I remember many, many years ago I made friends with one of the baristas at ‘bucks that worked in the Target. I told her I wanted a drink that would get me going and tasted good – I trusted her opinion. She made me a double Americano over ice with a little sweetener. When I tell you I buzzed around that store SO fast! Not only did it give me the jump I needed – it was delicious too! The shaken espresso is the same drink, just better!

What is a salted caramel shaken espresso?

A shaken espresso is just that – fresh brewed espresso poured over ice and shaken. You can add sweeteners to it while shaking and easily change up the flavor. (Like my original shaken espresso that uses brown sugar syrup!) The cold espresso is then poured over ice and topped with milk to make one of the best coffee based drinks you have ever tasted! Some other reasons I love this shaken espresso is-

• simple to make
• easy to customize
• save money making it at home

Caramel shaken espresso ingredients

The best part of this drink is that you don’t need a whole list of complicated ingredients to make it at home. In fact, you may have most of them already! Once you have everything, you can easily make this drink over and over! To make a salted caramel iced espresso at home you will need:

• espresso
• salted caramel syrup
• milk
• ice

Espresso – Don’t have an espresso machine? That’s ok! Use a high quality instant espresso and hot water. I love this King Arthur instant espresso! It has a great flavor and is high quality.

Salted caramel syrup – Torani is my go to for pre-made syrups! I love their salted caramel syrup for this espresso drink. (Here are some of my homemade syrups too!)

Milk – Use your favorite milk for this drink. I love adding heavy cream in place on milk to make a decadent copycat coffee drink. Feel free to use your favorite milk or milk alternative here.

How to make a salted caramel shaken espresso

Once you have gathered all of your ingredients, you will also need to grab a mason jar or cock tail shaker, glass and spoon.

Step 1 – Make the espresso. Either brew your espresso with an espresso machine or make hot instant espresso. You want a fresh hot espresso base for this drink.

Step 2 – Shake. Add ice to a mason jar or cocktail shaker. Pour the syrup and hot espresso in. Shake for 1-2 minutes until the outside of the jar is cold and most of the ice has melted. The espresso will be frothy too.

Step 3 – Enjoy! Pour the shaken espresso into another glass that is full of ice. Add your milk on top and stir to combine. Sip and enjoy!

Other caramel drinks to try

Looking for other caramel drinks to try? Some other favorites are:

• Caramel frappuccino – Starbucks copycat!
• Salted caramel latte
• Iced caramel macchiato
• Caramel brulee latte
• Caramel apple sangria

Recipe Tips and FAQs

I love that a drink that is so popular right now is actually super simple to make at home. Here are some quick tips and frequently asked questions about this salted caramel shaken espresso.

Why is it called a shaken espresso? It’s called a shaken espresso because you literally shake the fresh brewed espresso over ice. It helps to cool down the hot espresso and gives it a nice airy texture.

What’s the difference between a latte and a shaken espresso? A shaken espresso is more concentrated than a traditional latte. A latte uses steamed milk and foam which dilutes the caffeine in the drink. A shaken espresso only uses milk on top.

Can I use caramel sauce instead? Yes, you can use caramel sauce instead of caramel syrup. I love using my homemade caramel sauce in coffee drinks! I suggest adding it right away to the hot espresso so it has time to blend into the coffee.

How can I make this dairy free? You sure can! Instead of the milk that is listed, feel free to use your favorite milk alternative. Almond, coconut and oat milk would be great options for this shaken espresso.

How do I order a shaken espresso at Starbucks? The great thing is Starbucks has shaken espressos on their menu full time! You can either order one that they offer, like the Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso, or order a different one. If you wanted to order a salted caramel shaken espresso you would say “Can I have a grande salted caramel shaken espresso?” Easy peasy!

Other Starbucks copycat drinks to try

If you are anything like me, you are always on the hunt for new coffee ideas! Some of my other favorite copycat Starbucks drinks are:

• Pumpkin spice latte – classic fall drink!
• Iced mocha latte
• Passion tea lemonade – fun summer drink!
• Iced white chocolate mocha

Salted Caramel Shaken Espresso

Yield: 1 drink

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes

Make a sweet and caffeine packed salted caramel shaken espresso.

Print

Ingredients

• 2 shots of espresso
• 1 tablespoon salted caramel syrup
• 1 cup milk
• ice

Instructions

1. Brew the espresso.
2. Place it in a mason jar or cocktail shaker with ice and the salted caramel syrup. Shake until the outside of the container is cold and most of the ice is melted.
3. Pour the chilled espresso into another cup of ice.
4. Add your milk of choice.
5. Stir and enjoy!

