Chocolate and coffee comes together in this ice-cold homemade Mocha Frappuccino made the way Starbucks does with a Frappuccino base syrup to give it a super smooth texture.

Mocha Frappuccino

Mocha Frappuccino is a Starbucks sweet frozen drink that’s made in a blender. Ice, whole milk, coffee Frappuccino base syrup, instant coffee, and mocha sauce are blended together then the drink is topped with whipped cream.

Mocha is made with chocolate and espresso, but in this Frappuccino, no espresso is used.

What makes Frappuccinos so special is the smooth texture that makes the drink like a melted milkshake. The secret to this is the Frappuccino base syrup that’s in every single Frappuccino.

It’s quick and easy to make mocha Frappuccinos at home with this copycat recipe that uses a homemade Frappuccino base syrup so the drink is exactly like the one at Starbucks.

Recipe Highlights

• This Mocha Frappuccino recreates the Starbucks recipe so it’s as close to their version as possible.
• There’s no need for espresso or brewed coffee for this drink. All you need is instant coffee.
• A blender combines all the ingredients to make this delicious drink in a couple of minutes.
• The recipe makes a grande (16 ounces) Mocha Frappuccino.

Ingredient Notes

• Homemade Frappuccino base syrup: This base syrup is what gives the drink that signature Frappuccino texture. Make a batch of this first and use it to make Frappuccinos all week.
• Chocolate syrup: Store-bought can be used but I recommend taking the 5 minutes to make homemade chocolate syrup since it’s easy and delicious.
• Instant coffee: Starbucks uses Frappuccino roast coffee, which is an instant coffee blend of Italian Roast and Signature Espresso. To get a closer flavor, use Starbucks instant coffee.
• Milk: Whole milk is used at Starbucks for their Frappuccinos but you can use any kind of milk you like.
• Heavy cream: This is to make the whipped cream topping.
• Vanilla syrup: The whipped cream is sweetened and flavored with vanilla syrup. Store-bought or homemade vanilla syrup can be used.
• Ice: Use ice made with filtered water for a better tasting drink.

For full ingredients and detailed instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Recipe Notes

Make the Frappuccino base syrup first.

The Frappuccino base syrup can be made ahead of time along with the homemade chocolate syrup and the homemade vanilla syrup. Once it’s made, it can be stored in the refrigerator.

Put ingredients into the blender in the correct order.

Don’t put ice in first into the blender. Put ingredients into the blender as it’s in the recipe. You won’t get an efficient blend if you put the ice in first.

There is a correct way to put ingredients into a blender to get an efficient blend. Always start with liquids (milk) and end with the heaviest and hardest ingredient (ice). Putting things into the blender helps prevent air pockets.

No Frappuccino base syrup?

Homemade Frappuccino base syrup is sugar, water, vanilla extract, and xanthan gum powder. If you don’t want to use the base syrup, you can add simple syrup instead to match the sweetness, but the texture of the drink won’t be the same.

Expert Tips

• When blending the ingredients, don’t keep it on low speed the entire time. Start on low for about 10 seonds then quickly increase the speed to high. This will prevent the motor from overheating.
• The longer you whisk the heavy cream, to make whipped cream, the stiffer it’ll get. It should take less than a minute, using a handheld milk frother, to get medium peaks. Spoon the whipped cream on top of your drink.
• Instead of instant coffee, you can use 1-2 shots of espresso.

Questions You May Have

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If you tried this Mocha Frappuccino recipe, please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ star rating and let me know how you like it in the comments below.