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Caramel Frappuccino Weakness

by Judi / Momma Muse · 34 comments

in Recipe Box

I admit it. I’ve got a Starbucks Frappuccino weakness. Caramel specifically.


I thought to make the perfect frapp, I’d need to get a cappuccino machine. How wrong I was. I had to do some tweaking, but came up with a Caramel Frappuccino recipe that is a right-on for Starbucks.

Here you go:

Caramel Frappuccino Recipe:
2 c. ice
2/3 c. triple strength chilled coffee (I use instant, sometimes decaf)
2/3 c. milk
¼ c. caramel ice cream topping*
2 TBSP sugar

* I use the ice cream topping type in the squeeze bottle, but starbucks caramel syrup would be even tastier.

Mix it in the blender to the preferred consistency.

For extra YUM! Top with whipped cream and drizzle with caramel.

Note: this is what I came up with in my own kitchen. If this recipe is the same as someone else’s, it is purely coincidence and I hope they are enjoying their caramel frapps as much as I am.

I have stopped using most coffees and now use Equal Exchange or similar. My dad orders his coffee in raw beans from an equal exchange place in California – and roasts, then grinds the beans as needed per day.

{ 30 comments… read them below or add one }

loay (1 comments) January 9, 2006 at 7:49 pm

OMG i looooove caramel frappachinos were do u get the coffe part??

Judi (96 comments) January 9, 2006 at 7:54 pm

I usually just make some triple strength coffee – sometimes instant, sometimes decaf. And, even though serious coffee drinkers don’t agree with this, I will make enough extra to put in the fridge for the next few days.

Yummy stuff!!

sasha (1 comments) March 2, 2006 at 7:41 am

Do you happen to have a recipe for a caramel macchiato?

Lindsay (1 comments) April 14, 2006 at 2:50 am

I just came across this recipe for caramel macchiato… and it is the best! it tastes just like starbucks.. mmmmmmmmmm

Judi (96 comments) April 15, 2006 at 7:17 am

Linsday, the caramel macchiato recipe (link) you posted looks awesome – and very easy! Gotta love ease! ;) Thanks for the link. The only time I’ve had a caramel macchiato was when we took our oldest son to Children’s Hospital for dental surgery. It was yummy… but it was not Starbucks, ha!

Shauna (1 comments) August 24, 2006 at 10:46 am

This recipe works great!!!!!!! I love it!!!!!

Judi (96 comments) November 22, 2006 at 11:55 pm
Mardy Amsterdam (1 comments) December 29, 2006 at 2:47 pm

I have only had a frappucino caramel once because we haven’t got a Starbucks in the Netherlands. but I loved it, and i hope this is just as good :D ty

Dennis Chamberlin (1 comments) July 13, 2007 at 6:45 pm

I have experimented with a little stovetop espresso maker, and believe this gets better results than my attempts at strong coffee. You get less

1 serving espresso (it makes about 2-3 ounces)
1/2 cup milk (2%)
2 tablespoons caramel syrup (Torani or equivalent)
1 tablespoon caramel ice cream topping, e.g. Smuckers or (better) mrs richardsons
More than 1 cup of ice. (keep adding ice to blender until it begins to make a thin slush.) Should yield about 16 oz, but you can top it up with milk if you are running short.

While adjusting the recipe, our cat lapped up one of the failures. Within an hour, she’d beat up a springer spaniel, chased a fat golden retriever up a tree, and killed a bald eagle. Gotta try decaf next time…

Judi (96 comments) July 13, 2007 at 10:08 pm

Dennis, this recipe sounds tasty! Sounds much more.. um.. mature than mine, lol. :) Thanks for sharing lots of great info.

Audrey (2 comments) January 5, 2008 at 10:56 pm

This recipe is absolutely perfect! It tastes exactly like Starbucks! I made some for my friends and they LOVED it. We made another batch together but used chocolate syrup instead for Mocha Frappucinos. Good to know my favorite drink can be made right here in my house. Thanks and good job!

Jimbo (1 comments) February 25, 2008 at 4:55 pm

This is the perfect mix of all ingredients!!! Would recommend to Starbucks!

Laura (3 comments) March 2, 2008 at 3:40 pm

How do you make triple strength coffee? I have a coffee maker, but don’t know how to use it. My husband’s the regular coffee drinker, but he’s military and deployed. Help!

Judi (96 comments) March 2, 2008 at 11:06 pm

@ Audrey – glad you like it & your friends too.. lately my “thing” has been caramel mocha… a little caramel, a little chocolate.. mmm yummmy!

@ Jimbo – Thanks!!

