A cool and creamy coffee is the best way to cool down when it gets hot - it's kind of like an ice cream with a caffeine hit. But ordering one from your local coffee shop is not only bad for your bank balance but the environment too with all that single use plastic. Save some money and save the environment by making one at home with this Mocha Frappuccino Recipe. It's also only 180 calories compared to Starbucks 290 calories, and it's easy to adapt.
I will admit it, I love Starbucks. For me, Summer has well and truly arrived when I can comfortably walk along the road with an iced coffee and not have my hand freeze off. But it was scary when I started to think about how much money I was spending on them and how much single use plastic I had used. So, we started making them ourselves.
Chocolate and coffee is such an incredible flavour combination and with just a few simple ingredients, this mocha frappuccino is ready in minutes, and at a fraction of the price of a coffee shop one.
If you are looking for some other chocolatey recipes to try, then why not try our Avocado Chocolate Pudding, Slow Cooker Chocolate Fudge, Chocolate Cherry Smoothie or Chocolate Bread Pudding?
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Why You Will Love It
- Refreshing summer drink - If you can't get through a day without coffee (no judgement, I am the same), then when the hot weather comes around, the last thing you want is a hot coffee. This hits the spot, and cools you down too. Check out our roundup of non-alcoholic summer drinks for more refreshing drink ideas.
- Cheaper and healthier than coffee shop versions - Whilst it's nice to let someone else make you a coffee every now and then, those fancy coffee shop drinks can soon add up. Not only does making them yourself save money, but they are lower in sugar too.
- Easy to add flavours to - We have kept this simple with just the chocolate, but there are lots of other flavour combinations and we have given you some options below.
Ingredients and Substitutions
A full ingredients list, along with US Customary and Metric measurements, can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post.
- Milk - We used skimmed milk for this to keep it a lighter version, but you can use semi-skimmed or whole milk. If you want to make a dairy free version, then use a milk alternative like soya, almond, oat or cashew.
- Strong brewed coffee - This is the star of the recipe. Use the best quality coffee you can, as you will be able to tell the difference. The coffee need to be cooled to room temperature
- Chocolate - You have a few choices here. You can use a low sugar chocolate sauce like choc shot or a regular chocolate syrup. Or, if you want to give it a really intense chocolate flavour, then why not add some Nutella? You could still keep it a light version by making our Homemade Healthy Nutella.
- Cocoa powder - We give this mocha frappuccino an extra chocolate boost with some unsweetened cocoa powder.
- Ice cubes - This is what makes it an iced coffee. You could make it extra coffee flavoured by freezing some coffee in an ice cube tray and using those.
- Squirty cream (aerosol cream) for serving - This is optional, but it makes it feel a bit more like a real coffee shop drink. We used reduce fat to keep it lighter.
- Choc Shot/chocolate syrup for serving - This is also optional, but really finishes off the whole drink.
Variations
We lighten our mocha frappuccino recipe up by using skimmed milk, Choc Shot chocolate sauce, a little bit of cocoa powder and then top it off with reduced fat squirty cream. But you can use any milk and chocolate sauce you like.
If you wan to make your coffee a little more fancy, then why not add a flavoured syrup to it. Vanilla, caramel and cinnamon all go really well with this.
For a dairy free version, you can make it with our Homemade Almond Milk or Oat Milk. You will need to make sure that all the other ingredients are dairy free too.
If you love the combination of chocolate and orange together, then there is an option for that here too. Juice and zest half an orange and blend it up with all the other ingredients.
How To Make a Mocha Frappuccino - Step by Step
- Step 1: Put all of the ingredients into a high powdered blender and blend until smooth.
- Step 2: Pour into two glasses and then top with some squirty cream and a drizzle of Choc Shot.
What is a Mocha Frappuccino?
A mocha frappuccino is basically a chocolate coffee milkshake and it is delicious. Rather than just an iced mocha, which is a cold mocha served over ice, the mocha frappuccino is blended into a super smooth iced coffee drink.
Top it with some whipped cream and chocolate sauce and you have yourself an iced coffee good enough to rival any coffee shop. Forget heading to Starbucks for your coffee fix, as you don't need to go any further than your kitchen.
Extra Tips
- We have used skimmed milk, but if you want to make this vegan, or to just give it a different flavour then try using a nut milk instead. Almond milk or cashew milk makes it really creamy.
- If you can't find Choc Shot, then any chocolate syrup will work. We love Choc Shot though, because it's made from fruit making it a natural sweetener.
- Want a flavoured mocha? The options are endless! A little bit of vanilla extract goes a long way, but you could also use peppermint extract or some caramel coffee syrup.
