Copycat Dunkin’ Caramel Craze Iced Latte

Skip the drive-thru and make this Copycat Dunkin’ Caramel Craze Iced Latte right at home! Bold espresso, creamy milk, and rich caramel come together over ice before being topped with whipped cream, even more caramel, and a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar.

It’s sweet, creamy, refreshing, and unapologetically caramel.

Best of all, you can make it in about five minutes.

If your favorite part of ordering an iced latte is all the caramel stuck to the sides of the cup, this recipe is definitely for you.

Why You’ll Love This Caramel Craze Iced Latte

There are iced lattes.

And then there are iced lattes that basically double as dessert.

This one falls into the second category.

You’ll love this recipe because it’s:

• Ready in about 5 minutes
• Packed with caramel flavor
• Easy to customize
• Made with simple ingredients
• Deliciously creamy
• Easy to make without an espresso machine
• Less expensive than a coffee-shop drink
• Perfect any time of year

It also looks pretty impressive for something that takes only minutes to assemble.

Ingredients

For the Caramel Iced Latte

• 2 shots espresso
• 1 cup milk
• 2 tablespoons caramel sauce
• 1 tablespoon vanilla syrup
• Ice

For the Cinnamon Sugar Topping

• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

For Topping

• Whipped cream
• Caramel sauce
• Cinnamon sugar

How to Make a Copycat Dunkin’ Caramel Craze Iced Latte

Step 1: Make the Cinnamon Sugar

Combine the granulated sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl.

Stir until evenly combined.

Set aside.

You’ll only need a small amount for one drink, so save the rest for your next latte.

Step 2: Brew the Espresso

Brew two shots of espresso.

While the espresso is still hot, add 1 tablespoon of caramel sauce.

Stir until the caramel has completely dissolved into the espresso.

Step 3: Add Vanilla

Stir the vanilla syrup into the caramel espresso.

Allow the mixture to cool for a minute or two.

Step 4: Add Caramel to the Glass

Drizzle caramel sauce around the inside of a tall glass.

Don’t worry about making it perfect.

The caramel streaks are part of what makes the finished drink look so good.

Step 5: Add Ice

Fill the glass approximately three-quarters full with ice.

Step 6: Add Milk

Pour the cold milk over the ice.

Step 7: Add the Espresso

Slowly pour the caramel espresso over the milk.

You can leave it layered for a minute if you want that coffee-shop look.

Then give it a stir before drinking.

Step 8: Add the Toppings

Top the latte generously with whipped cream.

Drizzle additional caramel sauce over the whipped cream.

Finish with a light sprinkle of cinnamon sugar.

Serve immediately.

What Is a Caramel Craze Iced Latte?

A Caramel Craze-style latte takes a basic caramel iced latte and makes it a little more indulgent.

You have espresso and milk as the base, but then caramel gets layered throughout the drink.

There’s caramel mixed with the espresso, caramel around the cup, and caramel over the whipped cream.

The cinnamon sugar topping adds a little extra warmth that keeps the drink from tasting like plain caramel and milk.

What Does a Caramel Craze Latte Taste Like?

Caramel is definitely the star.

The espresso provides a bold, slightly bitter flavor that balances the sweetness.

Milk makes everything creamy.

Vanilla adds a softer sweetness, while cinnamon gives the drink just enough warm spice.

The result is somewhere between an iced latte and a caramel dessert.

What Caramel Sauce Should I Use?

Use a caramel sauce that you already enjoy.

A thick caramel dessert or coffee sauce works particularly well because it sticks to the inside of the glass and creates those beautiful caramel streaks.

You can use store-bought or homemade caramel sauce.

If your caramel is extremely thick, warm it slightly before using so it’s easier to drizzle.

Caramel Sauce vs. Caramel Syrup

You can technically use either, but they’re different.

Caramel syrup is usually thinner and designed to dissolve easily into drinks.

Caramel sauce is thicker, richer, and generally made with dairy ingredients.

For this recipe, I prefer caramel sauce because it gives you that rich caramel flavor and beautiful drizzle.

Do I Need an Espresso Machine?

No!

An espresso machine will give you the most traditional latte, but you can use:

• A Nespresso-style machine
• A moka pot
• Instant espresso
• Strong brewed coffee

If you’re using regular coffee, make it much stronger than you normally would.

You’ll need approximately 1/2 cup of strong coffee to replace the espresso.

What Milk Should I Use?

Whole milk will give you a rich and creamy latte.

However, you can use whichever milk you prefer.

Try:

• 2% milk
• Skim milk
• Oat milk
• Almond milk
• Soy milk
• Coconut milk

Oat milk is especially good if you like a creamy plant-based latte.

Make It Dairy-Free

Use your favorite plant-based milk along with dairy-free caramel sauce and dairy-free whipped topping.

Be sure to check your caramel sauce carefully because traditional caramel sauces often contain butter or cream.

