In Search of the Perfect Homemade Frappuccino

Hello, my name is robin and I’m a Mocha Frappuccino-holic.

It all started with Starbuck’s.

At first it was just the occasional Frap. But then the cravings became more frequent. 

I was going once a week……twice a week…..when the Barista’s saw me coming they had my order ready by the time I got to the counter.

I gained weight, and found out I might be lactose intolerant.

It was either cold turkey or stern reprimand from my Dr. about high cholesterol and sugar levels.

So I gave them up.

There were the usual withdrawal symptoms but I toughed it out and eventually won.

Then one day in Panera……I was offered a free Frozen Mocha.

Well, I couldn’t be rude!

But it weighs in at a whopping 400 calories! Plus it’s loaded with sugar and whipped cream, both of which I should avoid.

So began the search for the perfect homemade Mocha Frappuccino.

I tried brewing espresso and adding cocoa powder and Splenda with ice cubes.

I tried regular coffee with sugar free chocolate syrup and ice cubes.

I even bought sugar free Mocha syrup (Yuck!)

I tried using the Keurig Mocha K-cups…not bad but not quite right either.

I tried freezing concoctions into ice cubes and blending those.

I must have tried dozens of different ways to achieve my desired results.

I failed miserably, AND I broke my Cuisinart blender in the process!

So we bought a Ninja. 

A 2 HP/1500-watt food processor that claims it ‘can do it all’!  

I continued with the frozen brewed concoctions, tinkering and adjusting the recipe. But it was time consuming and you have to wait for it to freeze. (I am not a patient person.)

Then one day while grocery shopping I spotted instant espresso! Who knew?

And Hershey’s Chocolate Syrup Lite (only 6 gm of sugar per 2tbsp serving)

♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪ Cue the heavenly music ♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫

Ice cubes, instant espresso, Splenda, chocolate syrup, a splash of skim milk…..pulverize the living daylights out of it in the Ninja and voilà!

Easy peasy!

 No waiting and the best I can calculate it’s about 150 calories!

Cheaper, less calories, you can make it anytime you want (this may be a drawback…..) and you don’t even have to get dressed to have one!

I call that a WIN WIN in my book!