If you’re obsessed with the creamy, slightly earthy, and just-sweet-enough Starbucks Matcha Frappuccino, you’re in the right place! This copycat recipe is shockingly easy to whip up at home, and tastes just as delicious (if not better!) than the café original. Ready to save some cash and impress your tastebuds? Let’s go!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Effortlessly Creamy: This homemade Starbucks Matcha Frappuccino is silky, icy, and satisfyingly smooth every time.
- Cafe Flavor at Home: Enjoy your favorite matcha frapp without leaving your kitchen (and without the coffee shop price tag!).
- Customizable Sweetness: You choose the amount of vanilla syrup and matcha for your dream drink—make it as bold or subtle as you like.
- Ridiculously Quick: Five minutes from start to sipping—yes, this is a real treat you can have on demand.
Ingredients You’ll Need
The beauty of this Starbucks Matcha Frappuccino is in how simple the ingredients are—every single one matters to get that signature taste and texture at home. Here’s what you’ll need, plus a few barista-style secrets along the way!
- Whole Milk: The classic base at Starbucks for a rich, creamy texture, but feel free to substitute with your favorite milk.
- Vanilla Syrup: Brings sweetness and shine—try homemade or store-bought for convenience!
- Matcha Powder: The star of the show. Go for a vibrant, high-quality matcha for a gorgeous green color and clean, earthy flavor.
- Ice: For that frosty, slushy consistency—use fresh, clean ice for best results.
- Homemade Frappuccino Base Syrup: This magic ingredient stabilizes your drink, so everything blends up luxuriously smooth and doesn’t separate.
- Heavy Cream: Whips up into a dreamy topping. There’s no shame in piling it on high!
- Extra Vanilla Syrup (for whipped cream): Elevates the topping with a little extra sweetness and warmth.
Variations
The most fun part of mastering your own Starbucks Matcha Frappuccino is how easy it is to twist it according to your cravings, what’s on hand, or dietary choices. Here are some of my favorite ways to mix things up—get creative and make it your own!
- Dairy-Free Dream: Swap whole milk and heavy cream with oat, almond, or coconut milk and plant-based whipped cream for a vegan treat.
- Chocolate Matcha Frappuccino: Add a tablespoon of chocolate syrup or a sprinkle of cocoa powder to blend for a decadent, mocha-inspired sip.
- Extra Strong Green Tea: Amp up the matcha to 1 tablespoon if you really want that bold, grassy punch in every gulp.
- Less Sweet: Reduce the vanilla syrup or use plain simple syrup if you prefer your green tea flavor to shine right through.
How to Make Starbucks Matcha Frappuccino
Step 1: Whip Up the Whipped Cream
Pour the heavy cream and vanilla syrup into a small bowl (or a large mug) and whisk together until soft, fluffy peaks form. A handheld milk frother is a true game-changer, making velvety whipped cream in mere seconds! Set aside so it’s ready for topping later.
Step 2: Blend the Frappuccino
Add whole milk, vanilla syrup, matcha powder, the homemade Frappuccino base syrup, and ice to your blender. Start blending on low speed, then gradually increase to high, using the tamper or a spatula to make sure the ice chills and blends evenly with everything else. You’re aiming for a perfectly smooth, pourable consistency.
Step 3: Pour & Top
Pour your vibrant, green Starbucks Matcha Frappuccino into a tall glass—now for the best part! Spoon your fresh vanilla whipped cream on top, pile it as high as you like, and don’t forget that pretty café look.
Pro Tips for Making Starbucks Matcha Frappuccino
- Ice-Last Blending Method: Always add your ice last to the blender after liquids and powders—this prevents the blades from seizing up and gives you that ultra-smooth Frappuccino texture.
- Quality Matcha Choices: Invest in bright, ceremonial (or at least high-grade culinary) matcha—look for powder that’s vibrant green, not dusty, for both flavor and Instagram-worthy color!
- Homemade Base Is Key: Don’t skip the Frappuccino base syrup: it’s the secret to getting your Starbucks Matcha Frappuccino to stay blended and creamy, just like the café does.
- Frother for Fast Whipped Cream: Speed things up by using a handheld milk frother; it makes whipped cream with soft peaks in no time and with almost no cleanup.
How to Serve Starbucks Matcha Frappuccino
Garnishes
The classic finishing touch? A mountain of fluffy vanilla whipped cream crowning your green masterpiece! Take it up a notch with an extra sprinkle of matcha powder on top, a drizzle of white chocolate, or even a few white chocolate chips for crunch and color.
