This Iced Caramel Latte is slightly sweet, depending on how much caramel sauce you use, and deliciously refreshing. It just uses a few basic ingredients; espresso (or strong coffee), caramel-filled chocolates, caramel sauce, your favorite milk, and ice.
If you’re a coffee drinker, and you must be if you’re reading this, you probably enjoy switching up your coffee routine. I love hot lattes, but to me, enjoying hot lattes doesn’t seem as appealing on a hot day. Instead, why not try making this homemade iced caramel latte recipe?!
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Rich flavor infusion: The combination of caramel-filled chocolates and espresso creates a luxurious blend of complex flavors, which elevates this recipe above your average iced latte.
- Customizable: This recipe is a flexible canvas for your individual preferences. Use 1 caramel chocolate for a lighter touch, 2 for a richer flavor. Love your latte extra strong? Go for 2 shots of espresso. Prefer oat milk to dairy? Swap it in – the recipe welcomes both dairy and milk alternatives.
- Affordable luxury: Compared to buying an iced caramel latte at a local coffee shop or Starbucks, this recipe is a budget-friendly win. It’s so simple to make for a fraction of the price.
Ingredient Notes
It doesn’t take many components to make a great-tasting iced caramel latte. You just need a few simple ingredients to create this fancy-tasting beverage.
Caramel chocolates: A good caramel flavor is essential for this iced caramel latte. My easy recipe calls for caramel chocolates to be melted right into the espresso. This step adds a richer and more complex flavor to the drink. Use your favorite brand of caramel chocolates, which can be found in just about any grocery store candy aisle. My favorite brand is Ghirardelli Milk Chocolate Caramel.
Espresso shot(s): A couple of shots of espresso give this iced caramel latte a much-needed caffeine bump. A one-ounce shot of espresso contains less caffeine than an eight-ounce cup of coffee, even though it is more potent and concentrated. Espresso contains 64 mg of caffeine per shot versus 95 mg per cup of coffee. You don’t need a big espresso machine to brew; instead, check out my FAQ below for more ways to brew espresso without a machine. This recipe will also work with strongly brewed coffee if that’s all you have available to use.
Milk: The trick to a good latte, hot or cold, is frothed milk poured over espresso. Protein and fat content in milk contribute to its flavor and ability to foam. Milk with high-fat content, such as whole milk, is ideal for a delicious frothy finish. There are several alternatives if you don’t prefer the taste of cow’s milk or you can’t do dairy. The barista series oat milk or coconut milk are great non-dairy milk alternatives for their high fat and fiber contents that will give you the frothiest cold foam.
Caramel sauce: The last ingredient in this iced caramel latte is caramel sauce. Caramel sauce adds most of the caramel flavor to your iced latte and gives the drink a nice appearance as it is drizzled on the cup’s inner walls. Grocery store caramel sauce is available from several brands – my favorite brands for caramel sauce are Ghirardelli caramel sauce or Torani caramel sauce, both work great!
Step-by-Step Instructions
Gather all of your ingredients and prepare to make and enjoy your delicious latte.
Steps 1-2: Add the chocolate caramels to the bottom of an espresso cup or mug. Brew your shot of espresso or strong coffee, using whatever method you choose, over the chocolate caramel candies. Stir to ensure it dissolves completely.
Step 3: In a milk pitcher or liquid measuring pitcher, add your milk of choice to be frothed. There are several different ways you can get milk foam for your latte. If you have an electric wand frother, lower the wand into the milk and froth until the milk volume has doubled in size. If you don’t have one, you can check out my FAQ for more information on how to make cold milk foam without a frothing wand.
Step 4: Take your iced latte glass and pour caramel sauce on the inner walls, using as much or as little as you prefer. Fill the glass with ice.
Steps 5-6: Pour in your espresso shot(s) or strong coffee. Next, add your frothed milk over top. You can always top with more caramel drizzle.
Expert Tips
Add a pinch of salt: Adding a pinch or two of flake sea salt or salted chocolate caramels to your drink can enhance the caramel flavor and give it a sweet and salty taste.
Coffee ice cubes: Add cooled coffee to an ice cube tray and freeze into coffee ice cubes. Use these instead of regular ice to prevent the drink from getting watered down while keeping it chilled.
Making ahead: While fresh espresso is ideal, you can use strong cold brew for a make-ahead version. Store the cold brew in the fridge until you’re ready to assemble your drink Keep in mind, you’ll have to melt the caramel chocolates into a little bit of the cold brew if you still want to use the chocolate infusion, which you can do in the microwave.
Shake it up: After melting the chocolate into the espresso, add it to a cocktail shaker with some ice and shake it up. It will cool down the espresso faster and give you an extra frothy texture.
Stronger kick: If you prefer a stronger coffee flavor, add an extra shot of espresso to intensify the taste.
Variations
Extra creamy: For extra creaminess, add a dollop of whipped cream on top of the cold foam.
Frappuccino twist: Blend the iced latte with ice to transform it into a delicious Caramel Frappuccino. You’ll love this if you like slushies.
Variety of syrups: Instead of caramel sauce, try other syrups like honey, vanilla, hazelnut, or chocolate. For homemade options, check out my recipes for Pumpkin Spice Syrup and Chai Simple Syrup.
