Easy Caramel Brulee Latte Starbucks Copycat Recipe
Available on their special holiday season menu, the Starbucks Caramel Brûlée Latte combines caramel sweetness with the warmth of espresso and the creaminess of milk and whipped cream to create a cozy, warm experience that’s perfect for the holiday season. With just a few simple ingredients, you can make this delightful drink in the comfort of your own home.
My teenagers are obsessed with heading to the coffee shop and indulging in their favorite coffee drinks., but their wallets can’t always keep up with their obsession. So we’ve been experimenting with a homemade version for their favorites, and it has been so much fun!
Our other favorite Starbucks Copycat Recipes include this Peppermint Mocha Frappuccino and this Chestnut Praline Latte.
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WHAT IS THE STARBUCKS CARAMEL BRULEE LATTE?
A Caramel Brulee Latte is a seasonal drink offered by Starbucks, typically during the holiday season. It’s a rich and indulgent beverage made with espresso, steamed milk, caramel brulee sauce, and topped with whipped cream and caramel brulee topping.
HOW TO ORDER THE STARBUCKS CARAMEL BRULEE LATTE AT STARBUCKS
Before we talk about how to make this Starbucks copycat drink at home, let’s talk about how to order it at Starbucks. As far as orders at Starbucks go, this is fairly simple and straightforward.
- 1. Choose your size: Tall (12 oz), Grande (16 oz), and Venti (20 oz)
- Choose what kind of milk you want (regular milk or vegan options)
- Determine if you want to add whipped cream or not (hint: you should!)
Easy peasy.
INGREDIENTS
ESPRESSO OR STRONG BREWED COFFEE
If you don’t have an espresso machine, no worries. You can use instant espresso or substitute the espresso for strong coffee.
MILK
You can use dairy milk ( we recommend whole milk), oat milk and even coconut milk, unsweetened almond milk or soy milk. Keep in mind that the vegan milks might impact the flavor of the drink. For best results we don’t recommend skim milk, but you can always give it a try.
CARAMEL SAUCE OR SYRUP
We like to use regular caramel syrup – the kind you buy to put on top of ice cream. (We like Smuckers Caramel Sauce.) But you can also use Caramel Brulee Syrup (we like Torani Caramel Sauce).
BROWN SUGAR
Some people like to sweeten this with a simple syrup, but I’m all about the warm taste of brown sugar. Yum!
VANILLA
Some people use vanilla syrup, but we’ve found that vanilla extract is absolutely perfect.
WHIPPED CREAM
Technically this is considered optional, but trust me. Whipped cream is never optional.
See recipe card for quantities.
INSTRUCTIONS
Step 1: Heat milk, brown sugar, vanilla and caramel syrup over medium heat. Do not boil.
Step 2. Pour into a mug and add hot coffee or espresso.
Step 3: Top with whipped cream and drizzle with caramel sauce.
Step 4: Enjoy!
VARIATIONS
MAKE AN ICED CARAMEL BRULEE LATTE
Looking to turn this caramel latte into an iced latte? No problem! Simply add ice to your glass, make sure the coffee or espresso is chilled (you can even use store-bought cold brew) and use cold milk. And then you have your very own iced Caramel Brulee Latte!
MAKE IT A DECAF
Because you’re making this at home, you can substitute the espresso for strong decaf coffee.
MAKE IT SWEETER OR LESS SWEET
Experiment with how much syrup and brown sugar you add to make this the best latte you’ve ever had.
STORAGE
We don’t recommend making this drink in advance. Make it fresh with every cup for maximum satisfaction!
FAQ
No, the Caramel Brulee Latte is usually a limited-time offering available only during the holiday season at Starbucks. It’s usually released in November.
“Brulee” refers to the French culinary technique of torching sugar on top of a dessert to create a caramelized and crispy layer. In the Caramel Brulee Latte, this concept is incorporated through the use of caramel brulee sauce and caramelized sugar topping.
Yes, you can customize the sweetness by adjusting the amount of caramel brulee sauce and caramel brulee topping you add to the drink. If you prefer a less sweet drink, you can ask for less syrup when ordering at Starbucks.
Yes, you can usually order the Caramel Brulee Latte with non-dairy milk alternatives such as almond milk, soy milk, or coconut milk, depending on availability at your Starbucks location.
Yes, the Caramel Brulee Latte contains espresso or coffee, so it does have caffeine. The caffeine content will vary based on the number of espresso shots used in the drink.
Yes, you can use instant coffee if you don’t have access to an espresso machine. Just make sure to prepare a strong cup of coffee using instant coffee granules.
You can steam milk on the stovetop by heating it gently over medium heat and whisking it continuously to create froth. Alternatively, you can use a microwave-safe container and heat the milk in the microwave, then vigorously whisk or shake the container to create froth.
Certainly! You can add a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg for extra holiday flavor. Some people also enjoy adding a shot of vanilla syrup to enhance the vanilla notes.
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
VIDEO
📖 Recipe
Easy Caramel Brulee Latte Starbucks Copycat Recipe
Available on their special holiday season menu, the Starbucks Caramel Brûlée Latte combines caramel sweetness with the warmth of espresso and the creaminess of milk and whipped cream to create a cozy, warm experience that’s perfect for the holiday season. With just a few simple ingredients, you can make this delightful drink in the comfort of your own home.
- Total Time: 10 min
- Yield: 2 1x
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons caramel sauce or syrup + extra for the drizzle on top. We use Smucker’s Caramel Sauce. Use more or less according to taste.
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- 2/3 cup milk of your choice
- 2 shots of espresso or 10 ounces strong coffee
- Whipped cream
Instructions
- Combine caramel syrup, vanilla, brown sugar, and milk in a small saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Do not boil. Reduce heat to low and cook, stirring frequently, 1-2 minutes.
- Pour into your favorite mug and mix in your espresso or coffee.
- Top with whipped cream and a drizzle of caramel syrup.
Notes
MAKE AN ICED CARAMEL BRULEE LATTE
Looking to turn this caramel latte into an iced latte? No problem! Simply add ice to your glass, make sure the coffee or espresso is chilled (you can even use store-bought cold brew) and use cold milk. And then you have your very own iced Caramel Brulee Latte!
MAKE IT A DECAF
Because you’re making this at home, you can substitute the espresso for strong decaf coffee.
MAKE IT SWEETER OR LESS SWEET
Experiment with how much syrup and brown sugar you add to make this the best latte you’ve ever had.
- Prep Time: 5 min
- Cook Time: 5 min
