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    StandardRecipe

    Dulce de Leche Frappé

    The BYOB Team5 min1 drink (from a batch of Dulce de Leche Syrup that makes about 10 servings)$0.84/drink184 cal/drink

    Uses Dulce de Leche Syrup — make a batch ahead of time; it keeps in the fridge for a week or two, so you won't need to make it again for every drink.

    Ingredients & steps

    Standard

    Ingredients

    • 2oz espresso, freshly pulled (or 1/3 cup strong coffee/cold brew)
    • 2 tbsp Dulce de Leche Syrup (make a batch ahead of time -- thinned with milk, so it keeps about 1 week in the fridge)
    • 1.5 cups ice (about 10-12 standard cubes)
    • 4oz cold milk
    • Optional: whipped cream and an extra dulce de leche drizzle for topping

    Steps

    1. 1.Make a batch of Dulce de Leche Syrup ahead of time if you haven't already -- it's thinned with milk, so use it within about a week.
    2. 2.Pull a double shot of espresso (or brew strong coffee/cold brew) -- no need to cool it first.
    3. 3.Add the espresso, dulce de leche syrup, ice, and cold milk to a blender.
    4. 4.Blend on high for 30-45 seconds until smooth and slushy with no ice chunks left.
    5. 5.Pour into a 16oz glass, top with whipped cream and an extra drizzle if using, and serve immediately with a straw.

    Swap the milk

    This recipe is written with Kirkland Signature Organic A2 Whole Milk (4oz). Pick a different milk to see the cost and calories update below.

    Milk: Kirkland Signature Organic A2 Whole Milk

    Cost per drink

    $0.84

    Calories per drink

    184

    Not medical or nutrition advice. Calorie figures on this page are estimates based on typical ingredient values, not a lab analysis of your exact batch — they'll shift with the brand of milk, syrup, or protein powder you actually use. "Ingredient-Honest" and "sugar-free" describe what's in the recipe, not a health claim. If you're managing diabetes, a caffeine sensitivity, pregnancy, or another condition, check with a doctor or dietitian before making a recipe part of your routine. Read the full disclaimer.

    Dulce de leche is a Latin café staple (Peet’s has carried a version, and plenty of Latin cafés serve it as a regular menu item) — richer and more “milky-caramel” than a plain caramel latte. This blends our Dulce de Leche Latte’s same syrup with espresso, milk, and ice into a proper frappé.

    Make the Syrup First (Just Once)

    This recipe assumes you already have a jar of Dulce de Leche Syrup in the fridge. It’s real dulce de leche thinned with milk, so it keeps about a week rather than the 2 weeks our plain sugar syrups manage, and makes roughly 10 drinks per batch. If you haven’t made one yet, go do that first, then come back here.

    Building the Frappé

    1. Pull a double shot of espresso (about 2oz), or brew strong coffee/cold brew instead.
    2. Add the espresso, 2 tbsp of the dulce de leche syrup, 1.5 cups of ice, and 4oz cold milk to a blender.
    3. Blend on high for 30-45 seconds until smooth and slushy.
    4. Pour into a 16oz glass, top with whipped cream and an extra drizzle if using, and serve immediately with a straw.
    Café Dulce de Leche Frappé vs. Home Version
    Café grande dulce de leche-style Frappuccino blended drink (specialty-menu pricing)$6.95
    Home dulce de leche frappé (espresso, milk, ice, syrup)~$0.84
    Savings per drink$6.11

    The syrup batch itself is a one-time ~$3.15 and makes about 10 drinks — real dulce de leche isn’t cheap, but it’s still a fraction of café pricing per serving. See the full syrup recipe for the batch method.

    Assumptions: grande-size blended drink, national-average specialty-menu pricing, dairy milk, $16/lb specialty beans or equivalent grocery beans. No seasonal ceiling — at 5 a week over the site’s standard 48-week year, that’s roughly $1,466/year back in your pocket versus the café version.

    Swaps & Notes

    • Plan around the shorter shelf life. It’s thinned with milk, so use the batch within about a week.
    • No espresso machine? Strong cold brew or a moka pot shot both work fine.
    • Want plain caramel instead? See our Caramel Frappé for the lighter, less dairy-forward version.
    • Watching sugar? This is Standard-tier only for now. Blend the Sugar-Free Dulce de Leche Latte iced with ice yourself for a lower-sugar version today.

    Recipe Card Summary

    Dulce de Leche Frappé

    • 2oz espresso + 4oz milk + 2 tbsp Dulce de Leche Syrup (made ahead) + 1.5 cups ice, blended
    • Prep time: 5 minutes (after the syrup is made) · Total: 5 minutes
    • Cost: ~$0.84/drink vs. $6.95 café equivalent

    FAQ

    How is this different from a caramel frappé?

    Dulce de leche is made by slow-cooking milk and sugar together, giving it a rounder, milkier caramel flavor than our Caramel Frappé’s syrup, which is browned sugar and water with no dairy in the syrup itself.

    Can I make this without a blender?

    The iced Dulce de Leche Latte uses the same syrup poured over ice instead of blended.

    Why does the syrup only keep about a week?

    It’s thinned with regular milk to reach a pourable syrup consistency, which shortens its shelf life versus our plain sugar-and-water syrups. Keep it in an airtight jar and use it within about a week.

    Keep exploring

    Browse by ingredient tier

    Or skip this drink and explore every recipe in the Ingredient-Honest, Standard, or Sugar-Free lineup.

    Browse more Frappé recipes →