McDonald’s has the perfect drink to cool you down on hot summer days. This McDonald’s Caramel Frappe is as delicious as classic milkshakes, with the added caffeine boost of coffee.
Coffee itself can be enjoyed hot or cold, but these Frappés take it a step further by turning iced coffee into a delicious milkshake. They’re a great treat on-the-go if you’re passing by a McDonald’s restaurant, but they’re also simple to make at home. If you’re an ice cream lover, you probably already have most of the ingredients.
Table of Contents
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Ice: Ice is what will separate your Frappé from a plain old milkshake. The more you add, the thicker your Frappé will be, so start with one cup and then add more to your liking.
- Vanilla Ice Cream: Ice cream is going to add to the thick texture of your Frappé. For a true copycat recipe, stick with vanilla. But if you want to get a little more adventurous, experiment with using your favorite flavor.
- Milk: This recipe will work best with 2% milk, but of course, you can substitute it out for a dairy-free version (you’ll have to use dairy-free ice cream too). I recommend using soy as an alternative because it won’t add any distinct flavor, but once again, experiment to customize your drink.
- Brewed Coffee: Of course, to be truly authentic, you can use McDonald’s coffee, but your favorite at-home brew will work just fine. Make sure to chill your coffee before you make your fFrappé, as adding it in hot will start to melt your ice cream.
- Caramel Sauce: Find this at any grocery store where you would find the Sundae fixings, or if you’re feeling really bold, make your own either from scratch or by melting chewy caramel candies.
- Whipped Cream (optional): Don’t forget the whipped cream to decorate! While an optional step, a good twist of canned whipped cream on top will really add to the visuals of your drink.
How to Make McDonald’s Caramel Frappe
- Prepare coffee and let it chill in the refrigerator.
- Drizzle caramel sauce inside of each glass and set aside. You can place the drizzled glasses in the freezer.
- Add ice, ice cream, coffee, milk, and caramel sauce into a blender.
- Blend on low speed for about 30 seconds, and then on a max speed for about 20 seconds or until the mixture is evenly smooth.
- Pour the mixture into individual glasses and top with whipped cream. Drizzle with caramel sauce. Serve and enjoy immediately.
Tips and Tricks
- Give your coffee enough time to chill in the fridge, you can even leave it overnight if you want your Frappé first thing!
- Add your ice gradually: This is how you can control the consistency of your drink, so don’t add it in all at once. Start with about a cup of ice, then blend. Add more ice if you would like it thicker, just a touch at a time, blending it fully before adding more.
Is There Caffeine in McDonald’s Frappe?
A classic McDonald’s Frappé does have caffeine, but the beauty of this at-home version is you can make it however you would like. Use decaf if you’re watching your caffeine, or leave out the coffee if your kids want to give it a try.
Is McDonald’s Frappe Bad For You?
Okay, so maybe a Frappé has roughly the same amount of calories as two hamburgers, but there’s no real surprise in the ingredients here. The sauces add extra sugar, and ice cream can pack on the calories, but other than that, it’s just coffee and milk. The beverage certainly doesn’t add much to a healthy diet, but it’s also not the worst thing you can reach for as an occasional treat.
McDonald’s Frappe vs Starbucks’ Frappuccino
While a McDonald’s Frappé is more of a milkshake with a hint of coffee, the Starbucks Frappuccino is more of a coffee drink with a milkshake element. They contain pretty similar ingredients in different quantities, so you may just have to make both to compare.
McDonald’s Caramel Frappe Copycat Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups of ice plus more for serving. Start with 1 cup of ice and gradually add more to your preferred consistency. Note more ice will make your frappe thicker
- 1 cup vanilla ice cream
- 1/3 cup milk
- 1/3 cup brewed coffee chilled
- 1/3 cup caramel sauce
- whipped cream
Instructions
- Prepare coffee (brewed coffee or instant coffee) and let it chill in the refrigerator.
- Drizzle caramel sauce inside of each glass and set aside. You can place the drizzled glasses in the freezer.
- Add ice, ice cream, coffee, milk, and caramel sauce into a blender.
- Blend on low speed for about 30 seconds, and then on a max speed for about 20 seconds or until the mixture is evenly smooth. (Taste test your frappe, if you’d like to make it thicker, add more ice cubes and blend again.)
- Pour the mixture into individual glasses and top with whipped cream.
- Drizzle with caramel sauce. Serve and enjoy immediately.
Notes
- Make your coffee ahead of time and let it chill before making the drink.
- It’s best to start with less ice, and gradually add more to reach your desired consistency. Note that more ice makes a thicker drink.
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