This DIY frappuccino without coffee has been on frequent request at my house this summer. It’s a cold, refreshing treat that’s a great way to cool down on a warm day. This one comes together in under five minutes from start to finish. And you don’t have to feel guilty about eating sweets when you make this. There are only 12g net carbs in the entire recipe!

What’s even better? This DIY frappuccino without coffee only takes five simple ingredients. And they’re easy to keep on hand. So the next time you need a (not so) sweet treat, whip up one of these! (You may actually want to make a few to share.)

What Makes This DIY frappuccino without coffee So Great

There are few things I love more than a cold, delicious treat on a hot day. You too? And this low sugar vanilla frappuccino recipe is crazy good. It’s my favorite frappuccino!

You’ll likely soon be making this on repeat like I am currently! Here are some other great reasons you’ll soon love this easy recipe:

• It’s so easy! This vanilla bean frappuccino recipe only takes five ingredients. Just dump them all in the blender and give it a spin. That’s all there is to this simple recipe.
• Only five ingredients. The five ingredients this recipe calls for are super easy to have on hand at any time. So you can whip this up whenever the mood strikes.
• No coffee = no caffeine. Too much caffeine isn’t good for anyone. And this frappuccino is made without coffee, so you aren’t increasing intake your caffeine to drink it.
• Kid friendly. The last time I made this DIY frappuccino without coffee (literally the one pictured above), my daughter drank the whole thing. All of it. She absolutely LOVES this recipe. And without any caffeine or added sugars, it’s super kid friendly.
• Low calorie + low sugar. For anyone watching calories or sugar intake, this is about as healthy as a frappuccino can get. There are no added sugars and no artificial sweeteners. Just deliciousness.

What’s a Frappuccino?

What is a frappuccino anyway? This delicious and refreshing blended beverage is typically concentrated coffee or espresso shots mixed with milk, sugar, and ice. Those ingredients are combined in a blender to create a smooth, creamy texture.

Now, my frappuccino recipe (below) isn’t a cold coffee drink — there’s no coffee in it. But the Starbucks Vanilla Bean Creme Frappuccino this was created after doesn’t contain coffee either.

Another difference, to help with the calories and sugar content, is that part of my recipe includes an ice cream that is blood sugar friendly. That also helps give my recipe the creaminess factor.

How is a Frappuccino different than a Frappe?

They’re actually two different drinks. A traditional Greek frappe is typically made of water, instant coffee, sugar, and ice. (Sometimes they use milk.) Then those ingredients are blended to combine them. It can be served with whipped cream and toppings like caramel sauce. It started becoming more and more popular at an international fair in Greece in the 1950s.

So is this recipe technically a frappe or a frappuccino? I’ll let you decide!

BONUS: Sherbet Vs. Ice Cream: What’s Healthier?

Compared to Starbucks Frappuccino

Let’s compare my recipe to the one it was modeled after: the Starbucks Vanilla Bean Creme Frappuccino. According to the product webpage, the Starbucks version contains 380 calories and 53g carbs. My recipe contains 252 calories and 12g carbs.

I’m not knocking the coffee shops here. I have ordered drinks at Starbucks many times myself, and I’m sure I will again. (Their vanilla bean frappuccino is amazing!) I’m just offering you a lower sugar iced coffee option in a homemade version if that’s what you’re after. It will cost you less money, and it tastes like the real thing too!

Why Make This amazing Frappuccino Without Coffee?

So why would I make a frappuccino without coffee? I personally am not a fan of cold coffee drinks, and I don’t enjoy a super strong coffee flavor either. Also, I watch my caffeine intake. So this option without caffeine is brilliant for me personally.

Also, making it without coffee makes this a refreshing treat for kids, too. My kids both love this recipe, and they’ll fight me for it any time I make it. So I love having a recipe option that we can all share.

What You’ll Need to Make this DIY frappuccino without coffee

The only equipment you’ll need to make my favorite frappuccino is a good blender. Any blender that crushes ice well will do just fine.

Outside of that, all you will need is five ingredients:

• unsweetened almond milk (or coconut milk or just good ol’ low-fat milk)
• crushed ice cubes
• vanilla bean paste
• heavy cream
• Breyer’s Carb Smart vanilla ice cream

Why vanilla bean paste instead of scraping the inside of a vanilla bean pod? First, vanilla bean paste comes in a decent size container, and you can keep and store the rest to use for later at any time.

Second, the last time I purchased vanilla bean pods to scrape, all of the pods in the sealed container that I paid well for were completely dry and brittle. They all cracked and fell apart. There was no vanilla bean to be had!

