Copycat Mcdonald’s Frappe
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You won’t believe how simple it is to make your own McDonald’s Mocha Frappe at home. The easiest copycat recipe that is perfect all-year that, dare I say, tastes better than the original!
Looking for more delicious copycat drink recipes? Our current favorites are the Copycat Chick-fil-A Frosted Lemonade Recipe, Cookies and Cream Frap, Caramel Frappuccino, McMuffin and Copycat Wendy’s Frosty!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Quick and Easy: The hardest part about this recipe is remembering to freeze the coffee beforehand. Once that’s done it takes less than 2-minutes to make.
- 5-Ingredient Blended Coffee: That’s right, you only need FIVE ingredients.
- Best Copycat Recipe: Ok, so this is right up there with my all-time favorite copycat recipe. Second only to my hot caramel apple cider recipe.
This Chocolate Frappe Recipe is my go-to lately as far as a sweet afternoon pick-me-up. It’s so easy to make and beats waiting in line at McD’s. Ever since day one of taste-testing, I’ve been in love.
Also, you can thank my dad for this one. He is OBSESSED with McDonald’s frappes’ and constantly asks us to “make a quick stop” and pick him up his iced mocha. As a coinsure of McDonald’s beverages, I relied on him heavily to be our final taste tester. The final vote for this iced mocha frappe recipe?
BETTER than the original.
What is a Frappe?
A Frappe is a blended creamy coffee that is served in different flavors and topped with whipped cream. Incredibly popular in countries around the world, and made more well known in the United States by the brewhouse Starbucks and fast food stop McDonalds. While frappes often refer to coffee-based beverages, they can also be made with other ingredients. The coffee flavors range from mocha to caramel (my favorite) while the fruit options can be as fresh as strawberry and mango!
Ingredients You’ll Need
Can you really beat the frothy, creamy, and chocolate packed flavor in these blended coffees? Here’s what you need for this recipe:
- Coffee: Make sure the coffee is brewed strong. Weak or less bold coffee won’t give you the flavor you are looking for, but I promise it’s sweet enough in the end.
- Sugar: Just a touch to sweeten the strong brew we use.
- Milk: 2% or higher. We’ve also made this with unsweetened almond and coconut milk with great success.
- Chocolate Syrup: Just a touch is all you need to get a bold mocha taste.
- Whipped Cream: Optional, but a fun finishing touch to your fancy made-at-home drink.
This blended coffee really checks all of the boxes. It’s smooth and frothy, creamy, and full of chocolate flavor. All while using the most basic ingredients! You’ll also save money by skipping the drive-thru! Win-win.
Jesseca’s Recipe Review
If you love a good mocha frappe but don’t love the price tag at coffee shops, this homemade version is a game-changer. The secret? Freezing the coffee into cubes instead of using regular ice—this keeps the flavor bold and rich without watering it down. The blend of chocolate syrup and strong coffee hits the perfect balance of sweet and caffeinated, making it a great pick-me-up for busy mornings or afternoon slumps.
Tip from Jesseca:
Swap out the granulated sugar for a flavored syrup (like vanilla or caramel) to add an extra layer of flavor without needing to stir!
Substitutions and Variations
When recreating a McDonald’s Mocha Frappe at home, you can experiment with variations and substitutions to customize the recipe according to your preferences.
- Milk: We like this recipe with whole milk, but you can substitute it with other types of milk, such as almond milk, soy milk, or oat milk, depending on your dietary preferences or restrictions. Keep in mind that different types of milk might alter the taste and texture slightly.
- Sweeteners: This recipe is sweetened with sugar and chocolate syrup. You can adjust the sweetness by adding more or less sugar or using alternative sweeteners like honey, maple syrup, or stevia. Additionally, you can experiment with flavored syrups like hazelnut or mint for added depth of flavor.
- Ice cream: For a creamier and more indulgent frappe, consider adding a scoop or two of vanilla or chocolate ice cream to the blender. This will give the frappe a richer texture and enhance the overall flavor. It may take some experimentation to achieve the perfect balance of flavors and textures. Enjoy the process of creating your own unique variations!
