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!
Table of Contents
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
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! Â
Ingredients
- 3 cups ice cubes (3 big handfuls of cubed ice, not crushed ice)
- 1 cup cold strong coffee, previously brewed and chilled
- 1/2 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
- 1/2 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
Tip: Make the full batch and place un-garnished extra portion of frappuccino in a freezer-safe mug. Later on, simply let it defrost a bit, either 30 minutes at room temp or about 1 minute in the microwave.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
2Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 57Total Fat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 45mgCarbohydrates: 13gFiber: 0gSugar: 10gProtein: 1g
More Copycat Starbucks Recipes:
Copycat Pumpkin Spice Latte — My Copycat Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte recipe is spot on! Skip going out and the lines, save money, and start making your own homemade pumpkin spice lattes! You’re going to love how similar this tastes to the real thing!
Caramel Macchiato {Starbucks Copycat Recipe} — An EASY, at-home recipe for the beloved coffee shop drink!! It tastes AMAZING and your wallet will thank you! No espresso maker or milk frother required!!
Copycat Starbucks Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins — Easy recipe for copycat Starbucks pumpkin muffins that are even BETTER than the original! Super soft, moist, brimming with pumpkin spice flavor, and filled with tangy-sweet cream cheese filling!
Copycat Starbucks Double Chocolate Brownies — The brownies are rich, fudgy, not cakey, perfectly chewy, and so easy to make. One bowl, no mixer, and studded with chocolate chunks!
The Best Lemon Loaf (Better-Than-Starbucks Copycat) — It took years, but I finally recreated it!! Easy, no mixer, no cake mix, dangerously good, and SPOT ON!! You’re going to love this lemon bread recipe!
Copycat Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars — For anyone who loves the Starbucks version, these are can be made year-round at home for pennies on the dollar and taste every bit as fabulous and then some!! I like to call them Better-Than-Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars!!
Has anyone made this? Any tips??? Do I need to use pinch of pectin or xantham gum?? And which one is better to use?
Delish!! If you add vanilla ice cream!!! To die for!!
Hi, I was wondering if I could just use regular milk, real cane sugar, and regular caramel.
I just added up all the calories and it comes out to be 172 calories, not including whipped cream and caramel.
Feel free to use those ingredients. Enjoy!
Actually the total calories are 65, tge 15 caps from the almond milk was not added in ;) Not a huge deal, just more of an FYI! Sounds yummy!!
Really? It’s only 32.5 calories per serving since she originally said this makes enough for two servings! So even better! Just made these and they are amazing!
Umm… If it is possible can you convert the cups to ml?
I’m confused as how much because the cups differs between countries…
And I really want to make these so it would really help. Thank you :)
http://www.worldwidemetric.com/measurements.html In the US a cup of liquid is 8 ounces. This recipe is not an ‘exact science’…you can taste-test as you go and if you’re a bit off, it’s likely not a big deal. It’s just a coffee drink and hard to screw up!
I freeze my strong coffee in ice trays, so when it starts to melt. You get coffee instead of weak water.
Yummmm! This is perfect for a hot summer day!
The skinny Carmel frappuccino is great. Beats spending money at Starbucks.
Thanks for the 5 star review and I agree about saving money!
If you add a pinch of pectin or xantham gum it won’t separate- that’s the Starbucks trick. I also add a smudge of unsweetened cocoa powder bc I’m a mocha girl.
Just saw your earlier x gum response, pectin is easier for most people. I know another person who can’t tolerate xg either and that’s who turned me on to pectin.
This is a work of art! love it:-)
Hi everyone,
I wanted to let you all know about my healthy lifestyle blog
what is the link? i would love to take a look :-)
Link for what?
Looks so awesome Averie!
This looked so good I wanted to lick the page!
I tried this, and I was sorely disappointed. I had to throw it out. :( I would much rather have a simple iced coffee over this.
