Starbucks offers a variety of syrup flavors to customize drinks, including caramel syrup. Many customers wonder if Starbucks has a sugar-free version of their popular caramel syrup. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore everything you need to know about Starbucks’ caramel syrup offerings and whether they currently provide a sugar-free caramel syrup option.
The Basics of Starbucks’ Caramel Syrup
Starbucks provides a classic caramel syrup that contains sugar as its primary sweetener. Their standard caramel syrup contains the following ingredients:
- Sugar
- Water
- Corn Syrup
- Natural Flavors
- Potassium Sorbate (preservative)
- Salt
- Caramel Color
As you can see, regular table sugar (sucrose) is the first ingredient. A single pump of Starbucks’ classic caramel syrup contains 15 grams of sugar. For reference, the American Heart Association recommends no more than 25 grams of added sugar per day for women and 36 grams for men.
So Starbucks’ regular caramel syrup is undoubtedly high in sugar content. Many health-conscious customers opt to order it with fewer pumps or avoid it altogether due to the sugar content.
Does Starbucks Have Sugar-Free Caramel Syrup?
Currently, Starbucks does not offer a sugar-free caramel syrup option. Their classic caramel syrup contains regular sugar as the primary sweetener. Some customers have requested a sugar-free version, but Starbucks has not added one to their menu.
In 2016, Starbucks launched a lower-calorie line of syrups called Skinny Syrups. However, the Skinny Caramel Syrup still contains sugar. It has 9 grams of sugar per pump compared to 15 grams in the regular version. So while it’s an improved option, it’s still not sugar-free.
Why Doesn’t Starbucks Have Sugar-Free Caramel?
There are a few potential reasons why Starbucks has not added a sugar-free caramel syrup to their lineup of flavors:
- Developing a new sugar-free syrup formula takes time and resources in terms of R&D.
- Finding a natural sugar substitute that provides the same rich caramel taste is challenging.
- Artificial sugar substitutes like aspartame and sucralose are controversial and not aligned with Starbucks’ image.
- The demand may not be high enough yet to justify adding a new sugar-free syrup.
Additionally, Starbucks places a strong emphasis on its core menu offerings. They are careful about rolling out new products or variations. The company likely wants to avoid becoming too complex for baristas to execute or customers to understand.
For a company as large as Starbucks, even subtle menu changes take considerable planning, testing and training to implement properly. So that is likely another factor in why sugar-free caramel syrup has not become a menu item yet.
Sugar-Free Syrup Options at Other Coffee Chains
While Starbucks currently does not offer sugar-free caramel syrup, some competing coffee chains do provide lower sugar or sugar-free caramel syrup options:
- Dunkin’ Donuts – Offers a sugar-free caramel swirl syrup made with sucralose as a zero-calorie sweetener. You can customize lattes with this syrup.
- Tim Hortons – Their sugar-free caramel syrup is sweetened with sucralose.
- McCafe (McDonald’s) – Also has a sugar free caramel coffee syrup available to flavor McCafe drinks.
So if you are looking for a chain coffee shop with sugar-free caramel syrup options, these brands currently offer it on their menus. But Starbucks does not provide a caramel syrup that is completely sugar-free at this time.
Making Sugar-Free Caramel Drinks at Starbucks
While Starbucks doesn’t offer a sugar-free caramel syrup, there are a few ways you can order to create lower sugar caramel-flavored drinks:
- Ask for fewer pumps – Ordering say, 2-3 pumps of the regular caramel syrup instead of the standard 4-5 pumps can significantly cut the sugar content.
- Substitute sugar free vanilla – Starbucks does offer sugar free vanilla syrup. Subbing this for caramel provides a similar sweet flavor.
- Add sugar free cinnamon dolce – This spiced syrup gives a bit of a caramel-like taste when combined with espresso.
- Use SF vanilla and caramel drizzle – Topping your drink with some sugar free vanilla syrup and a bit of caramel drizzle can mimic a caramel flavor profile.
Additionally, ordering a shot of espresso and asking for it topped with a bit of heavy cream and sugar free flavoring allows you to create a lower sugar caramel-esque drink. You can even request the cream and syrup mixture to be blended to make a frothy, lighter option.
While not exactly the same as a true sugar-free caramel syrup, these tweaks allow you to put together something similar from the current Starbucks menu. The baristas are also often happy to suggest substitutions to meet your individual dietary needs.
Sugar-Free Caramel Syrup Options to Add at Home
Another option for getting sugar-free caramel flavor from Starbucks is to purchase your own sugar-free caramel syrup and add it to brewed Starbucks coffee or espresso drinks at home. Here are some top options:
Skinny Syrups Caramel
| Serving Size | Calories | Sugar |
|---|---|---|
| 1 tbsp (15ml) | 15 | 0g |
Skinny Syrups makes a sugar free caramel flavored syrup that uses Splenda to provide sweetness without sugar or calories. It tastes rich and caramelly and mixes well into hot or iced coffee drinks.
