Iced Caramel Macchiato Recipe (Starbucks Copycat)
This rich, creamy Starbucks copycat Iced Caramel Macchiato is a breeze to make at home. Just 4 ingredients and this coffee drink gets ready in under 10 minutes (gluten-free, can be made vegan).
If you are a coffee lover just like me, here are some more of my favorites: Vietnamese Coffee, Nutella Coffee, Beaten Coffee, and South Indian Filter Coffee.
About Iced Caramel Macchiato
The Iced Caramel Macchiato is a Starbucks copycat drink that is refreshing, creamy, and incredibly delicious, featuring strong coffee and caramel flavors.
This creamy coffee is my favorite drink to sip on hot summer days.
Macchiato means “marked” in Italian, so the espresso marks the top of the steamed milk. It is a rich espresso-based drink topped with steamed milk and caramel sauce. You can either make it hot or iced.
I am sharing an iced version of this Starbucks copycat beverage in this post.
I have been experimenting with creating some popular drinks served at Starbucks lately. After successfully re-creating their Double Chocolate Chip Frappuccino, Iced Vanilla Latte, Caramel Latte, and Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte, I experimented with their super-popular Iced Caramel Macchiato recipe.
The happy news is that after a few tries, I have a recipe that I am very proud of.
This DIY Starbucks drink comes together in under 10 minutes using 4 simple ingredients.
It is gluten-free and can be easily made vegan.
The best part about making it home is that you can easily customize it. Add more coffee if you like it stronger, and more caramel sauce if you like it sweeter.
Ingredients
Milk – Use any cold milk you prefer, such as whole, skim, or low-fat milk. Plant-based milk, like almond milk, soy milk, oat milk, or coconut milk, also works great.
I like to use whole milk for a creamier coffee.
Vanilla Syrup – You can make your vanilla syrup at home or buy a bottle. If buying vanilla syrup, try to get the Starbucks syrup to achieve a very authentic Starbucks taste.
Caramel Sauce – You can make homemade caramel sauce (also known as caramel syrup) at home or purchase a bottle. If buying, try to get Starbucks syrup for a very authentic taste. Ghirardelli’s caramel sauce also tastes great.
Many vegan caramel sauces are available in the market if you want to make it vegan.
Espresso – Make a fresh espresso shot if you have an espresso machine. If not, then you can use espresso coffee pods too.
You can also brew strong coffee using your preferred method and use it as an alternative to espresso.
I have used a Vietnamese Filter, a South Indian Filter, and a Moka Pot to make strong brewed coffee and used them in this recipe. All of these taste fabulous.
French Press Cold Brew Coffee is also a great option. The Nespresso machine, instant espresso powder, or Aeropress coffee is used to make this iced macchiato.
Ice Cubes – You will need a lot of ice cubes to make this copycat Starbucks iced caramel macchiato recipe.
You can also top the ready iced coffee drink with whipped heavy whipping cream and a caramel drizzle on top, yum! Extra caramel is always good, right?
How To Make Iced Caramel Macchiato
Starbucks serves this drink in a layered fashion, and it looks pretty cool. You must stir it before sipping to blend in all the flavors.
Pour 1 tablespoon vanilla syrup into a tall (8-10 oz) serving glass.
Fill the glass ¾th with ice cubes.
Pour ¼ cup chilled milk over the ice and top it with 2 espresso shots (or ¼ cup strongly brewed coffee).
Note – There is no need to cool down the espresso (or the coffee). Add it to the glass soon after brewing for the best-tasting coffee.
Tip – Use chilled milk to keep the coffee cool for longer.
Add some more ice cubes to fill the glass.
Now, drizzle 1 tablespoon caramel sauce on top of the drink and serve the coffee immediately with a stirrer. Stir well before drinking.
You can also top the glass with whipped cream and drizzle with more caramel sauce before serving.
Tip – If kept longer, this drink gets washed out as the ice cubes melt. To retain the coffee flavor longer, freeze some brewed coffee in ice cube trays. Use these coffee cubes in place of regular ice.
Add more sweetener if the coffee is not sweet enough for your liking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, dissolve 2 teaspoon instant coffee powder in ¼ cup water and use it in the recipe instead of espresso.
Yes, you can. Check this recipe for details.
Storage Suggestions
It’s best to consume this delicious drink immediately after preparation to enjoy its flavors and textures.
If there are any leftovers, they can be stored in the refrigerator for a short period, but they may lose some of their taste and texture.
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Iced Caramel Macchiato Recipe (Starbucks Copycat)
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon vanilla syrup (recipe in notes)
- ¼ cup chilled milk (whole, skim, low fat or plant-based)
- 2 shots espresso (or use ¼ cup of strongly brewed coffee, add more coffee for a stronger drink)
- 1 tablespoon caramel sauce (caramel syrup) (add more if you like it sweeter)
- ice cubes (as required)
Instructions
- Starbuck serves this drink in a layered fashion and it looks pretty cool. You must stir it before sipping to blend in all the flavors.
- Pour 1 tablespoon vanilla syrup into a tall (8-10 oz) serving glass.
- Fill the glass ¾th with ice cubes.
- Pour chilled milk over the ice and top it with espresso (or strongly brewed coffee).
- Note – There is no need to cool down the espresso (or the coffee). Add it to the glass soon after brewing for best-tasting coffee.
- Add some more ice cubes to fill the glass. Now drizzle caramel sauce on top and serve the coffee immediately with a stirrer. Stir well before drinking.
- You can also top the glass with whipped cream and drizzle with more caramel sauce before serving.
- Add more sweetener if the coffee is not sweet enough for your liking.