Java Chip Frappuccino Recipe (Starbucks)

Java Chip Frappuccino Recipe (Starbucks)

You may have heard of Starbucks Java Chip Frappuccino, a cold drink that’s a popular option on hot summer days and has been on the menu for as long as I remember. It consists of mocha syrup (chocolate coffee sauce) with coffee, milk, ice and something called “Starbucks Frappuccino Chips,” which I think are just Starbucks way of saying coffee flavored chocolate chips (aka, java chips). Then it’s topped with whipped cream and a mocha drizzle. Endless java joy!

Today, I bring to you a homemade version of this java chip drink! A light version that is cheaper and healthier. For me, it’ll definitely be less of a hassle to make these at home rather than have to go out to get them from a Starbucks. I also didn’t use homemade java chips – that would’ve taken too long, and it isn’t easy to find vegan, healthified java chips at the store. So I used mini chocolate chips instead! For the creaminess of the frappuccino, I used full fat, canned coconut milk. Freeze these into cubes and blend them as you would ice cream in a milkshake – it’s amazing the texture it becomes!

I made this recipe before I had an espresso machine, so I had to make do with instant coffee granules. They worked perfectly because it increased the coffee flavour without adding liquid into the recipe, which concentrated the coffee taste more. I love adding in vegan chocolate sauce to up the chocolate flavour, or drizzle chocolate over top of the drink to make a drizzle mimicking the look of the original drink.

Why You’ll Love This Homemade Java Chip Frappuccino Recipe (Starbucks)

Budget-Friendly, Reduced Sugar Starbucks Copycat: This recipe uses ingredients you may already have at home (or are easy to find at the grocery stores). It is also much healthier than the original Starbucks version! The only refined sugar ingredient are the mini chocolate chips. Even for this, there are brands that make chocolate chips using healthier sugar options!

Make it Every Day!: When you make this recipe, you will likely be using ingredients that come from larger containers, such as a bottle of instant coffee granules or a box of milk. Because of this, it is easy to make this recipe multiple times after buying the ingredients once!

Customize: Customize this chocolate coffee drink to how you like it. Add chocolate syrup, add espresso shots (or use decaf coffee), vegan vanilla ice cream or coconut milk ice cubes. Maybe even some white chocolate chips!

Substitutions

Instant Coffee: The instant coffee helps to get the coffee flavor without using the added liquid of a cup of coffee. You could also use strong espresso!

Milk: Oat milk, cashew milk, or other neutral plant-based milk will work. I find that almond milk and soy milk have aftertastes, so I wouldn’t use them here.

Cocoa powder: Cocoa powder adds the chocolate flavor. Use dutch-processed if you can find it.

Sweetener: I used a vegan hot chocolate powder rather than cocoa powder, which had added sweetener. So you’ll need to add sweetener since you’re using cocoa powder.

Coconut Milk Ice Cubes: Freezing coconut milk into ice cubes helps the creaminess SO much. Specifically freezing it, not just using plain coconut milk at room temperature. It also has to be the full-fat, canned coconut milk. Not reduced-fat, not carton milk!

Mini Chocolate Chips: Pulse these in at the end for the flecks of chocolate throughout the drink! Check the ingredients, as not all chocolate chips are vegan. I used dark chocolate chips. The taste of dark chocolate and coffee is so much better than milk chocolate in this recipe! But if you don’t care for dark chocolate, use whichever vegan chocolate you prefer. Semi-sweet chocolate chips would work great too.

Cocoa Powder: You can use hot chocolate powder here too, and you won’t have to add as much sweetener otherwise. If you’re using regular or dutch-processed cocoa powder, which is more bitter, then up the sweetener.

Java Chip Frappuccino Recipe (Starbucks) Recipe Notes

• To make coconut ice milk cubes, take a regular-sized rectangular ice cube tray and freeze full-fat, canned coconut milk in it. You will need 8 ice cubes for the recipe. Freeze it overnight or until fully solid, then pop out the cubes and use in the recipe.
• Top with chocolate shavings by taking a chocolate bar and a large hole grater for a more elevated drink look!

More Copycat Versions of Starbucks Drinks You’ll Love!

Mocha Frappuccino: This Starbucks recipe is a frappuccino classic combination of chocolate + coffee! Starbucks use a different frappuccino base syrup in their recipes, such as a vanilla simple syrup or a mocha sauce. But we are using all natural and simple ingredients!

Green Tea Frappuccino: Matcha turns the color of the frappuccino a beautiful green! The green tea tones come through more with the added sugar (versus green tea flavour without the sugar is all bitterness).

Iced Brown Sugar Oat Milk Shaken Espresso: This drink was popular a year ago, with the coffee, cinnamon and brown sugar trio in oat milk making for a great summer drink!

Caramel Banana Coffee Frappuccino: A quick homemade caramel sauce with coconut milk and coconut sugar is added to a no-freeze ice cream made of frozen bananas. This recipe is quicker than the other frappuccinos because no waiting for ice cubes to freeze!

Black Forest Frappuccino: Cherries and dark chocolate make a rich, deep red/purple coloured frappuccino that is like black forest cake flavours in a cup!

Mocha Coconut Frappuccino

If you make this Java Chip Frappuccino Recipe, leave a comment and star rating! Don’t forget to tag your photos @peanut_palate on Instagram. Enjoy!