Caramel Ribbon Crunch Frappuccino {Starbucks Copycat}

The Starbucks Caramel Ribbon Crunch Frappuccino is a layered Frappuccino made with dark caramel sauce, lots of whipped cream, and caramel crunch topping. This homemade version is the best copycat and tastes just like the real thing!

Jump to:

• 🧋 What is the Caramel Ribbon Crunch Frappuccino?
• 🗒 Ingredients
• 🥣 How to make dark caramel
• 👩‍🍳 How to make Frappuccino
• 🎉 Substitutions and alterations
• ☕️ More Frappuccino recipes
• 📖 Recipe
• 💬 Comments

If you're a caramel lover, Starbucks' caramel ribbon crunch is the drink for you!

Packed with dark caramel sauce and crunchy caramel bits, this espresso-based Frappuccino is one of the most popular at Starbucks and also very easy to make at home!

🧋 What is the Caramel Ribbon Crunch Frappuccino?

This special caramel Frappuccino is one of two layered Frappuccinos at Starbucks (the other being the Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino), which means it has a layer of whipped cream, caramel sauce, and caramel crunch pieces on the bottom of the cup.

In my research for making a copycat Caramel Ribbon Crunch, I discovered that this drink also seems to be the most confusing to everyone, including Starbucks baristas!

There's much dispute on how to make it and I found various threads with baristas who all make it different ways. Some don't even put the caramel crunchies on the bottom!

I found what I think is the general consensus for layering and blending the Frappuccino and am sharing my at-home recipe with you here!

🗒 Ingredients

The drink has a few different elements to it, but is actually quite easy to make.

I should first note that this particular Frappuccino uses dark caramel sauce in it and regular caramel sauce drizzled on top. I couldn't find a dark caramel sauce for purchase, so you will likely have to make your own- I provide a recipe and it's easy!

But if you prefer to keep it simple, you can certainly use regular caramel sauce in place of the dark. Or if you use the dark, you can also top the drink with it, so you don't need two types of caramel.

Here's everything you need for the recipe (be sure to view the recipe card at the bottom of this post for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions):

• Whipped cream
• Dark caramel sauce: with recipe provided or with regular store-bought caramel sauce.
• Heath toffee bits: this is what I use for the caramel crunch topping as it tastes more like it than anything I tried making at home.
• Milk: I use whole milk, but 2% would work, too.
• Espresso or strongly brewed coffee.
• Simple syrup: I like to use a caramel syrup for an extra boost of caramel flavor, but you can use plain (or another flavor you like)
• Xanthan gum: this will help thicken the Frappuccino and really makes a difference. But you can also substitute it with cornstarch- you'll just need a little more.
• Ice
• Regular caramel sauce: this is used for drizzling over the whipped cream at Starbucks. However, if you're already using dark caramel sauce, you can feel free to use that on top instead of making/buying two types of caramel.

And if you are planning to make the dark caramel sauce, you'll need:

• Granulated sugar
• Water
• Heavy cream
• Unsalted butter
• Salt
• Vanilla extract

🥣 How to make dark caramel

Making dark caramel sauce is very similar to making regular caramel sauce except t's cooked to a higher temperature, which also means you need to make some slight changes to ingredients.

You'll want your cream to be warmed before adding it and you'll also use less water and butter than in a traditional caramel sauce.

The process is very similar. However, you should only stir the mixture as the sugar is dissolving and then immediately stop stirring to let the caramelization do its thing.

I highly recommend using a stainless steel saucepan to make caramel sauce.

Let the caramel cool before transferring it to a mason jar or other airtight container. You can store this in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

Here you can see the difference in color between my regular caramel sauce (left) and my dark caramel sauce (right):

Both are delicious, but the dark caramel is a little deeper and more toffee-like in terms of flavor.

👩‍🍳 How to make Frappuccino

Now that your caramel sauce is made and cooled, the rest of the Frappuccino is easy to make!

Start by doing what makes this Frappuccino so unique.

Put a small layer of whipped cream on the bottom of your cup. Top with about 1 oz dark caramel sauce and 2 tablespoon heath bits.

And now you're ready to blend the Frappuccino mixture to layer on top.

And pour into the prepared cup.

Top with whipped cream, caramel sauce (dark or light), and more toffee bits.

And your caramel-packed drink is ready for sipping!

I'm thrilled by how this came out and how much it tastes like the actual Caramel Ribbon Crunch Frappuccino and I hope you are, too!

🎉 Substitutions and alterations

One of the great things about Starbucks drinks is all the alterations you can make when you order them. You can do the same with the make-at-home versions.

Here are some ideas for substitutions and alterations based on what you have on hand and your personal tastes:

• You can omit the espresso if you don't want caffeine or you don't like it (though I have to say, you can barely taste it in this drink!). Of course, you can also add more if you want.

• Feel free to make it with any type of milk or dairy-free alternative that you want. Each type will result in a slightly different consistency (Starbucks uses whole milk, which is why I do, too). You can even use a vanilla sweet cream for added sweetness and flavor.

• I experimented with making a caramel crunch topping and couldn't get it exactly right (basically by caramelizing sugar and shattering it, like these sugar shards). I also looked at a lot of products and read reviews that all seemed to say they weren't good dupes for the topping. I think the heath is pretty close since it has a buttery flavor and is crunchy, but feel free to use any topping you want!

• Starbucks doesn't add flavored syrup to their Frappuccino, BUT they add "Frappuccino roast," which is essentially a sweet coffee syrup. I do recommend adding the syrup in for sweetness and I think caramel enhances the flavor even ore. But you can use whatever flavor you want.

• The xanthan gum powder really does make a nice difference in the consistency of the Frappuccino. If you don't have it, you can use cornstarch, but I recommend adding a bit more than ¼ tsp. If you don't want to add either, you don't have to; but the Frappuccino will be a bit thinner.

• According to the Starbucks website, they use 5 pumps of dark caramel sauce in the Frappuccino- 2 on the bottom of the cup and 3 in the Frappuccino itself. But, of course, you are always welcome to use more!

• Line the cup with caramel sauce before pouring the Frappuccino in. People love ordering the Caramel Ribbon Crunch like this!

• For even more layers of flavor, add in some mocha sauce on the bottom of the cup and/or on the topping.

• Add a little salt in for some salted caramel flavor.

If you try this copycat Starbucks Caramel Ribbon Crunch Frappuccino, please leave a comment on this post and let me know what you think!

📖 Recipe