Iced Caramel lattes are a deliciously creamy and sweet coffee drink that can be found practically everywhere. Even McDonald’s limited café menu features caramel lattes as a signature item, so you know they are good!
Sometimes the temptation can get too strong, however. I have often found myself spending a lot of money on fancy coffee drinks that I could be making at home. After doing a bit of research, I realized that it is not difficult to make an iced caramel latte at home!
Not only does this recipe only call for three ingredients, but it is easy to follow. There is not a whole lot of technique required when making the perfect iced caramel latte at home. As if I needed any more convincing that homemade lattes are better, making them at home is faster, too!
Brewing a heavenly iced caramel latte at home takes less time than finding your keys and driving to your local coffee shop. Not only that, but you can enjoy it while still in your pajamas!
What is the Difference Between Homemade and Store-Bought Caramel Syrup?
When it comes to my iced caramel latte, I am very particular. I like to make my own caramel syrup so I know my drink will be just to my liking, but there is nothing wrong with buying caramel syrup. Not everybody has the time or patience to perfect a caramel syrup.
There are many recipes online on how to make a simple caramel syrup, and if you have five extra minutes, I highly recommend experimenting with the flavor. But when it comes down to the details, homemade caramel syrup doesn’t taste that different from the store-bought variety.
Store-bought caramel syrup does taste sweeter than homemade syrup. Most homemade syrups use real sugar, while store-bought syrups typically use high fructose corn syrup. This can lead to that overly sweet aftertaste that always follows the controversial ingredient.
If you are one of the many who can’t tell the difference or just don’t care, I recommend buying a pre-made caramel syrup. If you are more sensitive to sweet flavors, it will probably be best to make your own.
We live in a day and age where there are tons of options to choose from when it comes to coffee syrups. With countless flavors and brands, the only thing left to do is try them all!
How to Make Caramel Drizzle for Coffee?
What iced caramel latte is complete without its signature caramel drizzle? Every barista and coffee connoisseur knows the importance of this heavenly add-on! It is one of my personal favorite inclusions at Starbucks because of its masterful blend of sweet and salty.
I was ecstatic when I found out that it is easy to make at home. All it takes is sugar, water, butter, cream, and salt. I can never go back to buying full-price caramel drizzle after finding out how easy it is to make.
Ingredients
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- ½ cup water
- 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, cubed
- ¾ cup heavy cream
- A pinch of salt
- 1 tsp vanilla, optional
Instructions
- Add the sugar and water to a large saucepan and mix until evenly distributed.
- Heat the saucepan until the sugar dissolves into a clear, bubbly liquid. This takes approximately 3-5 minutes.
- Do not mix, but continue to simmer the sugar until it turns amber in color.
- Gently fold in the butter, cream, vanilla, and salt until dissolved.
- Cool completely before storing.
Recipe for the Best Homemade Iced Caramel Latte
Iced caramel lattes are my favorite coffee drink, and brewing them at home makes them all the more tasty. Or maybe it’s just the sweatpants I no longer need to change out of. Whatever the case may be, there is not a lot of technique involved in brewing this delicious drink.
If you are using an espresso machine, this recipe calls for a doppio (two shots of espresso) and works best with a medium roast. Pull the shots so they drip into a container filled with ice. This will cool down the shots as they are brewing and will lead to a stronger-tasting coffee. We would like to avoid that watered-down stuff as much as possible.
If you own a Keurig, brew the smallest cup of coffee your machine will allow and press on the “strong” option. This will create a coffee that tastes similar to espresso. It is far from the real thing, but for the purposes of your latte, it should taste just fine.
If you only have your handy-dandy drip coffee machine, this recipe will work for you as well. It may not be as strong as using espresso, but iced coffee can be used instead with delicious results. Simply brew a strong cup of coffee and either place it in the fridge or add ice to cool it down.
Next, all you have to do is combine the ingredients!
Ingredients
- 2 cups coffee, iced (or two espresso shots)
- 2 tablespoons caramel syrup
- ¼ cup whole milk
- Caramel drizzle to taste
Instructions
- Add the caramel syrup and coffee to your serving glass and stir.
- Add the whole milk and ice, leaving room in the glass.
- Using a spoon, drizzle the caramel sauce in a zig-zag pattern on top of the drink.
- Stir and enjoy!
Conclusion
Knowing how easy it is to make my favorite Starbucks order at home, I don’t think I will ever be going back! Who would prefer the hassle of getting reasonably dressed and then hitting traffic to brewing a mouth-watering iced caramel latte in your own kitchen?
A couple of fancy glass cups and Instagram-worthy pictures will make your friends want to jump on the at-home latte trend as well!