Homemade Caramel Frappuccino — This drink is too good to be true! It’s cold, creamy, rich, and satisfying, plus it’s easy to customize. Way BETTER than Starbucks!
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Better-Than-Starbucks Caramel Frappuccino Recipe
I can suck down iced coffees like nobody’s business and would go broke if I had to buy them out. A $5 dollar drink lasts me maybe 63 seconds.
Which is why this copycat Starbucks Frappuccino recipe is perfect. It’s icy and bulkier, so it takes me longer to inhale.
This caramel frappuccino recipe makes two large drinks. If you were at Starbucks, we’re talking two venti drinks. Feel free to halve the recipe, or quarter it, if you’re not as much of a java addict or power drinker.
If you don’t inhale it all right away and let the drink melt while you’re taking too many photos, the coffee will begin to separate and fall to the bottom of the mug. Give it a quick stir and problem solved.
Homemade caramel Frappuccinos are creamy, frothy, foamy, fluffy, and satisfying. Even better, the recipe is ready in about 1 minute, I can quench my thirst, save money, and get my caffeine on, in one fell swoop.
Caramel sauce, whipped cream, and coffee are three of my favorite food groups.
Ingredients in a Caramel Frappuccino
To make this copycat Starbucks caramel Frappuccino recipe, you’ll need:
- Ice cubes
- Brewed coffee, allowed to cool completely
- Milk of choice
- Sweetener of choice (white stevia powder, liquid vanilla stevia drops, Splenda, or granulated sugar)
- Vanilla extract (optional but recommended)
- Fat-free whipped topping (or whipped cream)
- Caramel sauce (homemade or store-bought, may use sugar-free if desired)
How to Make a Caramel Frappuccino
If you’ve never made a caramel Frappuccino at home, you’re in for a treat! The process is so simple. If you’ve made a smoothie before, you can make a Frappuccino yourself.
- To make this caramel Frappuccino, simply combine all the ingredients (minus the two garnishes) in a blender and blend until smooth.
- Give it a taste and adjust the flavors as needed, adding more milk or coffee as you see fit.
- Pour your Frappuccino into a large glass and dollop whipped topping on top, followed by a drizzle of caramel sauce.
- This caramel Frappuccino is best enjoyed right away, but it’s still delicious even after it melts a bit.
Tips for the Best Caramel Frappuccino
Instead of brewed, fully cooled coffee, you can also freeze leftover coffee in an ice cube tray and use coffee cubes instead of some of the ice cubes. Your Frappuccino would be incredibly strong, but some people may like that!
Also, you can find cold brew coffee in most stores now, so feel free to use that instead of coffee you brewed and chilled yourself.
Just double check that your store-bought coffee has no sugar in it, as that may make your drink too sweet.
Recipe FAQs
Not at all! I used unsweetened vanilla almond milk, but you may use any dairy or non-dairy milk you like. I just recommend using unsweetened milk, otherwise your drink will come out far too sweet.
Yep! You can use any sweetener you’d like. Just add in a little at a time until you figure out exactly how much you like.
And if you don’t like sweet drinks, you can always omit the sweetener and make a blended caramel iced coffee instead.
Totally! I recommend making the full recipe and putting the extra portion in the freezer, and the next time you want one, it’s ready. No need to dirty the blender.
All you have to do is let it defrost a bit, either 30 minutes at room temp or about 1 minute in the microwave. Or you can kind of pick at it, granita-style.
Just note that if you plan on freezing part of your homemade caramel frappuccino, you should wait to top it with whipped topping and caramel sauce until just before you eat it.
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Homemade Caramel Frappuccino
Ingredients
- 3 cups ice cubes, 3 big handfuls of cubed ice, not crushed ice
- 1 cup cold strong coffee, previously brewed and chilled
- ½ cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk, or your favorite milk
- sugar-free sweetener, white stevia powder, liquid vanilla stevia drops, Splenda, or your favorite, to taste
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract, optional
- 2 tablespoons fat free whipped topping, for garnishing
- 1 tablespoon sugarfree caramel sauce, for garnishing
Instructions
- Combine first 5 ingredients in the canister of a blender and blend until smooth, creamy, fluffy, frothy, and combined, less than 1 minute.
