Ingredients
1 c. cold, strong-brewed coffee
1 c. (or more) ice
3/4 c. whole milk
1/2 c. caramel, plus more for serving
Whipped cream, for serving
Preparation
Step 1In a blender, blend coffee, ice, milk, and caramel until smooth, thick, and icey. Add more ice, if necessary, to reach desired consistency. Step 2Divide between glasses and top with whipped cream. Drizzle with more caramel sauce.
Starbucks Frappuccinos® have been around since the mid ’90s, though it wasn’t until 1999 that the Caramel Frappuccino hit the scene. Prior to then, the drinks were just blended coffee and milk, so the addition of caramel and whipped cream was a HUGE deal. It also meant they could market their beverages to more than just die-hard coffee drinkers, and was one of the things that shot them to the insane popularity they have today. The same goes for this copycat Frappuccino—because of the high ratio of coffee to milk, it shouldn’t be too crazy caffeinated. If you’re really sensitive, though, try our copycat Vanilla Bean Frappuccino instead (it swaps coffee for vanilla ice cream to great effect). You can use store-bought caramel and whipped cream for this recipe: for crazy mornings or that true Starbucks taste, we even recommend it. But, if you want to take this over the top (or are using higher-end home brewed coffee, maybe?), try making your own homemade caramel and whipped cream. They’re not that difficult, and can turn this copycat into something even greater than its inspiration. Made this? Let us know how it went in the comments below. Editor’s Note: This recipe was updated on August 4, 2022.
