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Make a healthier version of Starbucks iced caramel macchiato recipe at home, made with Medjool date caramel sauce! It’s creamy, tasty, and so easy to make without any refined sugars, and it’ll save you a ton of money.
Why You’ll Love This Iced Caramel Macchiato Recipe
There was a point in college when I would drink an iced caramel macchiato almost everyday. I just couldn’t get enough of the sweet creamy drink with a kick of caffeine, but it was an expensive habit. I realized that making it at home is actually very easy with much less sugar!
The Starbucks version of this drink contains espresso, milk, a pump of vanilla syrup, and caramel sauce. It’s actually quite simple to make at home, and using a caramel sauce made with Medjool dates make it a much healthier drink with a low glycemic index!
Plus, you’ll be making a big batch of the vegan caramel sauce at once so you’ll have it on hand to make this drink quickly whenever you get a craving.
Watch a Short Video of This Recipe
Ingredient Notes
Here’s what you need to know about the key ingredients for this iced caramel macchiato. Check out the card below for the full list of ingredients and exact measurements.
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Date Caramel Sauce Ingredients
- Natural Delights® Medjool Dates: I love that Medjool dates have a natural caramel flavor, making them the perfect ingredient for a healthier caramel sauce! You’ll want to use plump and fresh dates, and Natural Delights Medjool dates deliver every time with the best flavor and quality. If your dates are older or a bit dried out, you can soak them in hot water before blending.
- Milk: Use any milk of your choice. I’m dairy free when it comes to milk, so I ended up using almond milk.
- Water: You’ll need water to thin out the caramel sauce and help everything blend.
- Vanilla extract
- Sea salt
Iced Caramel Macchiato
- Maple syrup and vanilla extract: Instead of using vanilla simple syrup, I used a combination of maple syrup and vanilla extract for a similar flavor profile.
- Milk of your choice: Any milk will work – whole milk, 2% milk, almond milk, oat milk, soy milk, coconut milk, and more!
- Ice: I personally prefer iced coffee drinks, but if you want a hot version, just omit the ice and heat up your milk.
- Espresso: You’ll want 2 shots of espresso or strongly brewed coffee for this iced macchiato. I typically don’t do well with coffee and I don’t have an espresso machine, so I ended up using decaf instant coffee!
Step-by-Step Instructions
Recipe Tips
To make a hot caramel macchiato, omit the ice and heat the milk before pouring into the cup.
Storage Tips
You can store the date caramel sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. It may firm up as it chills. You can warm it up, or add a bit of hot water to the sauce and mix to thin it out to make this copycat Starbucks iced caramel macchiato again!
More Recipes with Medjool Dates
Pan Roasted Chicken Thighs with Dates & Olives
Date-Sweetened Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream
Chinese Chicken Salad with Dates
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Iced Caramel Macchiato Recipe (with Date Caramel Sauce)
Video
Ingredients
Date Caramel Sauce
- 12 Natural Delights® Medjool dates, pitted
- 1/2 cup milk, of your choice – I used almond milk
- 1/4 cup water, plus more if needed
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
Iced Caramel Macchiato
- 1-2 tsp maple syrup
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup milk, of your choice
- Ice
- 2 shots espresso, or 4 oz strong brewed coffee
Instructions
- Place dates, milk, water, vanilla extract and sea salt in a high speed blender or food processor. *If your dates are dry or a little old, soak them in hot water first before you blend them.12 Natural Delights® Medjool dates, 1/2 cup milk, 1/4 cup water, 1/2 tsp vanilla extract, 1/4 tsp sea salt
- Blend until smooth, adding more water if it needs help breaking down the chunks or to thin the sauce. Transfer to a squeeze bottle if available.
- In a glass, add 1 tbsp of caramel sauce to the bottom. You can also add some to the sides as well to let it drip down the inside.
- Add maple syrup, vanilla extract, and milk, and stir together to mix.1-2 tsp maple syrup, 1/2 tsp vanilla extract, 3/4 cup milk
- Fill up with ice, leaving enough room at the top for the espresso.Ice
- Pour espresso or coffee on top. Finish with a drizzle of caramel sauce on top.2 shots espresso
- Stir and enjoy!
Notes
- To make a hot caramel macchiato, omit the ice and heat the milk before pouring into the cup.
- You can store the date caramel sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. It may firm up as it chills. You can warm it up, or add a bit of hot water to the sauce and mix to thin it out to make this copycat Starbucks iced caramel macchiato again!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Delicious! Love the thickness and depth this gives my iced coffee.
Yay! I’m so glad!!