Save yourself a trip and $5 by making your own Caramel Iced Coffee at home. Not only that, but you can adjust it to your own preferences so you know it's going to be made the way you like it every time.
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I love making iced coffee at homebecause it lets me create a treat that is perfectly tailored to my taste. This version is inspired by the caramel iced coffees I love from Dunkin Donuts.
It has just the right balance of coffee and sweetness and is easy to customize. Add a light drizzle of caramel or go a little sweeter. It is completely up to you.
The combination of coffee and caramel makes this drink perfect any time of day, whether you enjoy it in the morning, as an afternoon pick me up, or as a sweet after dinner treat.
If you enjoy trying new flavors, there are plenty of fun options to make at home like Oreo Iced Coffee Recipe, Cinnamon Toast Crunch Latte, or Iced White Chocolate Mocha. The possibilities are endless.
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💛 Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Quick and easy. This iced caramel latte comes together fast, making it easy to skip the coffee shop line and enjoy a homemade treat instead.
- Simple ingredients. All you need is coffee, ice, caramel, milk, and a sweetener, with optional whipped cream or a fun garnish on top. It is just as easy as our Peppermint Iced Coffee or Vanilla Iced Latte, without making a simple syrup.
- Easy to scale. Make a single glass or a full batch for sharing. This recipe adjusts easily to however many servings you need.
🛒 Ingredients
Coffee. Use warm or freshly brewed coffee so the sugar and caramel dissolve easily. If you have leftover grounds, try making our Coffee Playdough Recipe for the kids.
Caramel sauce. Regular ice cream topping caramel works well, but drizzling caramel can be used too.
Milk. Use milk, half and half, or heavy cream for extra richness. Dairy free milk works as well, though you may want a higher milk to coffee ratio.
See the recipe card below for full ingredients and instructions.
🔀 Substitutions & Variations
Vanilla Caramel Flavor: Add 1 teaspoon of vanilla to the hot coffee mixture for a richer vanilla-caramel taste.
Salted Caramel Twist: Stir in a small pinch of salt to balance bitterness and create a salted caramel flavor.
Dairy-Free Option: Use dairy-free milk and dairy-free caramel sauce. Finish with coconut whipped cream for a creamy topping.
💰 Budget-Friendly Tips
Use affordable caramel. Ice cream caramel syrup or store-brand caramel works just as well as pricier specialty sauces.
Stretch the milk. Using ice and coffee as the main volume keeps milk costs low while still creating a creamy drink.
Skip café add-ons. Whipped cream and extra drizzle are optional, and the drink is just as enjoyable without them if you're cutting costs.
Make it in batches. Brew extra coffee and store it in the fridge so you can make multiple iced coffees throughout the week without extra effort or expense.
🥄 Instructions for Caramel Iced Coffee
Step 1: Add ¼ cup of caramel syrup and 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar into the bottom of each glass.
Step 2: Add about ¼ cup of coffee to the glass and then use a spoon to swirl the caramel, sugar, and coffee together to help the sugars dissolve.
Step 3: Add ¼ cup of caramel syrup and 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar into the bottom of each glass.
Step 4: Add about ¼ cup of coffee to the glass and then use a spoon to swirl the caramel, sugar, and coffee together to help the sugars dissolve.
Step 5: Carefully add your ice to the cup. Some liquid may splash out of the cup.
Step 6: Add ¼ cup of milk to each cup.
Step 7: Use any remaining coffee to fill the glasses up to the top, stopping about ¼ of an inch from the rim so it doesn't overfill.
Step 8: Use any remaining coffee to fill the glasses up to the top, stopping about ¼ of an inch from the rim so it doesn't overfill.
Step 9: Top with whipped cream and drizzle some caramel syrup on top for garnish.
Serve immediately and enjoy cold.
👩🏻🍳 Expert Tips
- Homemade and customizable. Making iced coffee at home means consistent results every time. Start with freshly brewed coffee and easily adjust the sweetness, milk, and caramel to match your personal taste so every sip is just right.
❄️ Storage and Make Ahead
Storage: Store leftover caramel iced coffee in a sealed jar or bottle in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. Stir or shake before serving.
Make Ahead: Brew the coffee ahead of time and chill. Store plain coffee in the fridge for up to 3 days, then add caramel syrup, milk, and ice just before serving for the best flavor.
🥗 Side Dishes or Pairing Ideas
Caramel iced coffee pairs perfectly with pastries like muffins, cinnamon rolls, scones, or croissants. It's also great alongside breakfast sandwiches, yogurt parfaits, or a simple piece of toast with butter or jam.
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❓ Caramel Iced Coffee FAQs
Nope. All you need is your usual coffee maker. Of course, you can also buy cold brew coffee or bottled coffee from the store and use that instead but hot coffee helps to dissolve the ingredients together nicely so that the drink doesn't end up grainy.
You can use any caramel you want to use. I like using the caramel ice cream syrups because it's easy to pour and drizzle with but thicker caramels or homemade caramels are also fun and fantastic options to choose from.
Strongly brewed coffee, such as espresso or dark roast coffee, works best for iced coffee. The robust coffee flavor complements the sweetness of the caramel syrup. I usually just use Columbian roast coffee.
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🐝 If you tried this Caramel Iced Coffee, please leave a ⭐️ star rating and share your buzz in the 💬 comments below. I'd truly appreciate it!
📖 Recipe
Caramel Iced Coffee
Ingredients
- ½ cup caramel sauce, divided - ($0.24)
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar - ($0.01)
- 1 ½ cups brewed coffee, hot or cold - ($0.12)
- 2 cups ice cubes - ($0.00)
- ½ cup milk, divided - ($0.10)
Garnishes
- Whipped cream
- Caramel sauce
Instructions
- Sweeten: Add ¼ cup of caramel sauce and 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar to the bottom of each glass.
- Dissolve: Pour about ¼ cup of coffee into each glass and stir well to help dissolve the sugar and caramel.
- Ice: Carefully add ice cubes to each glass.
- Milk: Add ¼ cup of milk to each glass.
- Finish: Pour the remaining coffee into the glasses, stopping about ¼ inch from the rim.
- Garnish: Top with whipped cream and drizzle with additional caramel sauce if desired.
- Serve: Serve immediately while cold.
Notes
- Customization: Adjust the sweetness, milk amount, or caramel to suit your taste.
- Caramel options: Use ice cream caramel syrup, thicker caramel sauce, or homemade caramel.
- Flavor variations: Add 1 teaspoon of vanilla to the coffee or a pinch of salt for a salted caramel version.
- Dairy-free: Use dairy-free milk and dairy-free caramel, and garnish with coconut whipped cream if desired.
Nutritional Information
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