How to Make Caramel Iced Coffee at Home
Skip the Starbucks line (and prices!) and make a Caramel Iced Coffee at home. No fancy equipment needed, and made to your exact preferences.
Save Some Money and Make Iced Caramel Coffee at Home!
If you’ve done a Google search for “caramel coffee” in the past 10 years, it’s likely been my recipe that has come up first, and I’m pretty proud of it!
Over 300,000 people have checked out the recipe for that *hot* caramel coffee, and my iced version is just as good.
Read on to find out how to make caramel iced coffee at home that will rival anything you’ve had from Starbucks, for a fraction of the cost.
Why You’ll Love This Caramel Iced Coffee
- Like your iced caramel coffee creamier or less creamy? Sweeter or way less sweet? When you make it at home, it will be exactly to your specifications.
- Making this little treat at home is so much more affordable than buying one at a local coffee shop.
- No fancy equipment required. If you can make a pot of coffee, you can make this iced caramel coffee.
Caramel Coffee Ingredients
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- brewed coffee – for each beverage, you’ll need 8 ounces of brewed coffee that has been cooled. More on this below, under “Home Chef Tips.”
- caramel syrup – this will add the signature sweetness and flavor to the coffee. You can make it at home using my caramel coffee syrup recipe or buy a pre-made brand like Torani or Monin.
- milk – adds the creaminess to the drink.
- sea salt – this is optional, but I like adding a pinch of salt to balance the sweetness and bring out the depth of the caramel flavor.
- whipped cream – an optional but highly encouraged garnish to make this iced coffee caramel drink feel more indulgent.
- caramel sauce – another optional but highly encouraged garnish that adds an extra caramel boost and visual appeal. You can make your own caramel sauce using my microwave caramel sauce recipe or buy store-bought caramel sauce like Ghirardelli or Torani.
What is the Secret to Making Good Iced Coffee?
The biggest key to making great iced coffee is starting with strong brewed coffee. When you pour the coffee over ice, it will be slightly diluted by the ice, so using a robust brew ensures that it’s still packed with flavor.
How to Make Caramel Iced Coffee at Home
1. STIR. Fill a tall glass with ice, then pour the coffee, caramel syrup and salt over it. Stir until the syrup is dissolved into the coffee.
2. MILK. Add the milk and stir until well combined.
3. GARNISH. Top the drink with whipped cream and caramel sauce.
Home Chef Tips
- You’ll need strong brewed coffee that isn’t still piping hot. If you have some brewed coffee left over from your morning pot or French press, that’s perfect for this caramel iced coffee recipe.
- You could also start with a strong batch of cold brew coffee. NPR has a very good easy cold brew method if you’re interested in doing that.
- You can freeze leftover cold coffee into ice cube trays and use those coffee ice cubes instead of regular ice for a stronger drink.
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How to Store Iced Coffee (Caramel)
While you can make a large batch of caramel iced coffee and keep it in the fridge for a few days, I think it tastes best if you stir it up fresh each time.
This doesn’t mean you have to make a new batch of coffee each time. You can make a large batch of coffee or cold brew to use, and then store the coffee and the caramel syrup separately in airtight containers.
Store the coffee in the fridge so it is nice and cold. When ready to serve, combine the coffee and caramel syrup and add milk as outlined in the recipe card below.
Iced Caramel Coffee FAQs
If you like a thicker iced coffee, you can use heavy cream in place of some or all of the milk, or even stir in a bit of sweetened condensed milk.
Caramel syrup is a thin, translucent liquid that is used to add flavoring to coffee drinks. It’s like a flavored simple syrup. Caramel sauce is a thicker, richer condiment that is used to garnish drinks and desserts.
Caramel syrup is better for flavoring the coffee itself, and caramel sauce is better for garnishing the finished drink.
It depends on your taste and dietary preferences. Whole milk gives the creamiest texture, but almond milk, oat milk, soy milk, rice milk, coconut milk, cashew milk or literally almost any other type of milk or dairy-free alternative you can think of will be delicious in this caramel iced coffee recipe.
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Caramel Iced Coffee Recipe
Ingredients
- 8 ounces brewed coffee cooled
- ½ – 1 ounce Caramel Syrup for Coffee or a store-bought brand like Torani or Monin
- Pinch sea salt (optional)
- 4 ounces whole milk
- Whipped cream for garnish (optional)
- Microwave Caramel Sauce for garnish (optional), or a store-bought brand like Ghiradelli or Torani
Instructions
- Fill tall glass with ice. Pour coffee, syrup and salt (if using) over ice; stir until syrup is dissolved into coffee.
- Add milk; stir until well combined.
- Serve garnished with whipped cream and caramel sauce, if desired.
Sorry about that, Calvin. It’s 4 ounces of milk.
Can you make a pitcher of it and keep in the fridge for casual consumption over a few days or do you recommend making it by the cup?
A pitcher of it is a great idea Jennifer. Just give it a stir before serving.
Can you use caramel creamer instead of milk?
It might be a little sweeter, but go for it!
Lori, I did a google search because I thought I’d seen people do coconut milk whipped cream, and that is a definite non-dairy possibility, using either coconut milk (I assume full fat) or coconut cream.
Ohhhh, good to know. Thanks Susan!