Imagine sipping on a luxurious, ice-cold blend of rich caramel and bold coffee, a drink so indulgent it feels like a mini-vacation in a cup. That’s exactly what I experienced when I first whipped up McDonald’s Caramel Frappe at home. Let me take you through this blissful journey, where every sip promises a delightful escape from the ordinary.
What is a Frappe?
Pronounced frap-pay, it is an iced drink that is blended, beaten, or shaken to come up with a foamy, tasty, and refreshing beverage. The frappe is served cold with whipped cream as the topping. The ice can be added after or before the coffee is beaten and the additives like vanilla, milk, sugar, and the sweet sauces are added.
The name has a French connection and there is an interesting story of how the beverage was first made. Dimitris Vakondios was trying to make his usual instant coffee, but he didn’t have any hot water. Dimitris came up with a unique idea. He mixed his coffee with cold water and added ice cubes in his shaker.
Difference Between Frappe and Frappuccino
Frappe refers to a setting on many blenders. So, making a frappe actually means that you are blending a beverage. Of course, it has now evolved to mean the blending of a coffee beverage. Frappuccino, on the other hand, is the cold blended coffee drink of Starbucks. It is a protected name, so other companies cannot use it.
Difference Between Latte and Frappe
There is a difference between the two. A frappe is made from flavored syrup, milk, and ice cream. It also has coffee or in some instances a coffee flavoring. However, a latte is half espresso and half milk. A frappe is iced. Mocha has chocolate.
Is Frappe a Milkshake?
A milkshake is a beverage made of ice cream and milk, and sometimes it has a flavoring. It is whipped or blended until the beverage becomes foamy. In New England, however, there is no ice cream in the milkshake. The beverage becomes a frappe drink traditionally when you add ice cream to it.
How to Make McDonald’s Caramel Frappe
McDonald’s Caramel Frappe is made with a rich caramel flavor, a hint of coffee, and is blended with ice. Additionally, there is an added extra of whipped topping and a drizzle of caramel. So this is a drink where coffee meets caramel, ice, and milk. The buttery caramel and whipped cream on top makes it a combination you’re going to love. The coffee used is mostly pre-mixed, like it is in your mocha frappe.
At McDonald’s, the caramel frappe is available in 3 sizes – large, medium, and small. You can now make it easily at home, and it will be even tastier than the McDonald restaurant-made frappe.
The small McDonald’s caramel frappe costs $2.39, while the large version costs $3.39. They use the Torani Caramel Sauce in the beverage.
You can now make the same caramel frappe beverage at home. It is easy to make as well and it will taste just like the one you can buy at your local McDonald’s store. Here’s how you can make it.
Ingredients
Strong Coffee: Provides the base flavor and caffeine kick of the frappe.
Caramel Syrup: Adds the rich, sweet caramel flavor that is central to the drink.
Granulated Sugar: Enhances the sweetness of the frappe.
Whole or Skim Milk: Contributes to the creamy texture and balances the coffee’s bitterness.
Whipped Cream: Used as a topping to add a light, creamy texture and visual appeal.
Ice: Creates the cold, slushy consistency typical of a frappe.
Nutrition Facts Per Serving
Calories 53, Carbohydrates 7g, Cholesterol 3mg, Total Fat 1g, Protein 5g, Sugar 0g, Fiber 0g, Sodium 103mg
Tips & Tricks
- Perfect Coffee Concentration: The secret to replicating that authentic McDonald’s taste lies in the strength of your coffee. Brew it stronger than you normally would. I recommend using a dark roast for a deeper flavor and chilling it before blending. This ensures your frappe doesn’t get watered down as the ice melts, maintaining that robust coffee flavor from the first sip to the last.
- Caramel Syrup Quality and Application: Don’t just choose any caramel syrup; opt for a high-quality one like Torani, which McDonald’s uses. For an extra gourmet touch, drizzle the inside of the glass with caramel syrup before pouring in the frappe. This not only enhances the flavor but also gives it that professional, visually appealing swirl effect, just like you get at McDonald’s.
- Ice Matters: The texture of your frappe is crucial. Use crushed ice instead of whole cubes for a smoother blend. If your blender struggles with ice, let the cubes sit out for about 5 minutes to slightly soften. This trick helps in achieving that perfectly smooth, creamy consistency without overworking your blender, ensuring your frappe is never grainy but always luxuriously smooth.
You can use any caramel ice cream topping as well. Hershey’s is a good option. You can also use Mrs. Richardson’s butterscotch caramel. It is tasty and thick. As you reach the bottom of your frappe, the straw will begin to suck up the thick, nice, and mouthfuls of caramel. It will be a wonderful experience.
What does it taste like?
It is mostly like coffee ice cream, it’s a light and frothy drink. There are many fast food companies that make this drink, such as Starbucks and Dunkin‘. But many believe that McDonald’s makes the best frappes. This popular fast-food company based out of Chicago in the United States, has almost 39,000 outlets around the world and employs more than 1.9 million people. Caramel frappe is available at many of their locations.
Try These Recipes
Starbucks Caramel Frappuccino
Cooks in 20 minutesDifficulty: EasyMaking a copycat Starbucks Caramel Frappuccino is much easier than you think. You can skip the queues and have your own drink made quickly from the comfort of your home.
Starbucks Vanilla Bean Frappuccino
Cooks in 5 minutesDifficulty: EasyRecreate a copycat Starbucks Vanilla Bean Frappuccino recipe in your own kitchen. Believe it or not but this drink is so easy make and we just love it.
27 McDonald’s Recipes
These McDonald’s recipes can instantly be recreated in your kitchen starting today. Avoid long queues at the drive thru and enjoy these from the comfort of your home.
McDonald’s Iced Coffee Recipe
Cooks in 15 minutesDifficulty: EasyThis McDonald’s iced coffee recipe is a copycat of the real thing! The restaurants iced coffee is one of those speciality drinks that can give you the boost you need in the morning.
Conclusion
McDonald’s caramel frappe is a wonderful beverage. The rich caramel flavor and hint of coffee makes it really yummy and perfect for a hot day. This beverage is easy and quick to make at home too. Follow the recipe and it should be very easy. You can prepare this drink for family and guests.
Can you make the mocha frappe the same way just add chocolate syrup instead of the caramel syrup?
This looks really yummy, can’t wait to try!