Starbucks Caramel Frappuccino Copycat Recipe

Make this popular Starbucks favorite at home, using a Frappuccino base syrup to recreate the perfectly smooth and creamy texture. This Caramel Frappuccino recipe is so good, you’ll want to make it all year!

Recipe Highlights

• Starbucks Caramel Frappuccino is a frozen drink made with ice, milk, caramel sauce, coffee, and Frappuccino base syrup. All ingredients are blended together then served with vanilla whipped cream and drizzle of caramel.
• The secret to making this drink just like Starbucks is to use a Frappuccino base syrup. This ingredient is in every single Starbucks Frappuccino and it’s what gives the ice cold beverage that creamy texture.
• This copycat Frappuccino recreates the Starbucks recipe so it’s as close to their version as possible, using a homemade Frappuccino base syrup. This recipe makes a grande (16 ounces) Caramel Frappuccino.
• There’s no need for any fancy espresso machines since the coffee used is an instant coffee, just like how Starbucks makes it.

More Starbucks copycat drinks: Mocha Frappuccino, Pink Drink, Espresso Frappuccino, Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew, Iced Caramel Macchiato, Iced Mocha, Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso

Ingredient Notes

• Homemade Frappuccino base syrup
  Make a batch of this first and use it to make all kinds of Frappuccinos. If you don’t want to use the base, you can just use simple syrup, but your drink will be a lot more icy and won’t have that smooth Frappuccino texture.
• Caramel sauce
  Can’t make Caramel Frappuccinos without caramel! Out of all the brands, this one is my favorite.
• Instant coffee
  There’s no brewed coffee in the Starbucks Frappuccino either. They use a Frappuccino Roast, which is made an instant coffee blend mixed with water. Use Starbucks VIA Instant Italian Roast, or any instant coffee you have.
• Milk
  Frappuccinos are made with whole milk but you can use any milk you like.
• Heavy cream
  This is to make the whipped cream topping.
• Vanilla syrup
  This is used to flavor the whipped cream.
• Ice
  I make ice using filtered water for a better tasting Frappuccino.

Step-by-Step Instructions

For full ingredients and instructions, scroll down to the recipe.

1. Whisk heavy cream and vanilla syrup to make whipped cream. Set aside.
   Use a handheld milk frother to make whipped cream in seconds.
2. Blend caramel sauce, instant coffee, milk, ice, and homemade Frappuccino base syrup until smooth.
   Start the blender on low, then turn it up to high. Use a tamper tool to make sure the ice gets blended evenly.
3. Pour Frappuccino into a cup.
4. Top drink with whipped cream and caramel drizzle.

My Blender Pick

Nothing makes perfect Frappuccinos like a Vitamix! No more random ice chunks in your frozen drink.

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Expert Tips

• Put ingredients into the blender as it’s in the recipe. Don’t put ice in first since you won’t get an efficient blend.
• Homemade Frappuccino base syrup is made of sugar, water, and xanthan gum (the secret to creating the Frappuccino texture). If you don’t want to use the base syrup, you can add simple syrup instead to match the sweetness but you won’t get the same texture.
• The longer you whisk the heavy cream, the stiffer it’ll get. It should take less than a minute, using a handheld milk frother, to get soft peaks. Spoon the whipped cream on top of your drink.
• Starbucks uses both caramel syrup, which doesn’t have dairy, and caramel sauce, which does have dairy, to make their Caramel Frappuccino. I’m using just caramel sauce for both.

Questions You May Have

Related

• Best Starbucks Frappuccinos
• Espresso Frappuccino
• 52 Popular Starbucks Secret Menu Drinks
• Best Starbucks Iced Coffees
• Starbucks Cold Brew Coffee Copycat

Did you make this? Please leave a star rating below or a review in the comments section.

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Starbucks Caramel Frappuccino Copycat Recipe

Author: Jee Choe

A delicious Starbucks copycat recipe, made just like the original!

5 from 11 votes

PRINT RECIPE PIN RECIPE

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 5 minutes mins

Course Drinks

Yield1 serving (16 ounces)

INGREDIENTS

 

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Caramel Frappuccino

• ▢ 3 tablespoons caramel sauce + more for drizzle on top of drink
• ▢ 1 ½ teaspoon instant coffee
• ▢ ½ cup whole milk
• ▢ 1 cup ice
• ▢ 3 tablespoons homemade Frappuccino base syrup

Vanilla Whipped Cream

• ▢ ¼ cup heavy cream
• ▢ 1 tablespoon vanilla syrup

INSTRUCTIONS

• Whisk heavy cream and vanilla syrup to make whipped cream. Set aside.

  Use a handheld milk frother to make whipped cream in seconds. The longer you whisk, the stiffer the whipped cream. It should take about 30 seconds to get peaks.
• Blend caramel sauce, instant coffee, milk, ice, and homemade Frappuccino base syrup until smooth.

  Start the blender on low, then turn it up to high. Use a tamper tool to make sure the ice gets blended evenly.
• Pour Caramel Frappuccino into a cup.

  The drink makes 16 ounces (grande size) of Frappuccino.
• Top drink with whipped cream and caramel drizzle.

EQUIPMENT

Blender

Handheld Frother

NOTES

• The homemade Frappuccino base syrup recipe is the star of this recipe since it’s what creates that smooth texture. Make a batch of this first and use it to make all kinds of Frappuccinos.
• Homemade Frappuccino base syrup is made of sugar, water, and xanthan gum (the secret to creating the Frappuccino texture). If you don’t want to use the base syrup, you can add simple syrup instead to match the sweetness but you won’t get the same texture.
• Frappuccinos are made with whole milk but you can use any milk you like.
• Put ingredients into the blender as it’s in the recipe. Don’t put ice in first since you won’t get an efficient blend.
• The longer you whisk the heavy cream, the stiffer it’ll get. It should take less than a minute, using a handheld milk frother, to get soft peaks. Spoon the whipped cream on top of your drink.
• You can make a caffeine-free Caramel Frappuccino by taking out the instant coffee in the recipe.
• Starbucks uses both caramel syrup, which doesn’t have dairy, and caramel sauce, which does have dairy, to make their Caramel Frappuccino. I’m using just caramel sauce for both.

NUTRITION

Calories: 651 | Carbohydrates: 107g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 94mg | Sodium: 343mg | Potassium: 360mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 65g | Vitamin A: 1126IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 228mg | Iron: 3mg