Sorry that you didn’t like it. It’s just coffee blended with ice, milk, and sweetener. But if you prefer just coffee over ice, now you know you own preference. Maybe the ratios you used of milk/sweetener/coffee/ice weren’t spot-on for your taste preferences and maybe they may require some tweaking if you’re ever game to try again.
how much of the sugar free sweetener do you use?!
Enough to get it sweet enough to taste. Everyone’s different and so are brands/types, i.e. stevia vs. Splenda, etc.
I am allergic to almond. Is there another milk I can use that would be just as good?
Use whatever milk you like and can have then – rice, soy, cow’s, etc. It may not be as ‘skinny’ but I wouldn’t worry about the slight difference that using another milk may change the stats. Enjoy!
How did I miss THIS?!
Enjoy :)
If you add a pinch of xantham gum it will not separate and get a bit thicker.
I am familiar with XG but I cannot digest it. There is something in it that gives me a horrible reaction. I’ll spare you the details :) Same with Guar Gum.
That is too bad that you can’t tolerate it. I use it in tiny quantities and only occasionally since I heard it is not the healthiest.
I had to have one of these this morning, and with no leftover coffee, had to improvise. I had some Starbucks VIA packets, so I used them with my Almond Milk, truvia packets, Torani sugar free chocolate syrup, ice, and blended away. Whipped cream on top and I was in heaven.
Thanks for making my day!
Great job on improvising and so glad you loved it – and that it made your day. That’s awesome :)
This is perfect, it has my name written all over it!! Must make soon :)
You totally got my at 50 calories!
I love the Carmel drinks but I don’t like the coffee. So usally I just ask to use cream base instead. But I don’t know how to make it myself. Anyone know?
If you don’t like coffee and you’re asking for a cream base, likely they are just fixing you a cream (or milk) + caramel drink with some ice. Probably pretty rich and decadent :) Very easy to duplicate at home. Cream, caramel, ice, blend. Done.
Delish! Would it be okay if I added as *splash* of Kahlua to mine? :D
Either that or Baileys :)
Oh my, I must try!
The caramel frapps are my favorite and like you, iced drinks usually last me all of 2 minutes. This is a great alternative!
I’m not sure why, but I’ve always been a simple coffee/americano (hot or iced) kind of girl, which I guess I should be thankful for since those options tend to be much more affordable. These pictures make me want to give frappuccinos a try, though!
Ok, this looks AMAZING and the perfect afternoon treat for weather like today. It’s 100 degrees up here, can you believe it? Your photo is absolutely gorgeous and makes me totally want to inhale one of these right now! ;) xoxo, Jackie
I wish it was 100F here! Not even. Maybe 78F? “Perfect” weather. But I wouldn’t mind yours either :)
I now have a serious craving :)
“If I’m going to pound mindless calories, I at least want to chew them rather than slurp them.”-This line made me laugh out loud for real! And oh man, this drink? YES PLEEEEEASE!!
Oh my gosh, this does sound too good to be true!
For the frappuccino:
you could use sugar free caramel syrup. It’s 0 calories and adds a wonderful caramel flavor to it
This looks DELIGHTFUL! We are trying your could be a muffin-could be a pancake blueberry cake today! And you made us VERY happy in whilst we were stationed in Seoul, S. Korea because no cafes would serve the pumpkin latte in the fall, but we followed your recipe to pumpkin bliss.
Now we are living in Hawaii and I think this cold, yummy drink will serve perfectly also! Thanks for the inspiration!!
So happy to hear that you enjoyed that recipe while you were in Seoul! You are right – very few places get as excited about pumpkin as the USA does and glad the recipe came in handy for you!
SO true. Koreans were all about the “Sweet Potato Latte”, and we learned the hard way that if you were at a mom and pop coffee shop, “latte” meant only flavored milk, not coffee! Oh the adventures of overseas living;) (I love it)
This would totally hit the spot right now!
I love my iced coffee but hate sugar.
BUT every once in a while I will get my iced latte with a drizzle of hazelnut syrup.
So good.
So I can see how and why these are far better!