Jordan’s Skinny Syrups Salted Caramel
| Serving Size | Calories | Sugar |
|---|---|---|
| 2 tbsp (30ml) | 20 | 0g |
Jordan’s sugar free salted caramel syrup has a delicious blend of sweet caramel and salty flavors. It contains no sugar, gluten, fat, or GMOs. The saltiness gives it an extra dimension missing from many caramel syrups.
Torani Sugar Free Caramel Sauce
| Serving Size | Calories | Sugar |
|---|---|---|
| 2 tbsp (30ml) | 15 | 0g |
Torani is a popular brand for coffeehouse flavorings. Their sugar free caramel sauce delivers rich, buttery caramel taste. It’s sweetened with Splenda and contains no calories or carbohydrates.
These are just a few top-rated sugar free caramel syrup options to liven up your at-home Starbucks drink creations. Add them to give your usual Starbucks latte or iced coffee a sugar free caramel flavor boost.
Does Starbucks Have Plans for Sugar Free Caramel?
While Starbucks currently does not offer its own sugar free caramel syrup, public demand for this product is growing. The rising popularity of lower sugar and keto diets has led to interest in more customization options at Starbucks.
Starbucks has demonstrated a commitment to expanding their product line for diverse dietary needs. For example, they’ve rolled out dairy free milk alternatives, reduced sugar frappuccinos, and gluten free breakfast sandwiches.
Offering a sugar free caramel syrup would align well with Starbucks’ evolution toward options for different dietary preferences. While the company has not made any official announcement, expanding their syrup selection to include sugar free caramel is certainly plausible based on current trends.
Starbucks has an excellent product development team that stays on top of consumer demands. If interest continues to grow, a sugar free caramel syrup could very likely end up on menus in test markets in the future.
Third Party Sugar-Free Caramel Syrups at Starbucks
Though Starbucks doesn’t yet offer its own sugar-free caramel syrup, some customers have reported success bringing their own third party sugar-free caramel syrups and requesting that baristas use them in preparing their drinks.
If you have a favorite sugar-free caramel coffee syrup brand, you may want to try nicely asking your barista if they would add it to your drink. Some helpful tips for requests like this:
- Visit when it’s not overly busy so the barista has time to accommodate your request
- Kindly explain that you need to avoid sugar for health reasons and ask if they would mind adding your own syrup
- Have the syrup ready to hand to the barista and thank them for their efforts
- Understand if especially busy times prohibit special requests – peak hours like morning rush may not work
While Starbucks employees can’t actually add any unauthorized ingredients to drinks themselves, many baristas try their best to customize orders to meet customers’ needs. As long as you are polite and understanding, bringing your own sugar-free caramel may be an option at select locations.
Sugar-Free Caramel Syrup Recipes to DIY
If you want to enjoy sugar free caramel syrup from home in Starbucks drinks, another option is to make your own. Here are some recipes to DIY a keto-friendly, low sugar caramel syrup:
Easy Microwave Caramel Sauce
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup granulated sweetener like Swerve
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
Instructions:
- Combine all ingredients in a microwave safe bowl
- Microwave on high in 30 second intervals, stirring between rounds, until mixture begins to bubble and thicken to desired consistency (about 2 minutes total)
- Cool slightly before using in coffee drinks
- Stir and reheat before use if separates
- Keeps refrigerated for up to 1 week
Sugar Free Caramel Sauce with Sweetened Condensed Milk
Ingredients:
- 1 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk (like Nestle or Eagle Brand)
- 1/4 cup sugar free pancake syrup (like Walden Farms)
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions:
- Mix condensed milk, syrup and butter in a saucepan
- Heat on medium, stirring frequently, until mixture comes to a gentle boil
- Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes, continue stirring
- Remove from heat and stir in vanilla
- Let cool at least 15 minutes before using
- Store in refrigerator up to 2 weeks
These recipes provide tasty sugar free caramel sauces to flavor your favorite Starbucks drinks at home. Feel free to adjust sweetener or spices to your own tastes.
The Bottom Line
Starbucks currently does not offer any sugar free caramel syrup options. Their classic caramel syrup contains regular sugar. Some competing coffee chains like Dunkin’ Donuts and Tim Hortons do provide sugar-free versions.
While Starbucks hasn’t announced plans for a sugar free caramel syrup yet, it seems plausible based on expanding consumer demand for low sugar products. But for now, your best bet is bringing your own or requesting baristas add a swirl from your personal sugar free caramel bottle.
With some creativity using sugar free flavors on hand or DIY recipes, you can still create lower sugar caramel drinks at home to enjoy with Starbucks items. And who knows – we may see an official Starbucks sugar free caramel syrup rollout in the near future!
