If you're as sad as I am when the holiday drinks go away at Starbucks, you need to try this copycat version of the caramel brûlée sauce and latte. It tastes like a homemade crème brûlée in a mug!
My favorite holiday drink from Starbucks is the Caramel Brûlée Latte, so I get disappointed when the holidays come to an end and I can't order it anymore.
I managed to get my hands on a jug of the caramel brûlée sauce when the season was over, so I decided to take a shot at making my own copycat version. I tested it side by side with the Starbucks sauce and the results were exactly what I had hoped for!
I will show you exactly how to make the caramel brûlée syrup, but also how to prepare a latte that tastes just like the coffee shop version. It is now one of my top favorite coffee syrup recipes.
If you want to make more Starbucks drinks at home, I also have this Starbucks iced peach green tea copycat recipe and gingerbread syrup for coffee that you might like. Some more homemade versions of lattes in my recipe collection include how to make a London fog latte and marshmallow pumpkin latte.
Jump to:
Recipe Highlights
- easy to make
- you need only a few ingredients
- it can be significantly cheaper to make at home
- tastes so much like the Starbucks drink
- no more tears when the Starbucks holiday drinks go away because you can enjoy this DIY copycat version all year round
Caramel Brûlée Sauce
Ingredients
- golden sugar - At first, I was using dark brown sugar, but the flavor came out a little too rich and the color too dark. I switched to golden sugar because it was lighter and let the actual caramel extract flavor come through better, much closer to the taste of Starbucks' syrup. If you can't find golden sugar, the regular brown sugar will do.
- caramel flavor - Not all caramel flavor extracts will taste the same or have the same strength, so there might be a slight adjustment needed with the amount used. I like to use Watkins; it has a really great, strong flavor.
- sea salt - Don't skip the sea salt. Just a small amount really enhances the flavor and the Starbucks syrup also contains it.
- milk powder - You can use skim or whole.
*Check recipe card for ingredient amounts.
How to Make Caramel Brûlée Sauce
Step #1. Whisk. In a small saucepan, whisk the milk powder into the water until dissolved.
Step #2. Heat. Add the corn syrup, sugar and sea salt to the mixture. Heat over medium-low heat just until the sugar is dissolved, stirring occasionally. Don't let it get so hot that it's bubbling because it will curdle.
Step #3. Add Flavor. Remove from heat and let cool. Add the caramel flavor and vanilla extract and stir to combine.
Step #4. Ready! Transfer to a jar or squeeze bottle. Your caramel brûlée sauce is ready to use! Keep in a covered jar or squeeze bottle in the fridge for up to 7 days.
Chef's Note: The milk powder needs to be mixed with water before heating. If you were to add the powder directly to the heated sauce, the texture would basically end up like curdled milk, and your nice batch of caramel sauce would be ruined.
Ways to Use it
Add it to your coffee, drizzle it over ice cream (try it on this banana ice cream or candy corn ice cream) and other homemade dessert recipes OR make a caramel brûlée latte following the instructions below.
Caramel Brûlée Latte
Ingredients
- canned whipped cream - I use canned because it's just easy and you can swirl it nicely over the top of the mug. Feel free to use this whipped topping recipe instead.
- toffee bits - You can use Skor bits (like I do) or a generic brand of toffee bits, for the topping.
- milk - I recommend whole milk for steaming because it's considered the gold standard for its lush and luxurious foam. However, you can use skim milk if preferred; the foam bubbles are larger and more delicate but stable.
*Check recipe card for ingredient amounts.
How to Make a Caramel Brûlée Latte
Step #1. Make Espresso. Add the hot espresso and caramel brûlée sauce to a mug and give it a stir.
Step #2. Add Milk. Pour the steamed milk into the mug.
For the steamed milk: If you don't have a milk steamer, you can gently heat the milk in a microwave or in a saucepan over medium heat, whisking often, just until steaming.
Step #3. Add Toppings. Top with some whipped cream and toffee bits. You can also drizzle the top with a bit more of the caramel sauce, if desired.
Step #4. Serve! Serve the caramel brûlée latte immediately. Another way to enjoy it is over ice! You can also try adding a cinnamon sugar rim to the mug before you pour the drink.
Joss' Tips
- Don't whisk the caramel brûlée latte syrup. I would avoid using a whisk to combine the sauce ingredients, because the milk will froth up and result in a foamy sauce.