Mmm, hazelnut syrup would be delish! Or just chocolate sauce :)
Since it’s summer and I no longer have to work (love being a teacher!), I imagine myself making these daily! And I could totally swap out the caramel for chocolate or hazelnut or whatever I’m into that day! Great recipe!
I love iced coffee, and the skinnier the better; this looks over the top Averie
Mmm…granita style sounds perfect for summer!
Wow! So few calories, there’s no excuse not to make it!! I love frappuccinos!
I love coming up with skinny coffee drinks and this one does sound too good to be true!
oh yum. definitely trying this!!
Try adding a pinch of xanthan gum to the mix – it’s Starbuck’s secret to keeping their drinks from separating.
Good idea – I have them, but most people don’t keep them on hand, so I didn’t want to include something that many wouldn’t have or even know what they were :) But since I do have them both, I’ll try it!
I don’t own a coffee maker but if I did I would be whipping this up right now! It looks creamy and refreshing.
Omg you need to fix that! $14.99 Mr. Coffee. Works as good at $400 machines :)
I want to marry this. Seriously.
lol :)
I’m a starbucks addict and I seriously cry when I fork over the money. I could drink these all day, every day! Especially during the summer, so I can save my money for starbucks trips when I’m back at school with no kitchen or blender. :)
GIRL!!! Save your money! You’re a student! Now you can DIY!
This looks absolutely DIVINE and only 50 calories! This means we can have 2 – 3 at least a day. It does look much prettier then Starbuck’s :)
Cheers,
J+C
2-3x/day = YES :)
This stuff looks amazing!!! I can’t believe it’s only 50 calories, that’s like way too good to be true. I need to make this as soon as possible. It actually looks better than Starbucks’ Oh My-
Thanks!
Caramel frappuccinos are the best! And the fact that this one is only 50 calories, even more perfect ;) Thanks for sharing another goodie!
http://www.speakstyleandrock.com
Whaaaaaat?! This needs to happen in my kitchen rather quickly! Oh my word! It looks amazing, Averie!
Really?! 50 calories?! I’m in!! This looks drooling good to me, and I’m totally with you – I wanna chew rather than slurp my calories!
Oh my gosh, lady! Not only you know your brownies and cookies — these cold drinks are simply tempting!!
Thanks, Kiran! :)
This is one gorgeous frap, I’d happily suck one (ok two!) down as I’m reading by the pool :).
You’re by a pool and reading? Omg I need to be there :)
I looove Starbuck’s fraps! I get mine made with soy milk and have to pass on the whipped cream and toppings, but they are so delicious every single time. The mocha coconut is to die for.
now you can save yourself the time and money and make it!
Looking forward to trying this recipe 50 calories per serving cant beat that!
Alll of your ice coffee drinks look ooo sooo delicious! Love that this is low on the calories as well. Great recipe Averie! :)
thanks Eric!
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…
Amazing! Sounds delicious. Splurging without splurging, I like it:) I’ve been crushing on AriZona’s Green Tea . . . so good! A homemade version of it really wouldn’t be that hard, I would just would have to experiment. Thank you for figuring this one out for us, it will be a treat to have in the summer!
This looks wonderful! Can’t wait to try it on a 3-H day. I’ve been making my own lattes for a while. I use a dark roast Via, reconstituted with about 1/2 cup of hot water. (sometimes I add a little instant espresso powder to make it a little stronger. Then I nuke 1 cup of skim milk for a minute. I have this nifty tool called an “Aero-Latte” to whip the milk. It works great. The Aero Latte is a small, battery-powered whisk. It costs about $20, but, if you drink a lot of lattes, it pays for itself rather quickly. Skim milk actually whips up better than whole milk. Plus, no stopping @ the coffee shop and waiting in line. I even brought my Aero Latte with me when I traveled earlier this year. PS LOVE your blog. I have been reading it for some time, but I think this is my first comment.
I had an Aero Latte whipper about 5 yrs ago. It broke on me but fun little gadget! And yes, skim whips better than whole. Thanks for reading & saying hi!
