Make Your Own Starbucks Light Caramel Frappucino

Nancy shares incredible skinny recipes regularly at SkinnyKitchen.com. This make-your-own Starbucks Frappucino recipe was originally featured there.

My version of this this Starbucks creation cuts the fat, carbs and calories of the original! Starbucks Frappuccino is a top-seller with their regular customers. They say that their light version is 54% fewer calories per serving than the original. That sounds really good to me, so I decided to tackle a skinny version of the recipe to enjoy at home. I absolutely love their caramel frappe.

I’ve easily cut the fat and calories by using 1% milk, mostly Splenda or Stevia and a little sugar. Adding just a small amount of  sugar really adds to the taste. You really don’t need much. Each skinny remake has 132 calories, 1.8 grams of fat and 4 Weight Watchers POINTS PLUS. This includes topping it with a little bit of light whipped cream and caramel drizzle. A Starbucks Caramel Frappuccino Light has 152 calories and 1.3 grams of fat (not including whipped cream or caramel drizzle). So, sit down, relax and enjoy this rich tasting, chilly treat. Have fun skinny sipping!

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

⅔ cup double-strength regular or decaf coffee, chilled, see prep tip

⅔ cup (1%) low-fat milk, see substitution tip

2 tablespoons caramel topping

4 packages Splenda, Stevia, Equal or your favorite sugar substitute

2 teaspoons sugar

1½ teaspoons vanilla extract

2¾ cups ice

Topping Ingredients:

Light whipped cream or light vanilla flavored whipped cream, see shopping tip

1½ teaspoons caramel topping

Instructions

1. Combine chilled coffee, milk, 2 tablespoons caramel topping, Splenda, sugar, vanilla and ice in a blender. Blend on high speed until ice is crushed and drink is smooth. Pour into 2 glasses.

2. Top each glass with 2 tablespoons whipped cream and drizzle about ¾ teaspoon caramel topping over each.

3. Serve at once with a straw, if desired

Makes 2 drinks. Each (1½ cups)

Food Fact
In 2004, Starbucks created a “Light” version which according to the company has 54% of the calories, 15% of the fat and 52% of the carbohydrates of the original. Frappuccino is a trademarked line of blended coffee drinks sold by Starbucks. It consists of coffee blended with ice and various other ingredients, usually topped with whipped cream.

Shopping Tip
Some supermarkets now carry a light vanilla flavored whipped cream. The vanilla makes it a creamy tan-like color instead of the standard white. I found it at Safeway/Vons. If you can’t find it use any brand of light whipped cream.

Prep Tips
Make double-strength regular or decaf coffee by brewing with twice the coffee required by your coffee maker. Use 2 tablespoons of ground coffee per each cup of coffee. Chill before using. Make extra, if desired, to keep on hand in the refrigerator.

I like to used fresh brewed hazelnut flavored coffee for this recipe because I love hazelnut coffee but any regular or decaf coffee will work.

Substitution Tip
To cut the calories and fat further, use nonfat milk instead of 1% and all Splenda, no sugar. These Skinny Facts still include the topping: 109 calories, 1g fat, 3g protein, 22g carbs, 133mg sodium 0g fiber, 1g sugar. Weight Watchers POINTS PLUS 3- made with nonfat milk, no sugar, only Splenda and includes toppings

Weight Watchers (old points) 3
Weight Watchers POINTS PLUS 4

Skinny Facts: for 1 (1½ cups) serving including 2 tablespoons light whipped cream and a little caramel drizzle
133 calories, 1.8g fat, 3g protein 26g carbs, 0g fiber, 126mg sodium, 9g sugar

Regular Facts: for a Starbucks (12 oz) Light Caramel Frappuccino
152 calories, 1.3g fat, 6g protein, 30g carbs, 2g fiber, 22g sugar