If you’re a fan of McDonald’s Caramel Frappe, you’re in luck! With this copycat recipe, you can enjoy all of that sweet, creamy goodness right at home.
Nothing beats the summer heat better than a cold, sweet, and creamy McDonald’s Caramel Frappe!
It’s wonderfully delicious and refreshing. It’s not easy on the wallet, though!
What if I told you that you can enjoy the goodness of the same irresistible frappe at a fraction of the cost?
If you don’t mind taking out the blender, you can make it yourself and skip the drive-thru. It’s quick, easy, and costs a lot less, too.
A frappe is tasty, but homemade frappes are even better.
The next time you get a craving, head to your kitchen instead of Mickey Dee’s. This copycat recipe is all you need. Enjoy!
McDonald’s Caramel Frappe
McDonald’s Caramel Frappe is a thick, milkshake-like beverage infused with coffee and caramel.
Finished with a dollop of whipped cream and a caramel drizzle, it’s both a delight to the eyes and the palate.
As you may have guessed, however, McDonald’s was not the first chain to come up with such a beverage.
Starbucks started it all with its Frappuccino, a similar coffee and caramel blended drink.
What makes people more partial to the McDonald’s version, however, is the price.
Ranging from $2.39 to $3.39, the Caramel Frappe is more affordable than the Starbucks’ Frappuccino, which ranges from $3.95 to $4.95.
And the flavor? According to many, while the Caramel Frappe has less coffee flavor, it’s much smoother than the Frappuccino.
But if you make this recipe, you can save your pennies!
You’ll just need some basic ingredients you probably already have on hand, a good-quality blender, and this easy-peasy copycat recipe.
Ingredients
Cold coffee: Not just cold – frozen. To make this component, pour the coffee into an ice tray and freeze. It takes a while, so just make a huge batch one time. That way, you have a lot in stock.
Almond milk: It’s the second component that forms the base of the beverage. Other types of milk will work, too, but almond milk adds a nutty flavor.
Caramel syrup: This ingredient is used to make the base of the drink and to garnish it, so be sure you have extra.
Whipped cream, chocolate shavings, and a cherry: A caramel frappe isn’t as good without the garnishes! These three elements transform the simple drink from so-so to spectacular.
Tips for the Best Caramel Frappe
- The type of coffee dictates how strong your caramel frappe will be, so you’ll want to brew whatever you like. If you’re not opposed to instant coffee, go right ahead.
- The next important element to frappe is the milk. This recipe calls for almond milk because it has that lovely nutty flavor. But you’re also free to choose from whole, skim, 2%, and even non-dairy milk. Keep in mind that the consistency of the drink relies heavily on the type of milk, though. So if you want your frappe to be super creamy, you may want to stick to full-fat milk. Heavy cream or half-and-half work wonders, too!
- If you want a thicker frappe, there are various ways to do so. First up – you can’t go wrong with vanilla ice cream! Apart from the consistency, it also adds more flavor.
You can also use sweetened condensed milk, maple syrup, smoothie powder, or instant pudding mix to thicken your frappe.
- Making a frappe requires a high-powered blender or smoothie maker since it calls for crushing ice.
- The great thing about this recipe is that the coffee doubles as the frappe’s cooling agent. That means you won’t need to worry about regular ice watering down the drink.
- This recipe calls for caramel syrup to add flavor to the frappe, but there are a bunch of other syrups and flavorings you can use. Hazelnut, pumpkin spice, butterscotch, chocolate, and cinnamon all make great options. Feel free to experiment!
What is A Frappe?
Frappe (pronounced ‘fra-pay’) is a cold, blended beverage.
It’s a French term that means “beaten,” so technically, any ice-blended drink counts as a frappe, even milkshakes, fruit shakes, and slushies.
However, people all over the world have widely used the word to refer to a beverage that’s infused with coffee.
For instance, in Greece, a frappe is made by blending sweetened coffee until creamy and poured over ice.
French people make a frappe by blending ice cream, ice, and coffee.
Here in the United States, a frappe is a mixture of coffee, milk, and ice, with a whipped cream and caramel topping.
Fun fact: the frappe is said to have been invented by a French man, Dimitris Vakondios.
He supposedly got the idea while trying to make coffee, when he did not have any hot water available. He instead poured his cold coffee on ice, and the rest is history.
Difference Between a Frappe and Frappuccino
Frappe and frappuccino: are they really one and the same? The answer is, yes and no.
A frappe is a blended beverage that’s typically infused with coffee. A Frappuccino is a trademarked drink invented by Starbucks.
“Frappuccino” is a combination of the words “frappe” (New England’s word for a milkshake) and “cappuccino.”
It refers to the chain’s espresso-based drink that’s blended with ice cream.
So there you have it! While the Frappuccino is a type of frappe, not all frappes are Frappuccinos.
McDonald’s Caramel Frappe (Copycat Recipe)
Ingredients
2 cups cold coffee
2 cups almond milk
3 1/2 tablespoons caramel syrup, plus more for garnish
Whipped cream for garnish
Chocolate shavings for garnish
Cherry, for garnish
Instructions
- Brew the coffee and cool to room temperature.
- Pour the coffee into ice cube trays and freeze.
- Place frozen coffee cubes into a blender. Add almond milk and caramel syrup and blend until the mixture is frothy.
- Take a clear, tall glass and garnish the walls with caramel syrup. Pour the caramel frappe into the glass.
- Top the frappe with whipped cream, caramel syrup, chocolate shavings, and a cherry. Enjoy!
