A2 Whole Milk (8oz). Pick a different milk to see the cost and calories update below.
Milk: Kirkland Signature Organic A2 Whole Milk
Cost per drink
$0.93
Calories per drink
241
Not medical or nutrition advice. Calorie figures on this page are estimates based on typical ingredient values, not a lab analysis of your exact batch — they'll shift with the brand of milk, syrup, or protein powder you actually use. "Ingredient-Honest" and "sugar-free" describe what's in the recipe, not a health claim. If you're managing diabetes, a caffeine sensitivity, pregnancy, or another condition, check with a doctor or dietitian before making a recipe part of your routine. Read the full disclaimer.
This one came from a real café visit, not a chain menu — served alongside a mini donut on the side, and distinct enough from this site’s existing apple flavors to earn its own page rather than folding into one of them.
Not the Same Drink as Our Chai-Spiced Apple Cider Latte
This is a different flavor family entirely from our Chai-Spiced Apple Cider Latte. That drink is a brewed chai spice tea with cider stirred in — no espresso needed at all, and the flavor leads with cardamom, clove, and ginger. This latte has real espresso in its base and a syrup built for cinnamon-sugar cake-donut flavor, not chai spice. See the Apple Cider Donut Syrup page for the full breakdown of how it also differs from our existing Apple Crisp Syrup.
Make the Syrup First (Just Once)
This recipe assumes you already have a jar of Apple Cider Donut Syrup in the fridge — a 35-minute batch (mostly simmering) that makes about 12 drinks’ worth and keeps about a week. If you haven’t made a batch yet, go do that first, then come back here.
Building the Latte
- Pull a double shot of espresso (about 2oz) directly into your cup, or brew a strong coffee/moka pot equivalent.
- Stir in 2 tbsp of the apple cider donut syrup while the espresso is still hot.
- Steam or froth 8oz of milk to about 150°F and pour it over the espresso-syrup mix.
- Top with whipped cream if using, and serve with a mini cinnamon-sugar donut on the saucer — the pairing this drink was built alongside. See our plating guide for the cinnamon-sugar rim technique and donut-pairing method in full.
The syrup batch itself is a one-time ~$1.26 and makes about 12 drinks — see the full syrup recipe for the method and cost breakdown. Assumptions: grande-size drink, national-average 2026 pricing for an independent/specialty café’s fall cider-donut-flavor latte (this is a real café find rather than a standing national-chain menu item, so the comparison price is an estimate from comparable specialty-café fall drinks, not a single sourced receipt) — worth double-checking against your own local café’s menu.
Swaps & Notes
- No espresso machine? A moka pot or strong AeroPress shot works fine.
- Want the full café presentation? See our Plating Your Homemade Coffee Like a Café guide for the cinnamon-sugar rim and mini-donut pairing.
- Watching sugar? This one’s Standard-tier only right now — a Sugar-Free or Ingredient-Honest version may follow later.
- Iced version: use the Hot/Iced toggle above the ingredients to switch — less milk (4oz cold over ice instead of 8oz steamed).
Recipe Card Summary
Apple Cider Donut Latte
- 2oz espresso + 8oz steamed milk + 2 tbsp Apple Cider Donut Syrup (made ahead)
- Prep time: 5 minutes (after the syrup is made) · Total: 5 minutes
- Cost: ~$0.93/drink vs. ~$6.25 café equivalent
FAQ
Is this the same as your Chai-Spiced Apple Cider Latte?
No — completely different family. That drink is a brewed chai tea with cider stirred in and no espresso required; this one is an espresso latte built on a cinnamon-sugar cake-donut syrup, with no tea in it at all.
Is this a real chain menu item?
No — it’s a real café-visit find, which is why the café comparison price above is an honest estimate from comparable specialty drinks rather than a single national chain’s receipt.
Do I need to make the syrup every time I want this drink?
No — one batch keeps about a week in the fridge and covers roughly 12 drinks.
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