Blended · holiday · expected back Nov. 5
Starbucks Caramel Brulée Frappuccino
A status check on the holiday Frappuccino, how it stacks up against the year-round Caramel Frappuccino and Caramel Ribbon Crunch, what to order while it is gone, and a 5-minute home version blend with a coffee-free Crème option.
Quick answer. It is the blended, iced member of Starbucks’ caramel brulée family: Frappuccino coffee, milk and ice blended with caramel brulée sauce, then topped with whipped cream and crunchy caramel brulée topping. Order the Caramel Brulée Crème Frappuccino and you get the same drink with no coffee, which suits kids and anyone avoiding caffeine.
Checked October 2026. Prices are average US prices and vary by store.
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| 🔁 Year-round stand-in | Caramel Ribbon Crunch Frappuccino: 470 calories, 85 mg caffeine (Grande). |
What Is the Caramel Brulée Frappuccino?
“Brulée” refers to burnt sugar, as in crème brûlée. The sauce is a darker, toastier caramel than the syrup in a regular Caramel Frappuccino, and the topping is little shards of caramelized sugar that stay crunchy on the whipped cream. If you prefer it hot, see the Caramel Brulée Latte and Crème page.
Caramel Brulée vs. Caramel Frappuccino vs. Caramel Ribbon Crunch
| Frappuccino (Grande) | Caramel flavor | Topping | Calories | Caffeine | Avg. price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caramel Brulée Frappuccino | Dark, burnt-sugar caramel brulée sauce | Whipped cream + crunchy brulée bits | Not yet posted for 2026 | Has coffee | — |
| Caramel Frappuccino | Caramel syrup | Whipped cream + caramel drizzle | 380 | 90 mg | $7.02 |
| Caramel Ribbon Crunch Frappuccino | Dark caramel sauce + caramel syrup | Whipped cream, caramel drizzle and crunchy caramel-sugar topping | 470 | 85 mg | $7.35 |
| Coffee Frappuccino | None (plain coffee) | None | 230 | 95 mg | $6.80 |
Closest match while it is off the menu: the Caramel Ribbon Crunch Frappuccino, which also pairs dark caramel with a crunchy topping. The Caramel Frappuccino is lighter and simpler. See all blended drinks on our Starbucks Frappuccino menu.
Do Frappuccinos Have Caffeine?
Coffee Frappuccinos do, but less than you might expect, because they use a Frappuccino coffee base instead of full espresso shots. A Grande Coffee Frappuccino has about 95 mg, a Caramel Frappuccino about 90 mg and a Caramel Ribbon Crunch about 85 mg. Crème Frappuccinos, like the Caramel Brulée Crème and Vanilla Bean Crème, are made without coffee (0 mg in a Grande Vanilla Bean Crème). Want more caffeine? Ask for a shot of espresso blended in. Bottled Frappuccinos from the grocery store are different products with their own labels.
How to make Caramel Brulée Frappuccino
Ingredients
- 1 cup (about 6 to 7 standard cubes / 150 g) ice
- ¾ cup (180 ml) whole or 2% milk
- 2 shots (2 oz) espresso, cooled, or ½ cup cold strong coffee (skip for the Crème version)
- 3 tablespoons caramel brulée sauce, plus 1 tablespoon for the cup (see the caramel brulée sauce recipe; quick option below)
- 1 tablespoon sugar or simple syrup (optional, to taste)
- ⅛ teaspoon xanthan gum (optional; keeps it smooth like the café version)
- Whipped cream and 1 tablespoon crushed caramelized sugar, for topping
Instructions
- Prep the cup. Drizzle 1 tablespoon of caramel brulée sauce around the inside of a 16 oz glass and set it in the freezer while you blend.
- Load the blender. Add milk, cooled espresso (or none for a Crème), 3 tablespoons sauce, sugar and xanthan gum, then the ice on top.
- Blend. Blend on high for 30 to 45 seconds until smooth and thick with no ice chunks. Too thick: add a splash of milk. Too thin: add a few more ice cubes.
- Top and serve. Pour into the prepared glass, add whipped cream and sprinkle with crunchy caramelized sugar bits. Serve right away with a wide straw.
Quick caramel brulée sauce (10 minutes)
No sauce on hand? Melt ½ cup (100 g) sugar in a dry pan over medium heat, swirling, until deep amber. Off the heat, whisk in ⅓ cup (80 ml) warm heavy cream, 1 tablespoon butter and a pinch of salt. Cool before blending. Makes about ½ cup, enough for 2 Frappuccinos. Crunchy topping: melt 2 tablespoons sugar until amber, pour thin onto parchment, cool and crush.
Tips, swaps and storage
- Use cooled espresso or coffee. Hot coffee melts the ice and makes it watery; freeze coffee into ice cubes for the strongest flavor.
- Xanthan gum is the secret to the smooth, slow-melting Starbucks texture; a pinch is enough.
- Lighter version: nonfat or almond milk, 2 tablespoons sauce and no whipped cream.
- Dairy-free: oat milk and coconut whipped cream; make the sauce with coconut cream.
- Extra coffee: blend in one more shot of espresso.
- Storage: drink it right away; blended drinks separate within 15 minutes. Keep sauce in the fridge up to 2 weeks and topping airtight at room temperature up to 1 week.
Video note: we did not find a YouTube video for this exact Frappuccino, so we have not embedded an unrelated one. Our latte guide has a verified caramel brulée sauce video.
Caramel Brulée Frappuccino FAQs
What is the Caramel Brulée Frappuccino?
A Starbucks holiday Frappuccino blended beverage made with coffee, milk, ice and caramel brulée sauce, topped with whipped cream and a crunchy caramel brulée topping. The Caramel Brulée Crème Frappuccino is the same drink without coffee.
Is the Caramel Brulée Frappuccino available now?
It is part of the holiday menu, which is expected to return on November 5, 2026. Outside the holidays, the Caramel Ribbon Crunch Frappuccino is the closest year-round drink.
Does the Caramel Brulée Frappuccino have caffeine?
The coffee version does; the Crème version is made without coffee. For reference, year-round caramel coffee Frappuccinos have about 85 to 90 mg of caffeine in a Grande.
How many calories are in a Caramel Brulée Frappuccino?
Starbucks has not posted 2026 nutrition yet. For comparison, a Grande Caramel Frappuccino has 380 calories and a Grande Caramel Ribbon Crunch Frappuccino has 470. We will add official numbers when the drink returns.
What is the difference between caramel brulée and a regular Caramel Frappuccino?
Caramel brulée is a darker, toasted caramel with a burnt-sugar edge and crunchy caramelized topping. The Caramel Frappuccino uses caramel syrup blended in and caramel drizzle on top.
What is a frappe vs. a Frappuccino?
Frappuccino is Starbucks’ trademarked name for its blended iced drinks. “Frappe” is the general term many people use for any blended or shaken iced coffee drink.
Availability is based on Starbucks’ expected November 5, 2026 holiday launch. Nutrition and prices for year-round Frappuccinos are from starbucks.com and average US prices, October 2026. starbukmenu.com is not affiliated with Starbucks Corporation.
