Save yourself a trip and $5 by making your own iced caramel 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.
We moved to Florida at the beginning of summer and live in a pretty rural area so a drive to the local coffee shop usually takes 15 minutes plus the kids come with so you know they'll want something too. I've been experimenting in the kitchen and making my own iced coffee drinks to really save my money and time this summer.
I love this homemade caramel iced coffee because it's just the right amount of coffee and sweetness so that it's not bitter but also not super sweet, and it still gives you a nice caffeine boost in the afternoon. It honestly reminds me a lot of those Dunkin Donuts caramel iced coffees I've grown addicted to.
Why This Recipe Works
- It's quick and easy. This iced caramel latte recipe is also very easy to make (and fast too!) Make this DIY caramel iced coffee soon and see why waiting in line is a thing of the past.
- Simple ingredients. Coffee, ice, caramel, milk, and sweetener are all you'll need to make this recipe, but don't forget some whipped cream or a fun garnish on top!
- You can scale it up or down. Make more than one glass, or just make one for yourself. This recipe can easily be adjusted to make as many or as few glasses as you want.
🥘 Ingredients
Ice- You'll need ice cubes to make this an iced drink. The amount needed will vary based on the size of your glass cup.
Coffee- Use warmer coffee or freshly brewed so that it dissolves the sugar and caramel more easily.
Sugar- For added sweetness, use granulated sugar (or your sweetener of choice).
Caramel Sauce- I like to use regular ice cream topping caramel, but you can use drizzling caramel for this recipe.
Milk- Use milk, half and half, or even heavy cream for added richness. Dairy free milk works too, but you may need more of a milk to coffee ratio since it's less fatty.
Optional Garnishes
- Caramel sauce
- Whipped cream
For the exact amounts needed, please see the recipe card below.
🍽 Equipment Needed
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- Measuring Cups
- Measuring Spoons
- 2 Tall drinking glasses
- Spoon
🔪 Instructions
Check out how to make caramel iced coffee with these simple step-by-step instructions:
Add ¼ cup of caramel syrup and 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar into the bottom of each glass.
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.
Carefully add your ice to the cup. Some liquid may splash out of the cup.
Add ¼ cup of milk to each cup.
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.
Top with whipped cream and drizzle some caramel syrup on top for garnish.
Serve immediately and enjoy cold.
🍴 Recipe Tips
If you've ever ordered coffee from different shops then you know that they aren't made exactly the same way and one is far superior to the other. Caramel iced coffee at home is a wonderful way to repeat your favorite versions over and over again.
This caramel iced coffee recipe is super easy to make at home using freshly brewed coffee. You can adjust the coffee to your own tastebuds by adding in more sweetness, milk, or caramel.
📖 Variations
Add 1 teaspoon of vanilla to the hot coffee mixture for a nice vanilla caramel flavor combination.
Add in a pinch of salt to your glass of iced coffee. This can cut down on some bitterness and give you a salted caramel iced coffee that tastes divine.
For a dairy-free iced caramel coffee simply swap out the milk for a dairy-free alternative and use a dairy-free caramel. There are many recipes online for caramel that don't use cow-based milk and once you have a batch of caramel on hand you can enjoy your drink whenever you want. There are also store-bought coconut whipped cream options available for garnishing.
💭 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.
More great beverage recipes to try
- Brownie Milkshakes
- Pineapple Watermelon Banana Smoothie
- Watermelon Smoothie Bowl
- Frozen Whipped Lemonade
- Homemade Shamrock Shake
- How to Make an Italian Soda
📖 Recipe
Caramel Iced Coffee
Equipment
- 2 Tall drinking glasses
- Spoon
Ingredients
- 2 cups Ice (can use more or less depending on preference) ($0.00)
- 1 ½ cups Brewed coffee (hot or cold) ($0.03)
- 1 Tablespoon Granulated sugar ($0.01)
- ½ cup caramel sauce, divided ($0.10)
- ½ cup Milk, divided ($0.08)
Garnishes
- Caramel sauce
- Whipped cream
Instructions
- Add ¼ cup of caramel syrup and 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar into the bottom of each glass.
- 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.
- Carefully add your ice to the cup. Some liquid may splash out of the cup.
- Add ¼ cup of milk to each cup.
- 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.
- Top with whipped cream and drizzle some caramel syrup on top for garnish.
- Serve immediately and enjoy cold.
Notes
Recipe Tips
- You can adjust the coffee to your own tastebuds by adding in more sweetness, milk, or caramel.
- 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.
Variations
- Add 1 teaspoon of vanilla to the hot coffee mixture for a nice vanilla caramel flavor combination. Add in a pinch of salt to your glass of iced coffee. This can cut down on some bitterness and give you a salted caramel iced coffee that tastes divine.
- For a dairy-free iced caramel coffee simply swap out the milk for a dairy-free alternative and use a dairy-free caramel. There are many recipes online for caramel that don't use cow-based milk and once you have a batch of caramel on hand you can enjoy your drink whenever you want. There are also store-bought coconut whipped cream options available for garnishing.
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