- Make this even cooler by freezing the brewed coffee in ice cub trays and using those instead of the regular ice cubes. This gives it a stronger flavour, as you aren't diluting the coffee with ice. This is also a good way to use up any leftover coffee you might have brewed the day before.
Frequently Asked Questions
It is scary how much sugar goes into some coffee drinks. Whilst that is fine as a once in a while thing, if you are coffee shop regular it's easy to end up drinking most of your daily calories everyday.
There are 290 calories in a small mocha frappuccino in Starbucks, and we usually order a medium. But ours is only 180 calories.
Yes, these do have caffeine in them, however you can use decaf coffee if you prefer.
We have just sweetened ours with the chocolate syrup. However you could add a spoon of your favourite liquid sweetener like honey or maple syrup.
It's easy to make a vegan version of this, you just swap the dairy milk for your favourite vegan milk.
If you want to try making everything yourself, why not use our Easy Homemade Almond Milk? You could also use coconut milk too, as that is really creamy, but it would take on a whole new flavour.
You can make up a big batch of this and then keep it in an air tight container in the fridge for 2 days.
More Drink Recipes
If you’ve tried this Mocha Frappuccino recipe, then let us know how you got on in the comments below.
Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - You can use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.
Recipe
Mocha Frappuccino
Ingredients
- 480 ml (2 cups) Skimmed milk
- 120 ml (0.5 cups) Brewed coffee - cooled to room temperature
- 4 tablespoon Choc Shot/chocolate syrup/nutella
- 2 tablespoon Cocoa powder
- 20 Ice cubes
For serving
- 2 serving (25 g) Reduced fat squirty cream - (about 15g per serving)
- 1 tablespoon (1 tablespoon) Choc Shot/chocolate syrup
Instructions
- Put all of the ingredients into a high powdered blender and blend until smooth.
- Pour into two glasses and then top with some squirty cream and a drizzle of choc shot.
Recipe Tips
- We have used skimmed milk, but if you want to make this vegan, or to just give it a different flavour then try using a nut milk instead. Almond milk or cashew milk makes it really creamy.
- If you can't find Choc Shot, then any chocolate syrup will work. We love Choc Shot though, because it's made from fruit making it a natural sweetener.
- Want a flavoured mocha? The options are endless! A little bit of vanilla extract goes a long way, but you could also use peppermint extract or some caramel coffee syrup.
- Make this even cooler by freezing the brewed coffee in ice cub trays and using those instead of the regular ice cubes. This gives it a stronger flavour, as you aren't diluting the coffee with ice. This is also a good way to use up any leftover coffee you might have brewed the day before.
Nutritional Information
The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.
As all appliances vary, cooking times are a guide. Please note that by changing the serving size, the cooking time may also need to be altered.
Amy says
It is good, for a home made mocha, but it could be better.
Dannii says
Would love to hear any ideas you had for improving it? We can add it to the notes section!
Josie says
If you are writeing a review and say “could be better” you really need to think of a way it can be better
Jawad says
Loving the great coffee recipes here, the first time I ever had a good old frap was at a little coffee shop in Seattles Pike Place market, definitely a go to summer beverage when you sweltering in the summer sun and need something to catch the breeze and cool down a little... or a lot.
Jaclyn Anne says
I adore a nice Mocha Frappuccino during the summer months - or anytime of year. Thank you for this less expensive and healthier at home alternative! I think I will be making myself mocha frapps all the time now!
Anvita says
My sister would love this. She is a fan of starbucks
Janette | Culinary Ginger says
I need one of these right now. It's going to be a hot one today.
Dawn - Girl Heart Food says
Mmmmm....this would seriously make my Monday a little easier, that's for sure! Looks so good! Like a dessert in drinkable form ;)
Tina Dawson says
How have I never thought to add Nutella to my Mocha Frappuccino?!?! That sounds divine!
Demeter says
What a great idea to make them at home! Save yourself the trip and have better control over the calories!
Kim says
And the Nutella! Oh my! This is the perfect treat for this hot, summer day!
danielle wolter says
Now this is the perfect treat for summer! We just moved to a hotter area, and are always on the hunt for cool treats :-)
Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry says
I love a good frappucino in the summer but it certainly isn't good for my bank balance. I'm definitely going to try this delicious looking drink!
Neriz @ food and journeys says
I'll probably end up making this at least 3x a day in this heat. :D Thank you for the suggestion of using cashew nut milk, I was just about to use almond milk (my go-to nut milk), but changing my mind now! Good way to try new flavors too!
Eileen says
I had this for lunch yesterday -warm day! - and it really was delicious!
Fritha Quinn says
ok this looks amazing! I need to get the ingredients for this asap it looks like the perfect summer drink x