Make It Extra Caramel

You came to the right recipe.

Drizzle extra caramel around the inside of your glass.

Increase the caramel mixed with the espresso.

Then finish with plenty of caramel over the whipped cream.

You can even add a little caramel to the bottom of the glass before adding the ice.

Make It Less Sweet

Caramel Craze-style drinks are supposed to be sweet, but homemade means you’re in control.

Use only 1 tablespoon of caramel sauce in the entire drink.

Leave out the vanilla syrup.

Use only a small drizzle of caramel over the whipped cream.

You can also skip the whipped cream completely.

Make It Sweeter

Add another tablespoon of caramel sauce or vanilla syrup.

You can also add a little brown sugar syrup.

Taste before adding extra sweetener because the caramel sauce and whipped cream already add plenty.

Add More Cinnamon

If you love cinnamon, sprinkle a little directly into the espresso.

You can also add extra cinnamon sugar over the whipped cream.

The cinnamon makes this variation especially good for fall.

Make a Salted Caramel Craze Latte

Add a tiny pinch of flaky sea salt to the caramel espresso.

Finish the drink with whipped cream, caramel, and another couple of flakes of sea salt.

Don’t add too much.

You want just enough salt to balance the sweetness.

Make a Pumpkin Caramel Craze Latte

September version!

Add 1 tablespoon of pumpkin puree and a pinch of pumpkin pie spice to the hot espresso.

Stir very well.

Add caramel and vanilla.

Pour over ice and milk.

Finish with whipped cream, caramel, and pumpkin pie spice.

Now you’ve got caramel and pumpkin in the same glass.

Make a Mocha Caramel Craze Latte

Add 1 tablespoon of chocolate sauce to the hot espresso.

Stir in the caramel.

Pour over ice and milk.

Top with whipped cream, chocolate drizzle, caramel drizzle, and cinnamon sugar.

This one is basically dessert with caffeine.

Make It With Cold Brew

No espresso?

Use cold brew instead.

Fill a tall glass with ice.

Add approximately 1 cup cold brew, caramel sauce, vanilla syrup, and milk.

Stir well.

Top with whipped cream, caramel, and cinnamon sugar.

Make It Hot

Once the weather cools down, make a hot Caramel Craze Latte.

Add caramel sauce and vanilla to hot espresso.

Heat and froth the milk.

Pour the milk over the espresso.

Top with whipped cream, caramel drizzle, and cinnamon sugar.

Same flavors, cozy version.

Make Coffee Ice Cubes

If you hate watered-down iced coffee, make coffee ice cubes.

Pour leftover coffee into an ice cube tray.

Freeze until solid.

Use the frozen coffee cubes in place of regular ice.

As they melt, they’ll add coffee instead of water.

What to Serve With a Caramel Craze Iced Latte

This sweet iced latte pairs perfectly with:

• Glazed donuts
• Cinnamon rolls
• Coffee cake
• Chocolate chip muffins
• Apple cider donuts
• Banana bread
• Maple donuts
• Snickerdoodle cookies
• Croissants
• Chocolate chip cookies
• Pumpkin muffins

For the full coffee-shop-at-home experience, serve it with your favorite donut.

Tips for the Best Caramel Craze Iced Latte

Add caramel to hot espresso. It dissolves much more easily.

Let the espresso cool slightly. This prevents it from immediately melting all your ice.

Use plenty of ice. Iced lattes are best really cold.

Use a thick caramel sauce. It creates those pretty streaks around the glass.

Start with less sweetness. You can always add more.

Use cold milk. It keeps the drink refreshing.

Add the toppings right before serving. Whipped cream won’t hold up forever over an iced drink.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a Caramel Craze Iced Latte Have Coffee?

Yes. This homemade version uses two shots of espresso.

Does It Have Caffeine?

Yes, when prepared with regular espresso.

Can I Make It Decaf?

Absolutely.

Use decaffeinated espresso or strongly brewed decaf coffee.

Can I Use Regular Coffee Instead of Espresso?

Yes.

Use approximately 1/2 cup of strongly brewed coffee.

Can I Use Caramel Syrup Instead of Sauce?

Yes, although the flavor and texture will be slightly different.

Caramel sauce gives you a richer drink and works better for the drizzle.

Can I Make It Without Whipped Cream?

Of course.

The latte is still delicious without it.

Can I Make It Dairy-Free?

Yes. Use plant-based milk, dairy-free caramel sauce, and dairy-free whipped topping.

Copycat Dunkin’ Caramel Craze Iced Latte

If you’re the person who always asks for extra caramel, this one’s for you.

This Copycat Dunkin’ Caramel Craze Iced Latte layers bold espresso, creamy milk, vanilla, and plenty of caramel over ice before finishing everything with whipped cream, another caramel drizzle, and cinnamon sugar.

It’s sweet.

It’s creamy.

It’s a little ridiculous.

And that’s exactly why it’s so good.