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This homemade iced caramel latte is proof that you don’t need a fancy coffee shop to enjoy a luxurious, café-worthy drink. With just a few simple ingredients and a little bit of love, you can create the perfect latte right in your kitchen. Whether you like it super sweet or just lightly kissed with caramel, this drink is all about making your coffee exactly how you want it.

If you enjoy cold coffee drinks, learn how to make this Starbucks copycat vanilla sweet cream cold foam to add to your favorite cold brew.

iced caramel latte in a glass with whipped cream and caramel sauce on top.
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If you’re into iced drinks but matcha is more your thing, this iced matcha latte is a great coffee alternative. For another espresso-free milk and coffee drink, try a smooth and creamy dalgano coffee that uses instant coffee.

When faced with the choice between an iced latte vs iced coffee, it all comes down to personal preference, and I promise you’ll want to choose this latte every time.

Why You’ll Love this Iced Caramel Latte

  • Skip the coffee shop hassle – Instead of heading to Dunkin Donuts or your local coffee shop each day, have your own iced caramel lattes at home. The homemade version tastes just as good and is a fraction of the price!
  • Customizable: This delicious latte can be made any way you like it. You can control the amount of sugar, use any milk alternatives, and make it with your favorite type of coffee.
  • Quick & easy: It’s an easy recipe that uses basic ingredients and takes less than 10 minutes to whip together.
  • Perfect on hot days: It’s fun swapping out hot coffees with iced drinks once summer arrives. 
  • Feels indulgent: Although it’s easy to make, this is not just your usual pot of coffee or cold coffee drink. It’s more like a sweet treat with the added bonus of a caffeine boost.
ingredients for ice caramel latte on a counter.
Ingredients You Need: Sugar and vanilla (for the homemade caramel syrup), espresso, and milk (any kinds works).

How to Make an Iced Caramel Latte

caramel simple syrup in a saucepan.

Step 1. Make the Caramel Syrup: Combine equal parts sugar and water in a saucepan. Simmer until the sugar dissolves and the mixture thickens slightly. Stir in a touch of vanilla and let it cool.

pouring a shot of espresso into an iced caramel latte.

Step 2. Assemble Your Latte. Fill a tall glass with ice, pour in your brewed espresso or coffee, add 1-3 tablespoons of caramel syrup (you decide how sweet you want it), and top with milk. Stir it up for that iconic caramel swirl.

Recipe FAQS

What’s the difference between iced caramel coffee and iced caramel latte?

The largest difference is one uses espresso and one uses brewed coffee. Our blog post on the difference between an iced latte and iced coffee goes into more detail on the difference between the two types of beverages. The caramel version of both just adds caramel syrup.

Can I make the caramel syrup ahead of time?

Absolutely! This recipe makes 5 servings of caramel sauce, so I encourage you to store it and use it again! You can store it in a jar in the fridge for up to a week.

What if I don’t have espresso?

No worries! Brew a strong cup of coffee, use cold brew coffee (about 1/2 cup) or use instant espresso powder mixed with water.

an iced caramel latte with whipped cream, caramel, and a straw.

Storage Instructions

Make-ahead: make a batch (or a double batch) of the caramel syrup and store it in the fridge for up to a week. All you have to do is blend the milk and make your espresso when you’re ready to whip up a latte.

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5 from 3 votes

Iced Caramel Latte

Prep: 4 minutes
Cook: 4 minutes
Total: 8 minutes
This homemade iced caramel latte is cold and refreshing and has a touch of sweetness, a bold espresso flavor, and a smooth, buttery texture. It looks as decadent as it tastes but takes less than 10 minutes to make — including a homemade caramel sauce. See the recipe post above for step-by-step images.

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Servings: 1 serving

Ingredients

Caramel Simple Syrup (makes 6-8 servings)

  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar or coconut sugar (Note 1)
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla

Iced Caramel Latte

  • 1 cup milk of choice whole milk, 2%, coconut, almond milk, oat milk etc.
  • 1 cup ice
  • 1-2 shots of espresso (Note 2 Coffee Options)
  • 1-3 tablespoons caramel syrup above
  • Optional: whipped cream dairy-free whipped cream and caramel

Instructions 

  • If you're using an espresso machine, pull 1-2 shots of espresso and set aside to cool slightly.
    1-2 shots of espresso
  • Combine the water and sugar in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir until dissolved, about 2 minutes.
    1/2 cup granulated sugar or coconut sugar, 1/2 cup water
  • Cover and boil for 2- 3 minutes. Remove the lid and stir consistently until the mixture is a light amber color. Remove from heat immediately, then stir in the vanilla. If desired, add a pinch of salt for salted caramel syrup.
    1/2 tsp vanilla
  • Pour 1-3 Tablespoons of caramel syrup into a liquid measuring cup, depending on your desired level of sweetness. Pour in the milk and stir or froth with a hand frother to combine.
    1 cup milk of choice
  • Add ice cubes to a tall glass then pour the caramel syrup and milk mixture on top. Finish by pouring the espresso (or strong coffee) on top and stir to combine. Top with whipped cream and caramel sauce if desired.
    1 cup ice
Last step! If you make this, please leave a review letting us know how it was!

Notes

Note 1. Sugar. We tested this with both granulated sugar and coconut sugar. The coconut sugar is darker and will yield a darker caramel sauce. View more coconut sugar substitutes for low-carb options, that may not caramelize as well.
Note 2. Coffee. All of these are great options for a latte. Try any of these with decaf coffee if you prefer.
  1. Espresso: use a fancy espresso machine or grab a cheap one on Amazon you can use on the stovetop.
  2. Cold brew coffee: store-bought or your own cold brew coffee are both great options.
  3. Very strong coffee: brew the strongest coffee you can for a latte
*Nutrition information is for 2 Tablespoons of caramel syrup and whole milk.

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 1latte | Calories: 200kcal | Carbohydrates: 25.7g | Protein: 7.8g | Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 24.4mg | Sodium: 106mg | Fiber: 0g | Sugar: 26.3g | Vitamin A: 112.2IU | Vitamin C: 0mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

5 from 3 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




2 Comments

  1. NightBlade says:

    5 stars
    I made it, with brown sugar and without ice. It still turned out pretty awesome. Hard to tell if the caramel was ready, though, and without ice, it just looks flat…

    Will try it again with ice. Thank you so much for this recipe!

    1. Molly Thompson says:

      You’re so welcome! Glad you liked it!