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I love the flavors of fall. I love fall in general but when add the cozy flavors of caramel and apple and pumpkin and chai – it’s just the best. Two of my favorites together are caramel and apple though! Taking a bite of this caramel apple dip just makes me think of falling leaves and roaring fireplaces.

What is caramel apple dip?

This is a cream cheese based dip that is made with homemade caramel sauce, sauteed apples and apple pie spices. It’s deliciousness in dip form! It’s great with apples (of course) but my kids like it smeared on graham crackers too. They also like to eat it right off the spoon but we try and encourage the apples. Everyone will love this caramel apple dip because:

• it’s easy to make
• full of fall flavors
• great to bring to parties

I can guarantee that everyone will love this insanely delicious dessert!

Caramel apple dip ingredients

Another reason this dip is so wonderful is that you only need a handful of ingredients. To make homemade caramel apple dip you will need:

• cream cheese
• brown sugar
• caramel
• heavy cream
• butter
• apples

Cream cheese – You can use any variety of plain cream cheese that you prefer – light, or regular, etc. Just make sure that it is softened before you start to make this dip.

Brown sugar – Instead of plain white sugar, I used brown sugar for this dip. It gives such a great depth of flavor and adds to the overall goodness of this fall inspired dessert.

Caramel – You want a thick, gooey caramel here. I suggest my homemade caramel sauce or even dulce de leche. If you are going to use store bought – I suggest dulce de leche due to it’s sweetness and how thick it is. You can find it in the baking aisle near the sweetened condensed milk.

Heavy cream – This helps keep the dip thick but pliable. It aids in mixing everything together. I found that regular milk is too thin for this dip. You can use half ‘n half if you don’t have heavy cream on hand.

Butter – Salted butter works great in this easy dip recipe. Feel free to use unsalted as well. This is for sauteing the apple to add to the dip.

Apple – Use your favorite apple variety. The apple is sauteed in butter and then folded into the dip. It’s what makes this dip a true caramel apple treat! You will also want some apples for dipping.

How to make caramel apple dip

Once you have gathered all your ingredients, you are going to also want to grab mixing bowls, spoons, cutting board, knife and a skillet. You will also need either a handheld mixer or stand mixer to beat the cream cheese.

Step 1: Saute the apple. Place the butter and diced apple in a skillet over medium high heat. Saute, stirring occasionally, until the apple is softened. This should take about 5-10 minutes.

Step 2: Mix. While the apple is softening, mix together the cream cheese, sugar, heavy cream and caramel in a bowl or stand mixer. Reserve some of the caramel for drizzling on top of the finished dip.

Step 3: Fold in apples. Once the apples are softened, let them cool on the counter or in the fridge. You don’t want them to be hot before adding them to the cream cheese mixture. Fold them in with a silicone spatula into the cream cheese mixture.

Step 4: Serve. Scoop the caramel apple dip into a serving bowl. Drizzle caramel sauce on top and add a sprinkle of cinnamon, if desired. Use sliced apples to eat the dip.

Recipe FAQs and Tips

This dip is simple to make and great for getting the kids involved in the kitchen. Here are some tips and tricks to make this caramel apple dip recipe even easier.

How do I soften cream cheese quickly? If you need to get your cream cheese soft quick, the easiest way to do this is by cutting it into cubes and then placing it in the microwave or a water bath. Microwave it in 15 second intervals so you don’t burn the cream cheese.

What if I don’t have a stand mixer? You can use a large mixing bowl and a handheld mixer to whip the cream cheese. Don’t have either? No problem! You just need to use a fork to whisk together all the ingredients.

Are there apples in the dip? Yes! There are sauteed apples inside this caramel apple dip!

What kind of apples do I need? You can use your favorite apple for this dip! Courtland, Granny Smith, Cosmic crisp. They are all fabulous!

Keep reading for storage instructions and the full recipe.

How to store leftovers

If you have any left dip, place it in an airtight container such as a Tupperware, and store it in the fridge. It will stay fresh and good to eat for up to 4 days. Just give it a good stir before serving again. Freezing is not recommended for this dip.

Other caramel apple recipes

I am a firm believer that caramel and apple are one of the greatest flavor combos ever. If you agree, be sure to check out my other caramel apple recipes:

• Caramel apple cake
• Caramel apple sangria – my most popular fall drink recipe!
• Caramel apple danish
• Apple chai latte – no caramel in this one but it’s pretty delicious!

Caramel apple dip

Yield: 12 servings

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Everyone will love this creamy caramel apple dip!

