Enjoy your favorite Starbucks drink at home with this easy copycat Starbucks caramel frappuccino recipe! Sweet and creamy with a gorgeous caramel flavor, you can make this super refreshing caramel coffee frappuccino (that tastes like the real thing) in just 5 minutes!
What Is A Starbucks Caramel Frappuccino?
The Starbucks caramel coffee frappuccino is a unique blend of frappuccino roast coffee, caramel sauce, milk and ice. Topped with whipped cream and an extra drizzle of buttery caramel sauce, it’s a decadent and creamy blended coffee drink.
Debuting in 1999, the Starbucks caramel frappuccino is now one of the most popular blended drinks on the menu.
If you love caramel frappuccinos you may also like this iced caramel macchiato, an iced caramel latte, or this salted caramel cream cold brew coffee.
Why You’ll Love This Caramel Frappuccino Recipe
Seriously what is there NOT to love about a caramel frappuccino?! But if you’re not sure whether to try and make it at home or you’ve tried other recipes and come away dissatisfied, here are 5 reasons why I think you’ll love this caramel frapp recipe:
- The recipe uses simple ingredients (no need for homemade caramel syrup).
- You don’t need an espresso machine or even a coffee maker!
- One ingredient makes this coffee frappuccino recipe truly taste like the original.
- It’s cheaper than your store bought caramel frappe.
- You can enjoy this anytime you feel like it – no need to drive to enjoy one.
DIY Caramel Frappuccino Ingredients
You’ll need just a few pantry and fridge ingredients to make this easy caramel frappuccino recipe.
The specific quantities and steps are listed in the recipe card below, so here I just want to touch on each of the ingredients that make this frappuccino so delicious and a true replica of the caramel frappuccino Starbucks make!
- Instant coffee: No need for you to brew a batch of coffee, we’re using instant coffee to make this quick and easy. I recommend you use a good quality instant coffee.
- Caramel sauce: Use your favorite store bought caramel sauce for this recipe.
- Xanthan gum: The secret ingredient that makes this recipe just like the og drink. Xanthan gum is a natural additive that thickens and binds your drink ingredients – so no icy texture! You can find it in the health food aisle at your local supermarket or buy it online at Amazon.
- Whipped cream: I’ve listed it in the recipe card below as optional, but is it? Buy whipped cream ready made or whip it yourself.
- Milk: I use whole/regular milk in all my frappuccino recipes.
Substitutions
Caramel Sauce: You can use caramel syrup instead of caramel sauce in the frozen coffee drink if that is what you have on hand. But I would skip the drizzle – it won’t taste as good as sauce will.
Xanthan gum: There isn’t really a good sub for the xanthan gum. You can skip it, just know the texture will be a little more icy (like a lot of other homemade frappuccino recipes).
I highly recommend you buy a packet and stick it in the pantry. You can grab it here. It lasts forever and makes a huge difference to the texture of your homemade blended drinks.
Whole milk: You can sub 2% milk for the whole milk if you prefer.
How To Make A Caramel Frappuccino At Home
Here’s a quick overview of how to make a caramel frappe at home. For the full recipe and ingredient list, scroll down to the printable recipe card.
Step 1: In a small bowl add your instant coffee, sugar and hot water. Stir to dissolve and set aside. This is your coffee base so if you like a strong caramel frapp, add an extra teaspoon of coffee to the mixture.
Step 2: In a blender add the milk, instant coffee mixture, caramel sauce, xanthan gum and ice. Blend until smooth – in my Ninja that is around 1 minute.
Step 3: Drizzle extra caramel sauce around the inside of your glass, pour the frappuccino mixture into the glass. Top with whipped cream and more caramel sauce. Sit back and admire before enjoying!
Recipe Tips For Success
- Use a high speed blender: They really make a huge difference for blended coffee drinks to fully crush and blend the ice.
- Don’t skip the xanthan gum: It is the secret ingredient for an awesome homemade caramel frapp with a creamy and well integrated texture!
- Use high quality ingredients: A good quality instant coffee and decadent caramel sauce also help make this frappuccino recipe so good.
Homemade Caramel Frappuccino FAQs
Do Caramel Frappuccinos Have Coffee In Them?
Yes, the Starbucks caramel frappuccino has coffee in it, so our copycat recipe also contains coffee. If you want to make a caramel frappuccino without coffee, simply omit the coffee from the ingredients.
Is A Frappuccino A Frappe?
Basically yes. “Frappuccino” is a Starbucks trademarked name for drinks in their blended drinks range. But it is essentially the same as a frappe, which is the non-trademarked name for a blended drink. Find out more about the differences here.
More Starbucks Inspired Drinks
Find all my Starbucks copycat recipes here or try one of these recipes:
- Iced Caramel Macchiato
- Nutella Coffee Frappe
- 30 Flavored Lattes To Make At Home
- 18 Delicious Starbucks Drinks That Don’t Contain Coffee
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave a comment below!
Copycat Starbucks Caramel Frappuccino
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons instant coffee
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 2 tablespoons water hot
- ½ cup milk whole
- 2 tablespoons caramel sauce
- ¼ teaspoon xanthan gum
- 1 cup ice cubes heaped
- whipped cream and caramel sauce for decorating
Instructions
- In a small bowl mix the instant coffee and sugar with the hot water. Stir until the coffee and sugar is dissolved. Set aside.
- In a blender add the milk, instant coffee mixture, caramel sauce, xanthan gum and ice.
- Blend on high until ice is well blended and the drink texture is smooth, about 1 minute.
- Drizzle the inside of your glass with caramel sauce (optional)
- Pour the frappuccino into your glass.
- Decorate with whipped cream and drizzle with extra caramel sauce (optional).
Notes
- Xanthan gum thickens and binds the drink ingredients. It helps create the creamy texture Starbucks Frappuccinos are famous for. You can omit it, but the drink will have a more icy and separated texture.
- A high speed blender will give you the best results. If you don’t have one, use smaller ice pieces or sit them out for 10 minutes or so to soften a little before blending.
- For a stronger coffee flavor, add an extra teaspoon of instant coffee.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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