Learn how to make a caramel frappe with this delicious, easy recipe. Not only will this homemade frappe save you money, but it’s also a great way to use up leftover coffee!
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I am a sucker for beverages, especially coffee beverages.
But since I believe that homemade is usually better and since I’m frugal and hate parting with $4 every time I want to quench my craving, I’ve been on a mission to figure out how to make my own homemade coffee drinks that mimic the ones I love at coffee shops.
I found a great iced coffee recipe years ago, but up until now, I just couldn’t find a homemade frappe that I truly loved.
That changed recently when I discovered the trick of using coffee ice cubes. Suddenly I could make a frappe at home that wasn’t mediocre!
And I’m excited to show you how to make a frappe too!
In my opinion, the problem with using regular ice cubes to get that slushy frappuccino texture is that it also ends up making the drink much too watery and weak.
By subbing coffee ice cubes, you suddenly get a nice, strong coffee flavor– just the way it should be!
RELATED: 12 Creative Uses for Leftover Coffee
I’ll warn you though, this homemade caramel frappe recipe makes a very thick frappe. If you want it a bit thinner you’ll probably need to add more milk or brewed coffee.
And if you think the coffee flavor should be stronger, feel free to sprinkle in a bit of instant coffee!
You might also enjoy these recipes:
Homemade Caramel Frappe Recipe
Easy Homemade Caramel Frappe
Ingredients
- 1 cup strong, good quality brewed coffee, frozen into cubes (see Notes below)
- ½ cup milk
- 3 tablespoons sugar or more to taste (see Notes below for a calorie free option)
- 2 tablespoons caramel syrup
- whipped cream and caramel syrup for top (optional)
Instructions
- Place all ingredients except whipped cream in blender.
- Blend until ice cubes are crushed. If you have trouble getting it thoroughly blended, let it sit for a couple of minutes and try again.
- Top with whipped cream and drizzle with caramel syrup.
Notes
- For me, 1 cup is 7 ice cubes.
- To cut calories a bit, I now sub some of my favorite stevia for part of the sugar. By using some sugar, I don’t notice that unique stevia taste, but still get the benefit of fewer calories.
- If you want a stronger coffee flavor, add just a bit of instant coffee.
- If you aren’t using a high-powered blender and are having trouble getting the coffee ice cubes to blend you can try:
- letting the ingredients sit in the blender for 15 to 20 minutes before blending
- defrosting the ice cubes in the microwave for 30-45 seconds. Do it just long enough to soften them slightly, but not long enough to melt them and lose the slushiness that they give the frappe.
Jade
My husband loves caramel and this saves so much money over buying them at the store even. Thanks!
ThriftyFrugalMom
You’re welcome, Jade! I absolutely love that I don’t have to spend $5 anymore just to get my frappe fix. 🙂
Lara
The perfect drink for our date night! No need spend $4 worth of frappe. Thank you!
ThriftyFrugalMom
Exactly! Save money and still enjoy a delicious drink. What’s not to love?
Beth
What size will this make? (Tall? Grande?)
ThriftyFrugalMom
That’s a good question. I’ve never poured into one of the Starbucks’ cups before to check, but I think it would actually be in between the two.
Elizabeth
It tastes delicious! My problem is, my frappe isnt getting thick enough! And I used 8 cubes and followed the other directions as it said. Is there anyway to make this even thicker!? Or is it my blender?
Lydia Beiler
Hmmm…are you thawing the ice cubes at all? My guess is that maybe you are thawing them too much and it’s keeping it from being as thick. My frappes are typically super thick, almost too thick sometimes. But if I let the ice melt too much before I blend it, it will become thin and not nearly as good. It could have something to do with your blender too. My old blender always made perfectly thick ones. We now have a super high powered blender and I can’t let my ice cubes thaw really at all (just enough to be able to get them out of the tray) because it crushes the ice so powerfully that the frappe becomes much thinner.
Does that help at all! I hope you can figure it out!
John Jones
I buy Starbucks Caramel frappies at Walmart, $2.50 each, and put them in the fridge. Problem is my kids like em to. This gets expensive, but works good when you’re in a hurry.
What about making these and storing in the fridge? Like for the week? Will it keep?
ThriftyFrugalMom
Yeah, the store bought ones definitely are super convenient! These homemade frappes won’t store well in the fridge. They’re made to be more slushy and when they melt, it’s not that they’re gross, they just lose some of their awesomeness. The storebought Starbucks frappes are more like what I would call iced coffee- strong coffee with milk and sugar added and if you like flavoring too. I have a recipe for a delicious one, but don’t have it on the blog yet. But if you Google iced coffee recipes, I’m pretty sure you could find a good one. Or if you’d like I can email you the recipe to the email address that you used when you commented. At any rate, iced coffee will easily keep for several days and I love it as store bought frappe substitution.
Katya
Thank you for this recipe! I love frappes and it’s great to know it’s possible to perfectly make one at home. Can’t wait to try it! 🙂
ThriftyFrugalMom
Not too late at all! 🙂 Hope you can give it a try soon….I’m pretty sure that you’ll love it.
Kelly
Mmmm! Love this! Totally need to try!
ThriftyFrugalMom
It’s so good…better than most coffee shops, if I have to say so myself! I love that I can customize it and make it as sweet and as strong (coffee flavor) as I want.
laura
YES! I love making my own frappes! They are SO expensive, over 5 bucks up here–yikes.
ThriftyFrugalMom
I know! I haven’t bought one in ages because of making my own, but we were away over the weekend and I was craving one so we stopped at a coffee shop and I gulped pretty hard at the $5 price!