How to make a Mocha Frappe (McDonald’s Copycat)
Here’s the big secret, you are going to need to freeze your coffee. Freezing the coffee in an ice cube tray will give you the perfect base to start with. Could you use regular ice? Sure. But you’d have a much more watered down version of this beverage.
- Pour your brewed, and slightly cooled coffee into an ice mold.
- Freeze solid, roughly 3 to 4 hours.
- Place the frozen coffee cubes, sugar, milk, and chocolate syrup in a blender.
- Blend at a medium/high speed for 2 minutes.
- Pour into a glass and top off with whipped cream.
Storage and Make-Ahead Instructions
For a quick grab-and-blend option, freeze multiple batches of coffee cubes in advance. Store them in an airtight bag or container in the freezer for up to a month. When you’re ready to make your mocha frappe, just blend with milk, chocolate syrup, and sugar—no need to wait for coffee to cool!
If you have leftovers (unlikely, but just in case!), store them in the fridge for a few hours. The texture will change as the ice melts, but a quick shake or blend with a few fresh coffee cubes will bring it back to life.
Recipe FAQs
Yes. Dissolve 1-2 teaspoons of instant coffee in ¾ cup of hot water, let it cool, then freeze into cubes. This works great for a quick and easy option.
Use less milk or add an extra few coffee ice cubes. You can also blend in a tablespoon of heavy cream or even a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a thicker, creamier texture.
A blender is best for that smooth, icy texture, but if you don’t have one, you can use a food processor. In a pinch, you can shake the ingredients in a jar with crushed ice—just expect a more slushy texture.
Reduce or skip the sugar and use unsweetened cocoa powder instead of chocolate syrup for a more coffee-forward taste. You can also use dark chocolate syrup for a less sweet but rich flavor.
Absolutely! Freeze a batch of coffee cubes and store them in a freezer-safe bag for up to a month. This way, you can whip up a mocha frappe anytime with minimal effort.
Whole milk gives the creamiest result, but you can use any milk you prefer. Almond, oat, or coconut milk are great dairy-free options that still keep it smooth.
It’s very similar! The main difference is that Starbucks uses a coffee base with emulsifiers for extra smoothness. For a closer match, add a tablespoon of vanilla pudding mix or a bit of xanthan gum to mimic that texture.
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- DQ Blizzard Recipe
- Egg McMuffin
- Sugar Cookie Latte
- Caramel Frappuccino
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Copycat McDonald’s Mocha Frappe
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup strong brewed coffee
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 tablespoon chocolate syrup
- Whipped Cream (optional)
Instructions
- Pour your brewed, and slightly cooled coffee into an ice mold.
- Freeze solid, roughly 3 to 4 hours.
- Place the frozen coffee cubes, sugar, milk, and chocolate syrup in a blender.
- Blend at a medium/high speed for 2 minutes.
- Pour into a glass and top off with whipped cream.
Notes
The nutrition facts provided are calculated using a third-party tool and are estimates only. Actual nutritional content may vary based on the ingredients and brands you use, as well as portion sizes. For accurate results, please consult a registered dietitian or nutritionist.
More Coffee Recipes You’ll Love
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- Copycat Starbucks Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew
- 3-Ingredient Caramel Iced Coffee
- Quick Coconut Horchata Latte
- Coconut Milk Latte Recipe
- Starbucks Dirty Chai Latte Recipe
- How to Make Cold Brew Coffee
- Cinnamon and Sugar Snickerdoodle Latte
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Categories:
5-Ingredient or Less Recipes, coffee, Copycat Restaurant Recipes, Drink Recipes, Starbucks,
10/10, even just using Nescafe, fat free lactose free milk, Hersheys chocolate syrup, ice, no whip cream-all in a blender- super good, tastes almost *exactly* like the Mcdonald’s frape I didn’t want to leave the house for!
Love this, Megan! Honestly, nothing beats recreating a drive-thru fave without changing out of pajamas. So glad it hit the spot—even with the swaps!
This recipe is not complete. McDonald’s puts crushed ice in their frappes. I drink them almost every day.