Wow. That looks so amazing! I have got to try that!
You are too funny, Averie! Inhaling this amazing creation of yours would cause a brain freeze…but I’d totally be getting one! YUM! You always amaze me with your recipes…every single one is my fav!
You’re so sweet – thanks, Gloria!
Mmm what a fabulous treat, Averie! This looks so lovely!
That looks absolutely sinful! I love caramel and it makes such a pretty “garnish” too.
I love all your drinks Averie!! And any drink that saves me money and calories is a plus!!! Can’t wait to try this one too!
Yay! LMK how it goes if you try it!
Love these homemade frozen coffee drink recipes; thank you for sharing this one! I learned to make homemade mocha fraps recently and haven’t looked back. I figure I’m saving at least $20 a week because I’m hooked on them and would buy the $5 grande a few times a week. Perfect for the hot summer!
$20 a week that you’ve been saving is HUGE! That is awesome – congrats!
Averie, I just love this coffee drink recipe of yours! It is so nice to see unsweetened almond milk and stevia powder going mainstream. This is how I drink my coffee…hot or iced! Well…except for the sugar-free caramel part. Must add that as a treat this summer! Thank you for sharing! xo
Well I don’t know if it’s mainstream or not because I know I’ll get plenty of emails and questions about it, but hey, it works and hopefully more people are catching on or will be, too!
Oh my GAH do you have my number on this one or what????????????? I am an iced/frozen coffee junkie. I can stay away from most everything else in the summer but coffee drinks are my downfall. This is awesome. I AM MAKING THIS TODAY!!!
Woot! Glad you’re so happy and excited to see the recipe & LMK if you try it what you think!
Oh man, LOVE this! It’s just perfect for this hot weather we’re having right now! Delicious and refreshing but no guilt. Fabulous.
I wish it was hot here – but it’s like 75F. Maybe? Coastal breeze and it never seems to get super warm in by the ocean here in San Diego but I guess I shouldn’t complain :)
I have been looking for a recipe like this for the summer. This looks great and I will be trying today!
Ok good! LMK what you think!
Hello! :) You forgot to add the calories of the milk, so its 65 Kcal. No big deal, it still looks amazing!! Unfortunately here in the UK I cant find the fat free topping, so I’ll have to go for something with more calories. I have just recently discovered your blog and already tried a couple of recipes..OMG they were AMAZING! Thank you for sharing all these goodies!! :)
The milk is 15 calories for 24+ ounces of finished drink. It’s basically half of one calorie per ounce, or less. It’s so ridiculously small that the value is hardly worth mentioning. You burn more calories fixing the drink that you do ingesting the milk so I just left it off.
Thanks for finding me – glad you’re enjoying! :)
I am going to need one of these later today to power through work. We’re going to be a bit short on help but very busy…so on second thought, I just might take the whole batch with me! I have everything I need for this except the sf caramel…I think I’ll sub in choc sauce today and try the caramel over the weekend!
Ohhhh choc sauce sounds super good! I almost turned this into a mocha frappe – and may be doing that next week :) Enjoy this one and good luck with your day. Sounds shorthanded and busy and like you may need one of these – or a glass of wine :) LKM what you think of it!
This was the perfect little boost yesterday afternoon–cold, sweet and creamy with just a little caffeine (my kind of summer comfort beverage)! I went with a drizzle of chocolate sauce and picked up some caramel on my way home so I can have the rest today….yum yum yum!
I think chocolate sounds great – I almost made the recipe ‘mocha’ by adding cocoa powder to it. I still may :) Glad you liked it!
Holy Stickin moly!! This is so good looking and I can not believe it is only 50 calories. That just crazy and way to good to be true, but I believe you cause you can produce some pretty amazing things!
Looks awesome, Averie!
Thanks, Tieghan. Normally I don’t get too caught up in the stats of things but every once in awhile, if I can make something that even surprises myself, then hey, may as well post about it, loud and proud :)
Yes, I need one of these in my life…or one every afternoon.