How to Make a Copycat Starbucks Pistachio Latte at Home
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I ordered a Pistachio Latte from Starbucks and then went straight home to create this copycat recipe.
If you haven’t bundled up to venture out lately, you may have missed that the Pistachio Latte is back on the Starbucks menu for winter. It’s a simple drink, made with milk, espresso and pistachio sauce, plus a brown butter topping. That makes it easy enough to whip up at home.
For a beverage that’s as good as what Starbucks has to offer, make this copycat Pistachio Latte at home. It’s a fun Sunday morning project!
What’s in a Starbucks Pistachio Latte?
This is a seasonal drink on the official Starbucks menu so you don’t need to remember a complicated order. In your cup you’ll find a the perfect combination of ingredients:
- Steamed milk
- Pistachio sauce
- Brewed espresso
- Salted Brown Butter Topping
That browned butter topping adds a toasted, savory note that makes a major difference in taste. It’s a must to include in your version of the latte.
Starbucks Pistachio Latte Review
I braved the cold on a truly frigid January day to get this drink—and it was so worth it.
Sometimes I’m hesitant to try flavored lattes, for fear of them being too sweet and artificial tasting, but the Pistachio Latte exceeded my expectations. The sweetness level is low to medium, not overpowering whatsoever. The pistachio flavor is subtle, but detectable; I do feel like there could be a stronger pistachio flavor present since that’s the main flavor here.
The salted brown butter topping is what takes this latte to the next level. It adds a rich and slightly salty aspect to the drink that you taste right on the tip of your tongue. There’s no question about whether I would order this drink again, just when.
Don’t miss this sneak peek at the Starbucks spring menu!
How to Make a Copycat Pistachio Latte
Ingredients
- 1-2 shots espresso
- 2 teaspoons butter
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- Pinch of salt
- 1 cup milk
- ½ teaspoon pistachio flavoring
- ½ tablespoon sugar
Sarah’s Tip: I tested the recipe with this pistachio flavoring from Amazon.
Directions
Step 1: Brew the espresso
If you have an espresso machine at home, pull 1-2 shots of espresso. But if not, use instant espresso powder or strong brewed coffee instead.
Step 2: Brown your butter
In a small skillet, heat butter over medium heat and tilt pan frequently until it turns golden brown. Remove from heat and add brown sugar and salt, then stir until combined. This is a perfect copycat for the Salted Brown Butter Topping at Starbucks and it will make your drink truly indulgent!
Step 3: Steam and flavor your milk
Heat your milk and add the pistachio flavoring and sugar. To get your milk decadent and foamy, use an immersion blender or a handheld milk frother like this. (That handheld frother will come in handy for all kinds of foamy drinks.)
Step 4: Top the pistachio latte
Top the copycat Pistachio Latte with your brown butter topping. Enjoy with egg bites for breakfast or a homemade Starbucks cheese Danish for an afternoon pick-me-up!
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