A caramel frappe or copycat Starbucks Frappuccino that is a creamy, sweet and refreshing milkshake high in protein, and free of refined sugar. Make it in minutes! An awesome afternoon energizer, this caramel frappe is much healthier than the Starbuck's version. Also vegan, gluten-free and paleo.
Caramel Frappe
A caramel frappe that is both delicious and healthy and is not hard to make. This easy vegan and gluten-free drink comes together with just four base ingredients, milk, sunflower seed butter, dates or date syrup, and chocolate syrup. It also has a boatload of nutrition, and tastes delicious.
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Some people add coffee to a frappe, but me being from New England where a frappe is something slightly different, I add coffee's close cousin instead, chocolate. I added the chocolate in the form of a chocolate syrup, but you can add other forms of chocolate instead, chocolate chips or bars or even unsweetened cocoa but be sure and taste test to see if it needs more dates.
Starbuck's Frappuccino Vs. Homemade Caramel Frappe
Which is better? The homemade drink costs less to make and is far healthier to eat.
The Starbuck's Caramel Frappuccino is loaded with fat, sugar and calories, and is as well costly. [source] Whereas this homemade recipe is made with only 3 main ingredients in minutes, costs about a dollar to make and is high in protein, fiber and even soaring Vitamin A and magnesium.
Ingredients & Substitutions
1. Dairy-free milk and frozen milk cubes - I usually keep a can of coconut milk frozen in ice cube trays to add as a thickener to frappes and smoothies. Canned coconut milk is super thick, like heavy cream, but you could also freeze away any milk you choose. You just want milk cubes to support the frappe's texture.
2. Dates. I use dates blended with anything to use as a healthy caramel. Dates alone or blended with water into a paste or syrup, even a store-bought date syrup replace the flavor of commercial caramel beautifully, and add nutrition. Dates are one of the most nutritious sweeteners I have found to date (lol). They contain many hard-to-find nutrients, fiber and antioxidants which reduce the risk of disease. [source]
3. Sunflower seed butter or nut butter. This provides a creamy texture to the drink and adds its own nutrients and protein. I used Sunbutter sunflower seed butter here. While any nut butter can be used, you might want to note that sunflower seed butter is considered to have more healthy fats, as well as more nutrients such as magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, copper, iron, manganese, vitamin E, selenium and less saturated fat than does peanut butter. [source]
4. Chocolate syrup or brewed coffee. You can use homemade or store bought.
How to Make a Caramel Frappe
You can grab the detailed recipe in the bottom of this post, along with a video soon, but here is a general review of the steps.
Start by gathering or preparing the ingredients.
1. Freeze a creamy milk into ice cubes, I used oat but almond or coconut milk is also creamy
2. Blend the milk cubes, dates, sunflower seed butter next until smooth. Add a bit more milk if the mixture needs it to blend.
3. Decorate sides of glass with date syrup lashings, maybe a bit of whipped cream, and add chocolate to the bottom. Fill with the frappe mixture, and then top with whipped cream and a drizzle of date syrup or date paste
4. Store the frappe in a sealed container in the fridge for about 2 days. Or freeze in ice cube trays, Add a few cubes to a glass the night before, refrigerate and stir up the next day.
Why Make This Drink?
1. It's only 3 base ingredients and they are less expensive than buying a McDonald's frappe or a Starbuck's frappuccino.
2. It only takes a few minutes to make and you can double or triple the recipe easily depending on how many you need to serve.
3. The drink will make you feel great and energized, without the high-sugar drop other drinks will give you. It is sweetened from nature's best caramel made from date paste. Dates are high in magnesium and fiber, and the healthy fat is from sunflower seeds, super high in nutrition.
Tips & Substitutions
You can replace the chocolate syrup with brewed coffee, 1 to 1.
You can also replace the chocolate syrup with another form of chocolate such as chocolate bars or chips, or even unsweetened cocoa.
Use whole dates, or date paste (1 pitted date = 1 tbsp date paste), or date syrup.
Use any milk you choose, I used oat milk.
Use sunflower seed butter, plain or chocolate flavor, or use any nut butter.
Top your milk with spices or whipped cream or both. I whipped up coconut cream from a can with a few tablespoons of powdered sugar.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is A Caramel Frappe?
A caramel frappe is a blended ice drink served with whipped cream topping and made with milk, caramel, chocolate or coffee and ice. Commercial versions are available at McDonald's and as well as the famous commercial frappuccino, an iced cappuccino-based milkshake made famous by Starbucks.
What is the difference between a Frappuccino and a frappe?
A frappe is a blended iced drink, while a Frappuccino is a cappuccino served as a milkshake.
Does a caramel frappe have milk?
Yes, it can have any type of milk you prefer. I often freeze my milk in ice cube trays to use those to make caramel frappe frosty instead of using ice which will water it down.
Do frappes have caffeine?
You can make a frappe with or without caffeine, or rather with or without coffee. Just add chocolate milk instead if you want the frappe to have less caffeine than coffee would add.
More Healthy & Fun Drinks
Chocolate Peanut Butter Smoothie
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Caramel Frappe
Ingredients
- 2 cups dairy free milk
- 3 frozen milk cubes I used oat milk
- 3 dates or 2 tbsp date syrup
- 1 tbsp sunflower seed butter or nut butter
- 3 tbsp chocolate syrup + more for decoration homemade or store bought
Instructions
Prep
- Freeze a creamy milk into ice cubes, I used oat milk but almond or coconut milk is also creamy
Make Caramel Frappe
- Place the milk cubes, dates and seed butter in a blender and process until smooth.
- Decorate sides of glass with date syrup lashings, maybe a bit of whipped cream, and add chocolate to the bottom. Fill with the frappe mixture.
- Top with whipped cream and a drizzle of syrup.
- Store the frappe in a sealed container in the fridge for about 2 days. Or freeze in ice cube trays, Add a few cubes to a glass the night before, refrigerate and stir up the next day.
Video
Nutrition
This post is sponsored by Sunbutter. My opinions are my own.
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