- Cover when cooling. Keep the saucepan covered with the lid when cooling the sauce to preserve the smooth consistency.
- Use a funnel. For less mess and waste, use a funnel to transfer the sauce to a bottle or jar.
- Heat milk gently. For best results, the milk needs to be heated gently and slowly. You don't want to scald it, leaving a gross film on top.
- Mug size matters. A 12-ounce mug is the perfect size for your hot caramel brûlée latte--equivalent to a tall drink at Starbucks.
- Sweeten to taste. If you love your caramel brûlée latte as sweet as the one from Starbucks, add 3 tablespoons of sauce. Prefer a less sweet version? Use just 2 tablespoons per latte or even less.
Caramel Brûlée Sauce + Latte FAQs
It is a sweet, dessert style sauce with caramel brulée flavoring that can be used in coffee, desserts and other drinks.
A sweet and creamy espresso-based drink that tastes like the caramel crème brûlée dessert. It's a seasonal drink available at Starbucks and other coffee shops in the winter.
No, it contains milk. To make a dairy-free version, you can omit the milk powder from the sauce and use a plant-based milk for the latte, instead of cow's milk. I recommend oat milk because it's super creamy and froths well!
Yes it is!
It's usually released in early to mid-November and sticks around as long as the sauce lasts. Busier locations tend to run out quicker but I find that some spots are stocked until the end of January or so.
🤎 More Coffee Content You Will Love
If you tried this ☕ Caramel Brûlée Sauce + Latte Copycat Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. And please share the recipe!
📋Recipe
Caramel Brûlée Sauce + Latte (Copycat)
Ingredients
Caramel Brulée Sauce
- ¼ cup milk powder
- ½ cup water
- ¼ cup golden corn syrup
- 1 ½ cups golden yellow sugar - or light brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- 2 tablespoons caramel flavor
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Caramel Brulée Latte
- ⅓ cup espresso - freshly brewed
- 2-3 tablespoons caramel brulée sauce - or to taste
- ⅔ cup milk - steamed
- canned whipped cream - to garnish
- toffee bits - to garnish
Instructions
Caramel Brulée Sauce
- In a small saucepan, whisk the milk powder into the water until dissolved.¼ cup milk powder, ½ cup water
- Add the corn syrup, sugar and sea salt to the mixture. Heat over medium-low heat just until the sugar is dissolved, stirring occasionally. Don't let it get so hot that it's bubbling because it will curdle.¼ cup golden corn syrup, 1 ½ cups golden yellow sugar, ½ teaspoon sea salt
- Remove from heat and let cool. Add the caramel flavor and vanilla extract and stir to combine.2 tablespoons caramel flavor, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- Transfer to a jar or squeeze bottle. Your caramel brulée sauce is ready to use! Add it to your coffee, drizzle it over ice cream and other desserts or make a caramel brulée latte following the instructions below.
Caramel Brulée Latte
- Add the hot espresso and caramel brulée sauce to a mug and give it a stir.⅓ cup espresso, 2-3 tablespoons caramel brulée sauce
- Pour the steamed milk into the mug.⅔ cup milk
- Top with some whipped cream and toffee bits. You can also drizzle the top with a bit more of the caramel sauce, if desired.
- Serve!
Equipment
Notes
- Nutrition Info: The nutrition info is for 1 latte, not including the optional toppings.
- Sauce storage: Keep in a covered jar or squeeze bottle in the fridge for up to 7 days.
- For the steamed milk: If you don't have a milk steamer, you can gently heat the milk in a microwave or in a saucepan over medium heat, whisking often, just until steaming.
- Yield: It makes about 1 ⅓ cups sauce or 22 tablespoons.
- Caramel flavoring: I use Watkins caramel flavor. Keep in mind that the intensity may vary with other brands, so you might need to make an adjustment.
- Mug size: A 12-ounce mug is the perfect size--equivalent to a tall drink at Starbucks.
- Sweetness amount: If you love your caramel brûlée latte as sweet as the one from Starbucks, add 3 tablespoons of sauce. Prefer a less sweet version? Use just 2 tablespoons per latte or even less.
- Tip: For less mess and waste, use a funnel to transfer the sauce to a bottle or jar.
Nutrition
Nutrition information on In the Kitch is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. It may not include toppings and/or sauces.
Joss says
This tastes just like the Starbucks drink! I love that I can easily make it at home.