Print

Ingredients

• 1 block of cream cheese, softened
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1/4 cup caramel or dulce de leche, separated
• 3 tablespoons heavy cream
• 2 tablespoons salted butter
• 1 apple, diced
• cinnamon, for topping, optional

Instructions

1. Place the butter and the diced apple in a skillet over medium high heat. Saute for 5-10 minutes or until apples are soft. Allow to cool completely.
2. Mix together the softened cream cheese, brown sugar, caramel sauce and heavy cream in a stand mixer or with a handheld mixer. Mix until smooth.
3. Fold in the sauteed apples with a spatula once they are cooled.
4. Spoon the dip into a serving dish.
5. Top with a drizzle of reserved caramel sauce and a sprinkle of cinnamon.
6. Serve with sliced apples and graham crackers.
7. Enjoy!

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You know when you go to parties or family events and there is a dip next to the fruit tray? The one that you keep coming back to for seconds and thirds? That you don’t even care about the fruit.. yea. This is THAT dip!

Caramel fruit dip is a creamy addition to any dessert or snack spread. You are going to love this easy caramel dip because:

• Super easy to make – you only need 3 ingredients!
• Sweet addition to any dessert table.
• Everyone will love it!

Caramel dip ingredients

The best part of this dip? You only need three common ingredients. Heck, you may even have them in your house right now! Go check and see if you have:

• cream cheese
• brown sugar
• caramel sauce

Cream cheese – Any variety of cream cheese will work for this recipe.

Brown sugar – You can use light or dark brown sugar here. I do not recommend using plain white sugar.

Caramel sauce – Any brand caramel is perfect. No caramel sauce? You can make your own homemade caramel! It’s easy and so much better than store bought.

You will also need a hand or stand mixer, medium size mixing bowl and a spatula to make this dip.

How to make caramel fruit dip

I know I said the best part was that you only need 3 ingredients, but honestly, the best part is that it’s so easy to make! Mix, mix and mix to make this perfect fruit dip.

Step 1 Mix together the cream cheese and brown sugar. Place your softened cream cheese in the medium mixing bowl along with the brown sugar. Using your handheld mixer, mix until the sugar is combined into the cream cheese and not gritty.

Pro tip: Leave the cream cheese out for about 30 minutes before you make this dip. Don’t have time? Use the soften function on your microwave to quick soften the cream cheese.

Step 2 Combine the caramel After you have a smooth cream cheese and brown sugar mixture, add in the caramel sauce. I like to use a spatula and fold it into the cream cheese mix. Scoop into a serving dish and enjoy!

FAQs about homemade caramel dip

What do you use to dip in the caramel dip? The most common use for this dip is fruit. Strawberries, cantaloupe, apples, bananas. Any fruit! Graham crackers are another great option. We like to make cinnamon sugar tortilla chips and dip them into the caramel dip too!

How much does this dip make? You will get a little bit more than 8 ounces of this dip after mixing. If you need more, feel free to double the recipe! It’s easy to double or even triple!

How do I store it? Since there is dairy in this dip, you do want to store it in an airtight container in the fridge. We put ours in a tupperware in the fridge. Thaw slightly before serving.

Other caramel treats to try

Love a good caramel treat? Try some of our other favorites:

• Caramel apple bundt cake
• Caramel apple danish
• Salted caramel cake
• Caramel apple sangria

Caramel fruit dip

Print

Ingredients

• 1 (8 oz) block of cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup of brown sugar
• 2-3 tablespoons caramel sauce

Instructions

In a mixer, whip together the cream cheese and brown sugar until combined.

Add the caramel sauce and mix well.

Spoon into a bowl and enjoy!

Did you make this recipe?

If you loved this recipe, we would love for you to leave a review to help others!

Other dips to try

Like this recipe?  Be sure to check out: 

Pumpkin cheesecake dip

Margherita pizza dip

Did you make this recipe? I’d love for you to leave a review in the comments below or the recipe card above. Want to make it later? Pin the image below to your favorite board. Either way, thank you so much for the support!

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If there is one drink that my daughter requests from Starbucks the most, it would be the caramel frappuccino. She absolutely loves the sweet drink! I love that I am able to make it at home and save some serious dough.

This delicious homemade caramel frappuccino consists of blended ice, milk, sugar, vanilla extract, caramel sauce, and strongly brewed coffee. The icy coffee beverage is topped with whipped cream and a drizzle of caramel sauce or syrup for added flavor and decadence!

Enjoy this Starbucks Caramel Frappuccino to kickstart your morning or a sweet treat to end the day. 

What Is A Caramel Frappuccino?

