Name: Caramel Frappuccino® Recipe
Prep time: 30 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 2
Ingredients: 1.5-2 cups of ice; 1 cup strongly brewed coffee; 3/4 cup milk of choice; 1/4 cup caramel sauce; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; whipped cream (or heavy cream) and any caramel sauce for garnish; 1/2 tsp xanthan gum; 2 1\2 tablespoons sugar if you need (optional)

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In this post: Trade your expensive fraps for this homemade Caramel Frappuccino®! You won’t even need to hide your Starbucks® receipt. This recipe is always a hit with my friends and family!

The caramel Frappuccino® is one of the most popular coffee drinks for its sweet, rich taste! But let’s be honest, going out to get one all the time can be seriously inconvenient! Learn to make this fantastic drink at home with step-by-step instructions.

Table of Contents

What Is a Frappuccino®?

A Frappuccino® is a coffee beverage introduced to the public by Starbucks® in 1995. In its simplest form, a Frappuccino® is a blended iced coffee with flavored syrups and whipped cream on top.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This caramel Frappuccino® recipe:

is quick and easy to make
doesn’t contain complicated instructions or hard-to-find ingredients
is totally adaptable to any dietary restrictions or allergies (see below for ideas)

all the ingredients: cool coffee, ice, milk, sugar, xanthan gum, vanilla extract, caramel sauce, and whipping cream

Caramel Frappuccino® Ingredients

Ice: blending the ice and coffee together is one of the keys to making a Frappuccino®.
Strongly brewed coffee: the coffee will get a little watered down by the ice, so it’s important to brew it strong!
Milk of choice: dairy, almond, coconut, soy, oat, etc.; any milk will work for this recipe.
Caramel syrup: this rich and creamy sauce adds the perfect flavor to coffee, cold or hot! In this recipe, you can use extra caramel sauce as a yummy garnish.
Vanilla extract: a little of this baking staple goes a long way when it comes to flavor.
Whipped cream (or heavy cream): this garnish on top of the Frappuccino® is so fun and delicious!
Xanthan gum: this ingredient is a wonderful additive if you enjoy thicker, creamier Frappuccinos®.
Sugar (optional): an optional addition for those of you who enjoy extra sweet coffee!

How to Make a Caramel Frappuccino®

1. Prepare 1 cup of strong coffee. Cover and chill in the refrigerator for 15 minutes. Put ice and chilled coffee in a blender.

cold milk, vanilla extract, xanthan gum, and sugar added to the coffee and ice in the blender

2. Add cold milk, vanilla extract, optional xanthan gum, and sugar as desired.

adding the caramel sauce to the blender of coffee, ice, milk, sugar, xanthan gum, and vanilla extract

3. Add your favorite caramel sauce.

fully blended mixture of coffee, ice, milk, caramel sauce, vanilla extract, xanthan gum, and sugar

4. Blend on high speed until smooth. 5. Pour into glasses. Top with whipped cream and drizzle with your favorite caramel sauce!

Notes and Variations

You could use other flavored syrups like chocolate, strawberry, or hazelnut
Using espresso instead of coffee will give your Frappuccino® a stronger flavor
Add some sea salt to make your a salted caramel Frappuccino®

Freezing Your Frappuccino®

You can freeze the Frappuccino® for later (just don’t freeze the whipped cream). Defrost it at room temperature for 20-30 mins, add whipped cream and caramel sauce, and enjoy this delicious treat!

Serving Suggestions

You can serve a caramel Frappuccino® with breakfasts like:

Caramel Frappuccinos® also go well with desserts like:

The Secret Caramel Frappuccino® Ingredient

You may be surprised to hear that there is a secret ingredient that can make caramel Frappuccinos® a billion times better. Alright, I won’t keep you in suspense any longer! The secret ingredient to a thick, creamy caramel Frappuccino® is xanthan gum. Only a small amount of this magical ingredient will make your Frappuccino® smooth and creamy, even as the ice melts!

Want a Healthier Version of Starbucks® Caramel Frappuccino®?

There are some ways to make your Frappuccino® healthier, though it won’t taste quite as good as the original recipe:

Skip the added sugar or add artificial sweetener instead
Use low-fat or nut milk (especially if you are lactose intolerant)
Try sugar-free caramel sauce
Use little to no whipping cream and caramel drizzle on top

Frappuccino in a glass with whipped cream and caramel sauce drizzled on top

FAQ

How much caffeine is in a Starbucks® Frappuccino®?

A Starbucks® Frappuccino® has around 100mg of caffeine, which is less than the usual 182mg in a regular cup of coffee.

Can you freeze leftovers?

You can freeze the Frappuccino® leftovers – aside from the whipping cream and caramel drizzle! Just defrost them for 20-30 minutes at room temperature and enjoy.

How to make a Frappuccino® stronger

To make your caramel Frappuccino® stronger, you could try:

using espresso instead of (or along with) coffee
adding extra instant coffee
freezing leftover coffee as coffee ice cubes and using that instead of regular ice cubes
using more coffee and less milk

Dietary Considerations

To make this recipe dairy-free/vegan you should use:

nut or soy milk
a vegan caramel sauce substitute
vegan whipping cream (my favorite is coconut whipping cream!)

More Coffee Inspiration