Caramel Frappuccino
My caramel frappuccino is rich and creamy with a rich caramel flavor. Skip the coffee house; this copycat recipe is SO much cheaper.
I love making coffee house beverages at home. Some of my favorite are the Cinnamon Dolce Latte, the Chai Tea Latte, and a vanilla bean frappuccino. My latest creation is this copycat caramel frappuccino. It is to die for: SO creamy and full of rich caramel flavor. It tastes exactly like your favorite Starbucks drink and goes great with breakfast or a sweet snack of your choice. Spending money on coffee adds up. Skip the lines and save your pennies by making this recipe at home.
Why I Love This Recipe
- Ready in minutes: I don't like waiting around when I need coffee. This drink is ready in 5 minutes or less.
- Rich Caramel Flavor: I use caramel in 2 ways for the best flavor.
- Cheap: This recipe costs around $1 to make.
☕Ingredient Notes and Shopping Tips☕
- Ice: For the best Frappuccino, use crushed ice. If your ice maker doesn’t make crushed ice, put cubes in a plastic bag and crush them with a rolling pin.
- Espresso or Coffee: I don't brew Espresso at home,so I used a Starbucks French Roast K-Cup for this recipe. Instant espresso would also work great. Readers have also commented that they like using Cold Brew.
- Milk: Use whole milk for the creamiest drink. Starbucks actually uses 2%, but I prefer whole.
- Caramel Sauce: Caramel sauce is thicker than syrup. I like Smuckers but you can also make your own. I used Smuckers.
- Caramel Syrup: This thinner compared to caramel sauce. I used Torani. Look for it in the coffee aisle.
❓FAQs❓
Yes! Just look for a bold roast to ensure the flavor doesn't get lost among the other ingredients.
Technically, yes, but the results will not be as creamy. I find even Starbucks' nondairy frappes to be very thin and watery.
Using more ice will help things thicken up. You can also try a teaspoon of Xanthan gum that Starbucks uses. I don't usually have that on hand, so I'll sometimes add a scoop or two of ice cream, which also does the trick.
️Barista Tips and Tricks️
- Chill your glass for an ice-cold drink.
- For the best results, chill your brewed coffee or espresso, too, so it doesn't melt all your ice.
- Ice: Use more ice for a thicker drink and less ice for a thinner drink. You can also freeze coffee-flavored ice cubes to avoid watering down your drink.
- Cream-based: Leave out the coffee for what Starbucks calls a cream-based Frappuccino. Perfect for kids or those avoiding caffeine.
- Drizzle caramel sauce inside the glass before pouring for a true coffee house drink.
Serve With
📖 Recipe
Easiest Caramel Frappuccino
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Ingredients
- 1 Cup Large Ice Cubes
- 2 Shots Espresso OR ⅓ Cup Strong Coffee Cooled
- ½ Cup Milk
- 1 Tablespoon Caramel Sauce
- 3 Tablespoons Caramel Syrup
- Whipped Cream and Additional Caramel Sauce To Garnish
Instructions
- In a blender combine ice cubes and espresso (or coffee).
- Pour in milk, caramel sauce, and caramel syrup.
- Pulse and blend until smooth.
- Top with whipped cream and caramel sauce if desired.
Notes
-
- Espresso or Coffee: I don't brew Espresso at home, so I used a Starbucks French Roast K-Cup for this recipe. Instant espresso would also work great. Readers have also commented that they like using Cold Brew.
- Milk: Use whole milk for the creamiest drink. Starbucks actually uses 2%, but I prefer whole.
- Caramel Sauce: I used Smuckers. Look for it near the Ice Cream Cones.
- Caramel Syrup: Use whichever brand of syrup you prefer. I used Torani. Look for it in the coffee aisle.
- Chill your glass for an ice-cold drink.
- For the best results, chill your brewed coffee or espresso, too, so it doesn't melt all your ice.
- Ice: Use more ice for a thicker drink and less ice for a thinner drink. You can also freeze coffee-flavored ice cubes to avoid watering down your drink.
- Drizzle caramel sauce inside the glass before pouring for a true coffee house drink.
Nutrition
This worked exactly as written, thanks!
This copycat recipe hits the spot! It's more wallet-friendly than Starbucks but tastes the same!
I was thrilled when I saw this recipe, I had to try it! And I'm so glad it tasted like the one from Starbucks! So good and so much cheaper!
I can't believe how easy it was to make this at home, and it's absolutely delicious! So creamy and refreshing, it tastes like the real thing but is so much cheaper than buying one!
I love how rich and creamy this is. The flavor is spot on, too. It's nice to have a delicious Starbucks frappuccino without the incredibly high price!
I just made this and it's absolutely divine! The caramel flavor is so rich and creamy. Thank you for sharing this recipe, I'm hooked!
This is such a perfect treat for coffee lovers!!
This is incredible!! I can't wait to make it again and again!! Homemade is the best!
Oh my goodness! This looks absolutely amazing!! I LOVE it!
This tastes just like the original! Thank you for the recipe!!!
Thanks for this recipe. I cannot wait to try this one.
Seriously, who needs to go to a coffee shop when you can make this?
I have to make this. I gave up Starbucks because I realized that in a month, I could afford a house from paying what I did for their coffee. Now I can have it again!
Just popping in to let you know I've included your copycat frappuccino recipe in my round-up of iced coffee recipes. Thanks for contributing!
Thanks so much Michelle! 🙂
That looks amazing, the recipe seems simple enough that I could make it! I can't wait to try it once the weather warms up a bit 🙂
It is SO easy Stef!