- Taste, and if necessary, adjust with a splash more coffee, milk, dash of sweetener, or a few ice cubes.
- Garnish with whipped topping and caramel sauce. Serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Averie, I don’t know how you do it, every time I check your site there is something amazing that I want to eat there and then, or in this case drink/inhale! This looks divine and without all the fat and calories or cost of the usual shop bought versions.
Oh wow I love this!! I too can drink a coffee in a minuscule amount of time and I just love my coffee cold! Be making this tomorrow instead of my usual Mocha Frapp!
LMK what you think!
I already drank my coffee today, but I really want to make this. Now. In fact…screw it. I’m doing it.
Ok LMK how it went! :)
I’ve been over starbucks drinks for a while now (so much $$$!) but omg, I would slurp down like 5 of these!!!!
Ive been over it too. The $$, the time to go there, and the cals/fat/drinking a meal by way of one drink – can’t handle :)
I want one of these so badly! :)
I stopped drinking all those sweet Starbuck’s drinks long ago because honestly, I want coffee flavor and not all that sugar. When I don’t make my own, it’s normally a double tall nonfat latte for me. This, however, will sway me on a hot day. It looks delicious! You were making me laugh talking about inhaling those $5 drinks, BTW. Isn’t it the truth!
Those drinks are so UN-friendly to the diet and the wallet. This one … is way better :)
You are brilliant! I don’t drink those because of the calories, a venti with whole milk is 510 calories! That’s like eating a burrito! This is so much easier on the diet plan :)
a venti with whole milk is 510 calories! <-- OMG THAT's INSANE! I had no idea they were THAT much. I guessed 300. 500+ is...just...beyond words. And I am not kidding when I say the 50 cal version gives me every bit the satisfaction I've ever had from the storebought. Which for 500...is...just insanity.
Woah! This can be dangerous around me! Love the flavors in this tempting drink!
I normally don’t partake in frozen coffee drinks because they contain way too many calories. This looks like something that I could definitely try without adding too many calories to my diet!
This version is so much friendlier :)
50 calories?! Heaven! This looks like such a great summer treat. And with all the baking I do, I need to be having more 50 calorie snacks! What a great Starbucks swap, thanks for sharing!
Glad you like this – and the cookie bar recipe, too :)
This is my sister’s favorite Starbuck’s beverage. I will definitely pass this recipe along to her–she will love it!
Oh good! And she’ll save so much $$, too!
So amazing, Averie! I can’t believe it’s so low in calories, and still looks and tastes SO decadent! I love that!
Only 50 calories! Thank you so much for this! I crave iced coffee in the summer, this is going to be my new drink in the morning!
Fabulous, fabulous, fabulous.
Seriously dying over here. I need this RIGHT now. Love the caramel, the almond milk, the whipped cream. I could just drink these straight through the day. I have all of the ingredients on hand – even the SF caramel sauce and whipped cream. I avoid going to the coffee shop to get those overpriced drinks. I got Kevin and I drinks a few weeks ago – iced coffee for me and iced chai tea latte for him. TEN DOLLARS. Not kidding. Seriously? I could buy about 20 lbs of bananas for that price. Crazy, isn’t it.
I always love your drink photography. I want to reach right through the screen. Luckily, it’s easier than pie to make.
Girl I know. I can’t go in coffee shops, either. I am not even back to my car with the door unlocked and seatbelt on, and I will already have my drink guzzled! It’s all ice and they go down FAST. I can drink $5 dollars in 1 minute. As you said, 20 lbs of bananas for that price!
Stop it. Only 50 calories? I cant even…