Make it a cocktail: Add a touch of Kahula to the espresso or a bit of Baileys Irish Cream to the milk before frothing. For another boozy cold coffee drink, try my Kahlua Espresso Martini.
Make it hot: Omit ice, use steamed milk instead of cold foam, and melt caramel chocolates in hot espresso. Combine and top with caramel drizzle. If you don’t have a steaming wand (on an espresso machine), you can make steamed milk by heating milk in a microwave-safe container for about 30 seconds, then whisk or shake vigorously until frothy. For some hot latte inspiration, check out my Blue Mermaid Latte or the spiked Snickers Irish Latte.
FAQ
How can I froth milk into a cold foam without a frother wand?
If you don’t have an electric frothing wand, you can use any of the following methods to make cold foam.
- Glass jar method: Fill a jar halfway with cold milk. Seal tightly. Shake vigorously for about 30 seconds to a minute or until you see the desired frothiness. You are looking for soft peaks of foam to form.
- French press method: Add your cold milk to a French press and plunge the press using short, quick plunges into the milk. Work on it for about 30 seconds or until you see increasing frothiness.
- Hand mixer/whisk: Use a hand mixer or a whisk in a bowl. Whisk briskly until the milk is frothy and has increased in volume, about 1-2 minutes.
- Blender or immersion blender: Pour cold milk into a blender. Blend on medium-high speed for about 30 seconds or until the milk is frothy and aerated. Or use an immersion blender, by placing the cold milk in a deep bowl or tall glass. Move the immersion blender up and down, until the milk is frothy and has doubled in volume, about 30-60 seconds.
Can I make it decaf?
Absolutely! Just substitute the espresso or strong coffee with decaf versions to enjoy a caffeine-free iced caramel latte. For a completely caffeine-free drink, you will also have to omit the chocolate caramels, but you can still use the caramel sauce.
Can you use coffee or cold brew instead of espresso in a latte?
Yes, you can substitute strongly brewed coffee or cold brew coffee for espresso in a latte, but it will result in a different taste and texture. Espresso is more concentrated and has a thicker crema layer, while regular coffee is typically lighter in flavor and has a thinner consistency, so you will want to brew the coffee very strongly. I’ve given other options for making espresso without a machine below.
If you like cold brew, make sure to check out my Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew.
How can I make espresso without a machine?
You don’t necessarily need an espresso machine to make espresso. While espresso machines are specifically designed to brew espresso, there are a few other methods that can be used to make espresso-like coffee:
- Moka pot: A moka pot is a stovetop coffee maker that brews strong and concentrated coffee by forcing water through finely ground coffee beans. The resulting espresso can be used in espresso-based drinks or drunk on its own.
- Aeropress: An Aeropress is a manual coffee maker that uses air pressure to extract the flavors and aromas from coffee.
- French press: A French press is a manual coffee maker that uses a plunger to separate the coffee grounds from the brewed coffee. While it doesn’t produce a true espresso shot, it can make a strong and flavorful coffee that can be used in latte recipes.
What is an iced caramel latte from Starbucks and how does this recipe compare?
The Starbucks version typically includes espresso, milk, and caramel syrup, served over ice. This homemade recipe lets you replicate that with added personal touches, like the melted caramel chocolates, to give a richer and more satisfying taste.
Can I make this latte sugar-free or dairy-free?
Absolutely! Opt for sugar-free caramel sauce, sugar-free chocolate caramels, and/or choose a dairy-free milk alternative to tailor it to your dietary needs. As I mentioned before, the barista series oat milk or coconut milk are probably your best options for making the frothiest non-dairy cold foam.
What is the difference between iced caramel coffee and iced caramel latte?
I have an entire post that covers the differences between iced coffee and iced lattes, if you’re curious.
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📖 Recipe
Iced Caramel Latte Recipe
Ingredients
- 1-2 individual caramel chocolates
- 1-2 shots of espresso (or very strong coffee)
- ¼ – ⅓ cup of milk of choice
- Caramel sauce to taste
Instructions
- Melt caramel chocolates with hot espresso. Stir until the chocolate is dissolved.
- Froth milk with an electric frother, or whichever method you choose, to make cold foam.
- Drizzle caramel sauce on the inner wall of your glass.
- Fill with ice and pour in espresso.
- Top the espresso with cold milk foam, and enjoy!
Notes
- Electric frothing wand method: Submerge the wand into cold milk in a tall container, turn it on, and froth for about 15-20 seconds.
- Glass jar method: Fill a jar halfway with cold milk. Seal tightly. Shake vigorously for about 30 seconds to a minute or until you see the desired frothiness. You are looking for soft peaks of foam to form.
- French press method: Add your cold milk to a French press and plunge the press using short, quick plunges into the milk. Work on it for about 30 seconds or until you see increasing frothiness.
- Hand mixer/whisk: Use a hand mixer or a whisk in a bowl. Whisk briskly until the milk is frothy and has increased in volume, about 1-2 minutes.
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Blender or immersion blender: Pour cold milk into a blender. Blend on medium-high speed for about 30 seconds or until the milk is frothy and aerated. Or use an immersion blender, by placing the cold milk in a deep bowl or tall glass. Move the immersion blender up and down, until the milk is frothy and has doubled in volume, about 30-60 seconds.
Nutrition
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