Copycat Starbucks Pistachio Latte Recipe (+Nutrition Facts)

Last Updated on February 5, 2025 by Karen

Enjoy a homemade copycat Starbucks pistachio latte with rich brown butter and real pistachios, perfect for cozy mornings or a sweet treat.

If you’re a coffee lover, you’ll absolutely love this homemade Starbucks Pistachio Latte on Starbucks menu! Not only does it feature a signature rich, nutty pistachio flavor, but the addition of browned butter gives it a smooth, indulgent twist that feels like a barista-level drink right in your own kitchen. This copycat recipe is incredibly customizable—whether you like a stronger espresso flavor or prefer a little extra sweetness, you can make it just the way you like. Plus, it’s the perfect occasional treat for cozy winter mornings or anytime you need a comforting coffee beverage.

Other Starbucks copycat recipes you’ll love:

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What Is a Pistachio Latte?

The Grande Pistachio Latte is a seasonal coffee drink offered by Starbucks on the new winter menu that combines espresso with steamed milk and the nutty, cozy flavors of sweet pistachio. The result is a rich and nutty flavor profile, topped with a creamy layer of frothed milk, often finished with a sprinkle of rich brown butter or a similar topping. The pistachio velvet latte offers that perfect blend of indulgence and caffeine, enjoyed especially during the holiday season. Starbucks also allows customizations for your coffee order, including different milk choices like oat or almond milk, making it a flexible drink to suit all tastes.

Why You’ll Love This Copycat Starbucks Pistachio Latte Recipe

This homemade pistachio latte’s sauce brings the signature Starbucks flavor into your home, letting you skip the line or the app, the sugary coffee drink, and the price tag. You’ll love knowing exactly what’s in your cup, avoiding preservatives like potassium sorbate and other additives. Plus, making it at home means you control the ingredients to suit your daily value and personal nutrition goals. If you’re following healthy eating goals or a weight loss effort, this recipe can be easily adapted for lower sugar or calorie intake.

Ingredients You’ll Need to Make This Recipe

Butter: For making the brown butter that adds richness and a nutty flavor. You can use salted or unsalted butter, or try coconut oil or plant-based butter for a dairy-free version. I prefer a salted brown butter for this recipe, so my choice would be to use salted butter.

Espresso: A shot of espresso from your favorite beans, like Starbucks® Espresso Roast, provides the signature bold flavor. If you don’t have an espresso machine, you can brew cold brew or strong coffee from a stovetop moka pot.

Pistachio Syrup: This brings the signature pistachio flavor to your latte. You can either buy a store-bought version or make your own syrup from pistachio or pistachio butter (see the directions below). For stronger pistachio flavor, you can add an extra pump of the syrup. If you want to enhance the sweet flavor, you can also add a pump of vanilla syrup.

Whole Milk: For a creamy texture. You can also substitute with almond, oat, or coconut milk for a dairy-free version.

Crushed Shortbread Cookies: A crunchy topping that gives your latte that extra sweetness and texture. You can use any other type of cookie, like graham crackers, brown butter cookie, or try crushed real pistachios for a more decadent topping.

Steps for Making the Pistachio Latte

Make the Browned Butter: Slice butter into even pieces and place in a light-colored pan over medium-low heat. Stir gently as the butter melts, then continues to foam and turn golden-brown. Once the foam settles and milk solids form, remove from heat and store in a heatproof container.

Prepare the Espresso: Brew an espresso shot using an espresso machine or stovetop moka pot. Alternatively, use strong brewed coffee or cold brew concentrate for a similar flavor.

Add Pistachio Syrup and Browned Butter: In a mug, combine 2 tablespoons of pistachio syrup and 1/2 tablespoon of the browned butter. Stir gently to blend.

Froth the Milk: Froth whole milk using a milk frother, or shake the milk in a mason jar and microwave it for 30 seconds to create froth.

Assemble the Latte: Pour the frothed milk over the brewed espresso and syrup mixture in your mug. Stir gently.

Add the Garnish: Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon of crushed shortbread cookies (or your topping of choice) for an extra crunch. Enjoy!

Stir everything together and enjoy your homemade pistachio latte!

How to Make Homemade Pistachio Syrup

To make homemade pistachio syrup, start with storebought pistachio sauce or blend 1 cup of shelled pistachios with 1 cup of water in a blender or food processor until smooth, creating a thick pistachio paste. In a saucepan, combine the pistachio paste with 1 cup of sugar, heating over medium heat until the sugar dissolves and the mixture begins to simmer. Let it simmer for a few minutes to thicken, then strain the syrup through a fine mesh sieve to remove any solids.

Optional: Stir in a pinch of salt or vanilla extract for added flavor. Let the syrup cool before using, and store in an airtight container for up to a week.

Starbucks Pistachio Latte Nutritional Value: Why the Homemade Version Can Be Better

If you’re considering a healthier alternative to the Starbucks Pistachio Latte, the homemade version is a great choice. Starbucks’ version may contain added sugars, preservatives like potassium sorbate, syrups made from invert sugar, and artificial flavors, which aren’t always in line with everyone’s nutrition department guidelines. By making the pistachio syrup yourself, you avoid sugary additives, artificial sweeteners, and preservatives while still enjoying a ton of flavor.

A Grande Pistachio Latte from Starbucks typically contains around 300-400 calories, much of which comes from added sugar. If you’re trying to reduce calories or sugar, you can easily adjust this recipe to fit your needs, using natural sweeteners or small portions of syrup.

Customizing Your Homemade Pistachio Latte

Making your pistachio latte at home gives you total control over its ingredients, so you can adjust the flavor and sweetness to your preference. You can use cow’s milk, almond milk, oat milk, or coconut milk, and add little sugar or even a pinch of sea salt to balance the flavors. Adding a brown buttery topping can elevate the flavor to match your own taste, and if you want to make it extra special, try substituting crushed shortbread cookies with pistachio crumbs for an even richer taste. You can even make a cold version of Pistachio Latte!

Health Benefits of Homemade Pistachio Latte

For those mindful of their health goals, like managing heart disease or staying on track with American Heart Association recommendations, making this latte yourself allows you to control the ingredients to align with your needs and daily diet. You can skip the sugary coffee drink components, add plant-based milks, and even adjust sugar levels without sacrificing taste.

Nutritional Value of Your Homemade Pistachio Latte

Making a homemade pistachio latte allows you to adjust the nutritional values to fit your dietary needs:

• Calories: A Starbucks Pistachio Latte contains about 300-400 calories. You can reduce this by using lower-calorie milk (like almond or oat milk) and less syrup.
• Sugar: Starbucks’ pistachio syrup contains around 30-40 grams of sugar. Reducing the syrup or using a sugar-free version can significantly lower sugar content.
• Fat: The amount of fat depends on your milk choice. Whole milk has 12-15 grams of fat, but using nonfat milk or plant-based options can lower that.
• Protein: Depending on your milk, the protein content can vary from 3-7 grams per serving. Soy and oat milk offer more protein than almond milk.
• Caffeine: A standard shot of espresso provides about 95 milligrams of caffeine, but you can adjust the strength to suit your preference.

By making your own pistachio syrup and coffee drink at home, you not only enjoy a delicious and customizable beverage but can also keep an eye on nutrition facts without sacrificing flavor.

Indulge in a rich, creamy pistachio velvet latte made with natural flavors, and take pride in knowing your coffee is free of preservatives like santhan gum and filled with real ingredients. Whether you’re posting about it on social media, sharing your recipe with coffee lovers, or enjoying it during the return of the pistachio latte season at Starbucks Coffee, this homemade version is a great way to treat yourself!