Iced Non-Dairy Caramel Macchiato Recipe

In the middle of the afternoon on a hot summer day, there's nothing quite like a refreshing iced coffee drink to cool you down and get you through the midday slump. Fancy coffee shops can charge upwards of $7 or $8 for a single drink but you can recreate these fun beverages at home for a fraction of the cost. One of the most popular Starbucks drinks is the iced caramel macchiato due to its delicious blend of strong espresso, vanilla syrup, and sweet caramel sauce. 

If you're looking to make one of these drinks at home, be aware that there are some slight differences in the way hot and iced macchiatos are made. "In this case, the milk is added first and the espresso poured on top," recipe developer Taylor Murray told us. Once you gather the few simple ingredients, throwing this drink together is incredibly easy and so satisfying.

First, gather your ingredients. The most important component is the espresso. It should be freshly brewed, if possible. Next, you'll need some non-dairy milk. "If you prefer to use cow's milk, that's totally fine and this recipe will work in the same ratio. I personally prefer the creamy texture of oat milk for my coffee drinks," says Murray.

For the vanilla syrup, you can buy some from one of the brands that make flavored syrups for coffee or make your own. Just start with a simple syrup and add a teaspoon of vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste. "I like to use vanilla bean paste because the little flecks of vanilla make it feel fancy," Murray told us.

Finally, the caramel sauce. There are a few brands that make caramel sauce that's the perfect consistency for drizzling or you can take it up a notch by making your own salted caramel sauce.

Drizzle the caramel sauce all over the inside of the glass. Fill the glass with ice.

In a separate cup, combine the milk and vanilla syrup. Stir to combine.

Pour milk mixture over ice. Depending on the size of your glass, you may need to hold back a bit of the milk to make sure there is enough room for the espresso.

Top the milk with freshly brewed espresso. "Espresso tends to get bitter as it cools, so I prefer to add it as soon as I'm done pulling it from the espresso machine," says Murray.