Side Dishes
This Starbucks Matcha Frappuccino is beautiful alongside buttery shortbread, a flaky almond croissant, or even matcha-infused pastries for a double green tea treat. It pairs especially well with desserts that aren’t too sweet, so the drink’s flavor can shine.
Creative Ways to Present
Serve your Frappuccino in a tall glass with a colored straw, or give it café flair in mason jars. For parties, try shot glass-sized mini Frapps with whipped cream and fancy dusting of matcha for a whimsical, impressive treat!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
If you somehow have leftovers (it happens, I guess!), cover and store your Starbucks Matcha Frappuccino in the fridge for several hours. Give it a brisk stir before serving, as some separation is natural.
Freezing
You can freeze the blended Frappuccino in an airtight container—when you crave it later, let it thaw just enough to break up with a fork or re-blend until smooth. It’s not quite as silky as fresh, but still a delicious treat on a hot day!
Reheating
This drink is strictly a sipper rather than a reheater. If your Frappuccino has chilled out too much or frozen, give it a quick blend with a splash of milk to revive that just-made texture.
FAQs
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Can I make this Starbucks Matcha Frappuccino without the base syrup?
You can, but it won’t have quite the same texture or staying power as the Starbucks version. The base syrup helps your drink stay smooth and creamy, instead of separating into ice and liquid. If you skip it, just plan to drink up pretty quickly after blending!
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What’s the best kind of matcha to use for this recipe?
Look for a bright, vibrant green matcha powder labeled as “ceremonial” or “culinary” grade. Higher quality matcha isn’t just tastier—it will give your Starbucks Matcha Frappuccino that gorgeous color (and won’t taste bitter!).
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Can I adjust the sweetness or use a different syrup?
Absolutely! Customize the sweetness with more or less vanilla syrup (or simple syrup, honey, or agave if you prefer). The best part about making this at home is getting your Starbucks Matcha Frappuccino exactly to your taste.
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Is there a way to make this Starbucks Matcha Frappuccino caffeine-free?
Since matcha naturally contains caffeine, you’ll need to swap it for a caffeine-free green tea powder (they exist, though rare!) or try this recipe with spirulina for color—though of course, the taste and classic matcha flavor won’t be the same.
Final Thoughts
There’s nothing quite like blending up your own Starbucks Matcha Frappuccino at home—so easy, so vibrant, and always made exactly how you love it. Go ahead and treat yourself to this frosty, dreamy green sip; I promise it’ll become your new favorite pick-me-up!
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Starbucks Matcha Frappuccino Recipe
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 serving (16 ounces)
- Category: Blending
- Method: Blending
Description
Learn how to make a delicious Starbucks Matcha Frappuccino at home with this easy recipe. This refreshing green tea beverage is perfect for a hot day or anytime you want a tasty pick-me-up.
Ingredients
Matcha Frappuccino
- 2/3 cup whole milk
- 2 tablespoons vanilla syrup
- 2 teaspoons matcha
- 1 cup ice
- 1 tablespoon homemade Frappuccino base syrup
Vanilla Whipped Cream
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon vanilla syrup
Instructions
- Whisk heavy cream and vanilla syrup to make whipped cream. Set aside. A handheld milk frother makes whipped cream in seconds. (¼ cup heavy cream, 1 tablespoon vanilla syrup)
- Blend milk, vanilla syrup, matcha, ice, and homemade Frappuccino base syrup until smooth. Start the blender on low, then turn it up high. Use a tamper tool to make sure the ice gets blended evenly. (⅔ cup whole milk, 2 tablespoons vanilla syrup, 2 teaspoons matcha, 1 cup ice, 1 tablespoon homemade Frappuccino base syrup)
- Pour Frappuccino into a cup.
- Top drink with whipped cream.
Notes
- The Frappuccino base syrup is what keeps the ice and the liquid from separating so make sure that’s made first before making the Frappuccino.
- Don’t add ice first into the blender since you won’t get an efficient blend. Add liquids first and ice last.
- All Frappuccinos are made with whole milk at Starbucks but you can use whatever kind of milk you like.
- The longer you whisk the heavy cream and vanilla syrup with a handheld milk frother, the thicker it’ll get. To get fluffy whipped cream, whisk until you get soft peaks, which should take about 30 seconds. Spoon the whipped cream onto the drink.
- The brighter the green the matcha, the higher the quality. Look to spend $25-35. Anything that costs less than that will have a muddy green, almost brown color.