So I discovered vanilla bean paste, which is kind of like if a vanilla bean pod and vanilla extract had a baby. And now there’s no turning back for me!

How to Make a Low Sugar Vanilla Frappuccino

This is the easiest part of the whole thing. Once you have your blender ready to go, you simply add in all five ingredients to the mixer. Cover it up and blend it all together until it’s smooth. Then pour it into a tall glass to enjoy. That’s literally it, friend. Easy peasy!

For best results, drink it right away. I’m sure it would freeze for later if you needed it to, but who doesn’t want to just enjoy this delicious sip of goodness as soon as you can?!

Whipped Cream Topping

In case you’d like to add some whipped cream, you can absolutely do that! Just whip together Swerve confectioners sweetener (about a 1/3 – 1/2 cup depending on the sweetness you prefer), 1 cup of heavy whipping cream, and between 1/2 and 1 teaspoon of vanilla to taste.

Mix it together until you have stiff peaks when you remove the beaters.

If you’d rather not use a sugar substitute, you can mix 1 cup heavy whipping cream with 1/4 cup powdered sugar, and 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of vanilla to taste. This will add some calories and sugar to your frappuccino, but it will be delicious.

Other Similar Recipes

• Best Sugar Free Popsicles and Low Sugar Frozen Treats
  
• Sherbet vs. Ice Cream: What’s Healthier?
  
• Low Carb Backyard BBQ Food Ideas for Summer

CARBS FOR THIS DIY frappuccino without coffee

There are hardly any carbs in this DIY frappuccino without coffee recipe. There are 12g net carbs per serving. That’s it!

And one recipe makes one large frappuccino. So if you wanted to have a half portion and share with someone, you would only have 6g in your serving.

(Need help counting carbs for your recipes? Check out my blog post with step-by-step instructions!)

Be sure to work this into your diet how you best manage your diabetes. And be sure to count the total carbs in the specific products you use. Different brands vary in ingredients, so be fully sure of the nutritional information in what you’re eating.

WHAT MAKES THIS RECIPE DIABETIC FRIENDLY?

The term “diabetic friendly” is defined differently depending on who you ask. We all have different diets and ways to manage our diabetes. And although many people with type 2 diabetes may limit carbs and sugar intake for more of a low carb lifestyle, some people with type 1 diabetes will tell you they can eat literally whatever they want as long as they dose for it.

For me personally, after living with type 1 for 30+ years, I consider something to be diabetic friendly if it is either:

• a recipe that combines fat, fiber, and protein to help stabilize blood sugar levels and avoid a blood sugar spike
• a lighter version to the ingredients you would normally find in a traditional version of the recipe

This particular recipe is option 2 for sure.

As shown above, this recipe is almost 130 calories less than the original it was created after. And in terms of carbs, this vanilla frappuccino is more than 40 grams less. That’s quite a difference!

VARIATIONS ON THIS DIY frappuccino without coffee

There are a ton of variations you can take on this recipe. Here are just a few ideas that came to my mind right away.

• Additional flavors. You could make a chocolate frappuccino, caramel frappuccino, mocha frappe, or any other flavor you prefer. Consider sugar free-syrups. Chocolate syrup or caramel syrup on top with a touch or sea salt would be amazing. Mmm!
• Add coffee. While this recipe is made sans coffee, you could certainly throw some in if you are a coffee lover. Use some cold brew coffee or coffee that was previously brewed and has cooled.
• Add optional toppings. Sugar free chocolate on top would be yummy. That would make this recipe into an extra fancy drink!
• Add vanilla protein powder. This would balance out the nutrition in the frappuccino even more. (And you could use chocolate protein powder if you wanted to make a chocolate frappuccino!)
• Thicken it up. In case the frappuccino isn’t thick enough to your liking, consider using whole milk instead of almond milk. Or you could consider adding xanthan gum to thicken it a touch. Also, protein powder would thicken it as well. Just know all of this would shift the nutrition facts.

And now for your free homemade frappuccino recipe card:

DID YOU Make this DIY frappuccino without coffee?

If you’ve made this DIY frappuccino without coffee, would you please let me know? I would love to hear from you!

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NOTE: Although I am a Certified Nutrition Coach, nothing here should be taken as professional medical advice. Any nutritional information provided should be used as a general guideline and estimate only. For the most accurate information, please calculate based on the specific ingredients and brands you use, as well as any changes you make to the recipe. Please consult with your healthcare team for any questions in regards to your diet or medical care.

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