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.
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.
How to Make an Iced Caramel Latte
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.
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
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.
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.
No worries! Brew a strong cup of coffee, use cold brew coffee (about 1/2 cup) or use instant espresso powder mixed with water.
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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Iced Caramel Latte
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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
Notes
- Espresso: use a fancy espresso machine or grab a cheap one on Amazon you can use on the stovetop.
- Cold brew coffee: store-bought or your own cold brew coffee are both great options.
- Very strong coffee: brew the strongest coffee you can for a latte
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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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!
You’re so welcome! Glad you liked it!