Starbucks Caramel Latte

Starbucks Caramel Latte is a wonderful and creamy coffee drink with rich caramel flavor. No need to go to the coffee shop when you can make this delicious espresso drink at home with this easy copycat recipe.

homemade Starbucks caramel latte in a glass mug.


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Classic Starbucks Drink

A Starbucks Caramel Latte is one of the famous coffee shop’s classic drinks. It’s made with espresso, caramel syrup, and frothy steamed milk.

Lattes can either be sweet or not. A latte made with espresso and steamed milk is not a sweet drink, but you can make it sweet and more flavorful by adding syrups such as caramel or mocha.

Why This Starbucks Caramel Latte Recipe is the Best

This is the best Starbucks Caramel Latte recipe. It makes a drink that’s warm, sweet, and smooth. It’s the perfect coffee drink to warm up with during the cold winter months.

Make this comforting hot and sweet coffee on chilly fall and winter mornings, or sip it while watching your favorite movie at night. We walk you through exactly how to make it and even help you out if you don’t have an espresso machine.

Caramel Latte Starbucks Copycat Recipe Ingredients

Save money and make this classic Starbucks coffee drink at home! So easy and delicious, and all you need are just four simple ingredients:

  • Espresso or strong brewed coffee
  • Caramel syrup 
  • Milk – Starbuck’s uses 2% milk, you can use whole milk, nonfat milk, or you may want to try a plant-based milk like oat milk
  • Whipped cream

Caramel Latte Ingredient Substitutions

Starbucks uses 2% milk for all of its latte recipes because it froths really well. However, you can use full-fat milk, skim milk, or your favorite non-dairy milk. Just be aware that your choice may not froth as well. I know that any milk you choose to make this copycat Starbucks caramel latte, you are going to love how good this tastes.

You can also go with sugar-free caramel syrup

How to Make a Caramel Latte Starbucks Coffee

It’s easy to make one of the tastiest Starbucks espresso-based beverages at home by following a few simple steps.

  1. Make espresso or strong black coffee.
  2. Steam milk.
  3. Pour the espresso or coffee into a cup.
  4. Add caramel syrup.
  5. Add steamed milk and stir to combine.
  6. Spoon on some whipped cream on top, if desired.
collage of Starbucks caramel latte recipe steps.

Can I make a latte without espresso? 

Yes, you have a few different options to get coffee that’s close to espresso.

Brew quite strong coffee in a standard coffee pot. It won’t be exactly the same as espresso, but it will work (use a bigger ratio of coffee to milk).

A Moka Pot or an Aeropress coffee maker will get you pretty close to regular espresso (follow the same proportions of coffee to milk as in the recipe). The Italians swear by their Moka (or macchinetta). Watch this video on how to use a Bialetti Moka Express.

homemade Starbucks caramel latte topped with whipped cream and caramel drizzle.

How to Steam Milk at Home

In a coffee shop, you get steamed, frothed milk in your latte. Here are some ways you can achieve a similar effect at home.

Caramel Latte Starbucks Recipe Variations

This caramel latte recipe is super versatile, and it’s easy to make it with other flavors. 

  • Caramel Mocha Latte: Add 1 ounce of mocha syrup.
  • Salted Caramel Latte: Add 1/4 teaspoon sea salt to the coffee, then sprinkle some sea salt onto the milk foam when serving.
  • Bourbon Salted Caramel Latte: For a fun spin, try making this recipe with bourbon salted caramel sauce.
  • Pumpkin Spice Latte: Is perfect for those cool fall days. See my Pumpkin Spice Latte recipe.
  • Toffee Nut Latte: Try something different with toffee nut syrup
overhead view of a homemade Starbucks caramel latte with whipped cream and caramel drizzle.

Turn This Hot Caramel Latte Recipe Into an Iced Latte

When the weather warms up, you don’t necessarily want a hot coffee drink. Have no fear, this Starbucks Caramel Latte recipe is incredible when iced! Here’s how to make it:

  1. Begin with room temperature or cold coffee. Or, you can use cold brew coffee.
  2. Place the coffee, milk, caramel syrup, and some ice in a large mason jar. Screw the lid on tightly and shake everything thoroughly to blend and dissolve the caramel.
  3. Pour your mixture into a serving glass with plenty of ice. You score bonus points for using leftover coffee ice cubes, so your drink doesn’t water down!

What is the difference between a caramel latte and a caramel macchiato?

The main difference is not so much in the ingredients but in how these two drinks are made.

A caramel latte is made by pouring steamed milk over a combination of espresso and caramel syrup.

A caramel macchiato is created by mixing together vanilla syrup and steamed milk. The espresso is then poured on top, leaving a dark mark on the milk foam (macchiato means marked in Italian). Finally, caramel sauce is drizzled on top of the drink. 

homemade Starbucks caramel latte with whipped cream and caramel drizzle on top.

What goes well with this caramel latte Starbucks recipe?

You need something delicious to go with your delicious beverage. You can recreate the Starbucks dining experience at home with these copycat recipes for food at Starbucks:

Popular Starbucks Drink Recipes

Can’t get enough Starbucks drinks to make in your own home? Try these other copycat Starbucks coffee recipes:

And, if you want to branch out from Starbucks:

Why not make your own coffee creamers?

Check out more of my easy drink recipes and the best Starbucks recipes here on CopyKat!

homemade Starbucks caramel latte in a glass mug.

Starbucks Caramel Latte

You can make a Starbucks Caramel Latte at home with this easy copycat recipe.
5 from 6 votes
Print Pin Rate Add to Collection
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Caramel Latte, Starbucks Recipes
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 1
Calories: 229kcal

Ingredients

  • 4 ounces espresso or strong brewed coffee
  • tablespoons caramel syrup divided use
  • 4 ounces milk warmed and frothed. (2% recommended)
  • 2 tablespoons whipped cream. optional

Instructions

  • Pour the espresso into a coffee cup.
  • Add some of the caramel syrup (adjust according to your desired sweetness level).
  • Add the milk.
  • Spoon whipped cream on top of the latte if desired.
  • Drizzle additional caramel syrup on top of the milk or whipped cream (if using).

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 229kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 19mg | Sodium: 240mg | Potassium: 335mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 290IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 166mg | Iron: 1mg

About Stephanie Manley

I recreate your favorite restaurant recipes, so you can prepare these dishes at home. I help you cook dinner, and serve up dishes you know your family will love. You can find most of the ingredients for all of the recipes in your local grocery store.

Stephanie is the author of CopyKat.com's Dining Out in the Home, and CopyKat.com's Dining Out in the Home 2.

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