Copycat Dunkin' Donuts Signature Latte Recipe

Sometimes you need to treat yourself to something wonderful, and if a hot, fresh, sweet Dunkin' Donuts latte topped with whipped cream, caramel sauce, and a sprinkle of cinnamon and sugar doesn't meet your standard for wonderful, then you have very high standards indeed. You can whip up a serving or two (because sharing makes it all the better) of this latte without ever leaving the comfort of your own home, thanks to this copycat recipe, which will save you time and a few bucks. Plus there's the pride factor of creating your own little mug of happiness DIY style.

Once you've prepped your Dunkin' Signature Latte copycat, "pair [it] with a coffee cake or muffin as a treat," says chef and recipe developer Jaime Shelbert of Wholly Nourished, "or balance it out with a slice of nut buttered [toast] or avocado toast." Any way you enjoy your drink, you'll be doing it right with this one. Just make sure you follow the steps closely, because there are a few things you can mess up here, mostly to do with too much heat. "Overheating or scalding the milk and watching not to burn the caramel sauce" is key, Shelbert says.

Also, don't go cheap on your coffee or the final product won't match your expectations. And you're worth good coffee anyway!

If you buy everything needed for this copycat latte recipe in one fell swoop, sure, it's going to cost you more than getting a fancy coffee from Dunkin' Donuts. But make a few rounds of these lattes and pretty soon you'll be saving yourself big bucks.

All told, you'll need pure maple syrup, cashew butter, coconut oil, dark roast or espresso roast coffee beans or grounds (and a grinder if whole bean, of course), water, whole milk, and, as toppings, whipped cream, cinnamon, and sugar.

And you'll need a frother, too. "Having a frother on hand has made it so much easier to duplicate my favorite coffee house drinks at home," says Shelbert. "Frothing wands are an affordable addition to your at-home coffee bar."

To prepare the caramel sauce, place the maple syrup, cashew butter, and coconut oil in a sauce pan over medium heat. Bring the mixture to a boil and then immediately reduce to a low heat. Begin whisking constantly so as not to burn the sauce. Mix until the combined sauce is smooth and creamy.

Now remove the finished sauce from the heat and set it aside to cool. "If the caramel sauce thickens too much while preparing the latte, you can either reheat in the microwave or add a bit of hot water or milk to thin," says Shelbert.

To make the a good latte, you need good, strong coffee. So brew a strong espresso roast using 6 tablespoons of grounds per 1 cup water, either via pour over, French press, or whatever method you prefer.

Meanwhile, heat the milk in a saucepan over medium heat, bringing it just barely to a boil. As soon as the bubbles roll, remove the milk from the heat immediately. Next, carefully pour that heated milk into a large cup or jar and immerse the frothing wand and turn it on — and don't turn it on before it's submerged, otherwise it's mess time. Whisk the milk until your desired froth is reached.

Divide the espresso brew between two coffee mugs, then pour in the milk and froth atop the coffee. As the milk tends to pour past the froth, be sure to alternate from cup to cup as you pour in the milk, then top both servings evenly with froth.

Now top the lattes with whipped cream, a drizzle of caramel sauce, and cinnamon and sugar. These toppings not only finish the true copycat taste of it all, but also make the latte look great! Reach for your phone and take a few snaps, and then reach for that coffee cake, avocado toast, or even a donut, and enjoy!