Caramel Frappuccino is a chilled coffee-based beverage that’s a popular drink sold by Starbucks. It typically consists of strongly brewed coffee, milk, ice, caramel sauce (or syrup), vanilla extract, and sugar. 

This drink is topped with whipped cream and a drizzle of caramel sauce to be enjoyed as a sweet and creamy treat. Starbucks offers its caramel frappuccino in tall, grande, and venti. 

Making this copycat caramel frappuccino gives you the flexibility of controlling the ingredients used and the quantity to make depending on your personal preferences and needs while tasting just as good as the real thing!

Copycat Caramel Frappuccino Ingredients

• ice
• strongly brewed coffee
• milk
• caramel sauce
• vanilla extract
• whipped cream and any caramel sauce for garnish

Ice – You will need up to 2 cups of ice for your frappuccino. You can use less if you like a thinner frappuccino.

Coffee – You want a strong coffee or even an espresso for this caramel frappuccino. You can use hot coffee or go for a cold brew or even instant espresso.

Milk – Use your favorite milk in this recipe. Want to make it dairy-free? Use almond, coconut or oat milk.

Caramel – You can use store bought caramel sauce or take it up a notch a make a batch of my homemade caramel sauce! Adds some time but it’s totally worth it!

How To Make A Starbucks Caramel Frappuccino At Home 

Step 1: Blend the Ingredients

Add the ice, brewed coffee, milk, caramel sauce, vanilla extract, and sugar to a blender and blend on high speed until smooth. 

Step 2: Serve

Pour the freshly blended caramel frappuccino into two tall glasses and top with whipped cream. You could also line both glasses with caramel sauce if you wish. 

Other Frappuccinos To Try

We love a good copycat frappuccino around here! Some of our favorites are:

• Starbucks Cookie Crumble Frappuccino
• Double Chocolate Chip Frappuccino
• Starbucks Strawberries and Cream Frappuccino
• S’mores Frappuccino

Recipe FAQs

What’s In A Caramel Frappuccino At Starbucks?

The Starbucks Caramel Frappuccino consists of a blend of espresso, caramel syrup, milk, and ice. A swirl of whipped cream is added to the top of the drink with a drizzle of caramel sauce for added decadence. Feel free to use espresso in yours to make it just like the original!

Does A Caramel Frappuccino Have Coffee In It?

Yes! Coffee is a key ingredient in a caramel frappuccino and helps to balance the sweetness and creaminess of the rest of the ingredients. 

Is Starbucks Caramel Frappuccino Healthy?

Despite being loaded with blended ice, Starbucks caramel frappuccino still contains a lot of sugar and fat content from the rest of the ingredients used. To reduce the sugar and fat content, ask the barista to use fat-free milk, leave off the whipped cream, and skip the caramel drizzle. Like any treat, enjoy your caramel frappuccinos in moderation. 

Is Caramel Frappe And Caramel Frappuccino The Same Thing?

Both these drinks are cold blended coffee beverages that include caramel flavoring (from caramel sauce or syrup), milk, and ice, and topped with whipped cream and a drizzle of caramel sauce. 

The difference between these two drinks has more to do with the fact that they are proprietary products made by different companies and less about the ingredients used. The Caramel Frappe is made and sold by Mcdonald’s, while the Caramel Frappuccino is made and sold by Starbucks. 

How do I order at Starbucks?

This one is super easy to order since it’s a staple on their everyday menu. Just ask the barista for a “caramel frappuccino” and pick your size. You can adjust the milk and if you’d like to use sugar-free syrups when ordering.

Other Starbucks Copycat Drinks to Try

• Starbucks Shaken Espresso
• Starbucks caramel macchiato recipe
• Copycat Starbucks Iced Mocha
• Starbucks Cool Lime Refresher

Caramel frappuccino

Yield: 1 drink

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes

Make a decadent Starbucks copycat caramel frappuccino at home!

Print

Ingredients

• 1.5-2 cups of ice
• 1 cup strongly brewed coffee
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1/4 cup caramel sauce
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• whipped cream and caramel for topping

Instructions

1. Brew your coffee and allow it to cool to room temperature. You can also use cold brew.
2. Place everything except the topping into a high powered blender.
3. Blend until smooth. Add more ice if, needed.
4. Pour into a cup and add whipped cream and caramel on top.
5. Enjoy!

Did you make this recipe?

If you loved this recipe, we would love for you to leave a review to help others!

Did you make this recipe? I’d love for you to leave a review in the recipe card above or the comments below. Want to make it later? Pin the image below to your favorite board. THANK YOU for the support!

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