Did you try the recipe or just review it based on your opinion?
I don’t see how it can taste even remotely the same considering there is no coffee in a McDonald’s Frappe.
Hi there! I completely understand your skepticism, but I encourage you to give the recipe a try before judging. While McDonald’s may use different methods, this recipe captures the same creamy, indulgent flavor we all love. Sometimes, a little creativity in the kitchen yields surprising results!
mine was not frozen after I blended for 2 minutes. if I add more frozen coffee it will take too long to break down the ice.
Thanks for trying the recipe, Sandra! It sounds like your blender might need a little more help with the ice. I recommend blending in shorter bursts or starting with slightly smaller ice cubes if possible. You can also try blending the frozen coffee in stages—this usually helps break it down faster without over-blending. Let me know if that works for you!
This is delicious! I make mine in my Ninja blender. I freeze my milk in ice cube trays as well. I use 4 coffee cubes and 6 milk cubes, adding about 1/4 to 1/2 cup milk in the Ninja. I also use 2 Tbs of Hershey’s chocolate and 2 Tbs of sugar in blender-per my husband ‘s preferance. This makes the equivalent to 1 LG McDonald’s frame.
Wow, I love your tweaks Bonnie! Freezing the milk into cubes is such a great idea for extra creaminess, and your husband’s preference sounds spot on with the chocolate and sugar—yum! Thanks for sharing your version; I’m sure others will love trying it too!
Where are the actual portion amounts for each ingredient
The portion amounts for each ingredient are listed in the recipe card at the bottom of the post. Let me know if you have trouble finding it—I’m happy to help!
Good
I Love McDonalds Frappe, I usually get 2 or 3 every week, the Mocha is my favorite., When I saw this recipe, I couldn’t believe how delicious it tasted, just like McDonalds Frappe, So Thank You For Sharing it.
Now I can make my own Frappe at home.🥳💜🙋♀️🎉
Ok so I love the mocha frappe from McDonald’s I get a LG with no chocolate no whipped.i try to get one everyday and I use the app which helps me with $2 off each day and I get enough points to get a free one. so I’m here to ask can you please give me details of what you did and how much to put in what? I want to see if I make them from home. some days I can’t get out, snowed in or something else. so if I can make them from home I would be so happy. yesterday for my birthday that’s all I wanted, but due to the snow we have I can’t get out of my driveway & I don’t have anyone to shovel the driveway!
thank you!
Hi Taylor, I’m not quite understanding the question. The recipe breakdown is towards the bottom of the post inside the recipe card. Are you having a hard time with that?
I am a huge McDonalds mocha frappe addict and lover.
But I recently moved to Sweden and they don’t taste the same as the American ones. (Not as flavorful or icy)
There is only one McDonalds near my village which takes 20 minutes to drive to, who also never blends them fully so they make horrible quality ones that has unblended ice cubes. (staff who get sour if I ask for a new one)
But I am so happy with this recipe and it even tastes BETTER than the McDonalds ones.
Thank you so so much! you have restored the balance in my life and have made a frappe addict so happy!
I am excited to be able to make them whenever I want them and to spend less money on them.
10/10 rating on the recipe! 💥
Ok Alexa, you sure know how to make someone’s day! This comment was so kind and really made my crazy busy week feel worth it.
how many ice cubes to put in the blender?
lol i love the face that theres still bits of ice in mine when i get one from mcdonalds. i actually get sad when its fully bleded. crunching on the ice easily as i drink is my favorite part of drinking it. ive been trying to find a recipe that actually tastes like the McDonald’s mocha frap so hopefully this one works and maybe i can put aside extra ice to half bled for that effect since this calls for coffee ice cubes lol
I 100% know what you mean. You should be able to get that slightly under blended finish by cutting back how long you blend the ingredients together.
this is my most favorite drink. and it taste just like McDonalds mocha frappe
Thank you, Linda!
Love the Michael frappe
What would thicken this up a bit would be to add a 1/4 tsp of xanthan gum. That’s what Starbucks uses. I tried it & it works well.