@ Laura – I usually just make instant – for that I make heat a mug of water and instead of 1 scoop of instant coffee, I use 3… Now, when I *do* use the coffee pot, I again, use 3 times the coffee – and a little less water. The point is, when you make a frappuccino, the milk and ice will weaken the coffee, so you want it really strong to begin with.. Hope that helps! If not, let me know!

Robin (4 comments) December 2, 2008 at 2:29 am

Thanks so much for the recipe , I am also, hooked on Carmel Frapps. Seem to be getting them 3-4 nights per week.
Again Thanks.. anything to save money…

Heidi (10 comments) February 22, 2009 at 2:43 pm

Judi, I love this recipe so much I’ve worn out the original printout. So I’m back to reprint :-)

nicole (1 comments) February 28, 2009 at 8:25 pm

it taste ok but my opinion is is not better than starbucks…………..to me nothing is better than starbucks

Judi (96 comments) March 1, 2009 at 2:44 pm

I like starbucks too.. but if you tried this recipe, you’d know it tastes very close (and I never claimed it was better than a starbucks). Of course, if you’d rather spend the money on a starbucks, by all means, go right ahead.. must of us these days don’t have money to toss around ~ Not to mention copycat recipes bring our favorite tastes right to our own kitchen table – without the inflated cost! Yummmy!

Nat (2 comments) April 19, 2009 at 1:50 pm

This tastes just like Starbucks! Thanks so much for this recipe! I’m glad I found something I can make at home for free, rather then spend 3.50 all the time. I make extra coffee and store it in the fridge so the next few days it’ll be quicker to make it.

Robin (4 comments) May 1, 2009 at 11:47 am

I’ve tried making a caramel frap using another recipe but it wasn’t as good as this! I used Starbucks sugar free caramel and it was just right. Thanks for the recipe! :)

Judi (96 comments) May 7, 2009 at 9:40 am

Hey Robin, glad you liked it! I like it too.. and usually make extra coffee to keep in the fridge for a few days of quick and easy use.

Arubinst (1 comments) August 6, 2009 at 1:06 pm

Wow! I just tried your recipe and I admit I wasn’t expecting this to be SO GOOD and so close to what Starbucks serves.

I live in Switzerland where Starbucks costs almost twice as much as in the USA.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

myles @ secret restaurant recipes (1 comments) October 29, 2009 at 3:36 am

Thanks for the interesting caramel frappuccino recipe. This sounds absolutely delicious and cant wait to make it up.

melissa (2 comments) December 1, 2009 at 4:56 pm

thank you so much judi! i tried this and its great! 5 stars!

Gwen Flanter (1 comments) June 21, 2010 at 3:06 pm

Thanks so much for posting this. It took me forever to find the recipe!

Thatswasup (1 comments) July 21, 2010 at 8:45 pm

How do you make instant coffee? That part confuses me….

Judi / Momma Muse (79 comments) July 21, 2010 at 9:16 pm

I make instant coffee in the microwave. For a large mug of water, I’d use 3 teaspoons of instant coffee. Heat water until it’s hot, add instant coffee, stir.

If you make enough to use later, store the coffee in the fridge until you want to use it again.

The Healthy Cup (2 comments) July 16, 2011 at 2:28 pm

I have a home base coffee business and I sell gourmnet healthy coffee(www.thehealthycup.info) that’s packaged for a single 8oz cup serving. It’s made like instant coffee just open the pack pour in the coffee add 8oz of hot water and stir. I am trying to get my coffee out to as many people as possible and I will be hosting a Coffee, Cake and Conversation soon and I would like use my coffee in this recipe and serve as a main drink. So for clarification, if my 1 pack makes a 8oz cup, for triple strength I should use 3 packs for one 8oz cup?

Judi / Momma Muse (79 comments) July 16, 2011 at 3:03 pm

Yes, that’s what I’d recommend, HealthyCup. You want it extra strong so when you blend with the ice, it retains that good strong coffee flavor, rather than getting watered out. Sounds like a fun party! Want to send me a couple of sample and I’ll review them for you? I got our on Friday and Saturdays evenings most weekends and meet up with a group of ladies to drink coffee, knit, chat, web surf, whatever.. I think it’d be fun to do a review for you.

The Healthy Cup (2 comments) July 16, 2011 at 3:57 pm

Ok thanks for your help. I’m gonna try it and see how it turns out. By the way, what size cup was this recipe ment for, 8oz, 12oz or 16oz? Also I would love to have you and your friends sample my coffee and let me know how you enjoy it. Just let me know how I can get it to you.

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