Homemade Dunkin' Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso Recipe

Dunkin's Brown Sugar Shakin' Espresso is espresso shaken with brown sugar and ice until foamy, then topped with oat milk. For one drink: two shots of hot espresso, two tablespoons of brown sugar syrup and a handful of ice, shaken for 15 to 20 seconds, poured into a glass and finished with three-quarters of a cup of oat milk. The syrup is made first and is enough for four.

What Dunkin' put in Sabrina's Brown Sugar Shakin' Espresso

Dunkin' launched the drink on 31 December 2024 with the singer Sabrina Carpenter, under the name Sabrina's Brown Sugar Shakin' Espresso. Its press release describes "Dunkin's bold espresso, brown sugar notes, and oatmilk, shaken to perfection", hand-shaken behind the counter in an espresso shaker, and calls it a limited-time drink.

That is three ingredients and one technique, and the copy uses the same ones. It is a reconstruction; MakeFoodLovely is not connected with Dunkin'.

Recipe

Dunkin' Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso

A reconstruction of Dunkin's Brown Sugar Shakin' Espresso — espresso shaken with brown sugar syrup and ice, topped with oat milk. Four drinks.

5.0 (1)Print

Prep

10 min

Cook

5 min

Total

15 min

Serves

4

Cuisine

American

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1/3 cup water
• 1 cup freshly brewed espresso (8 shots)
• 3 cups oat milk, cold
• 4 cups ice cubes, for serving

Instructions

1. Stir the brown sugar and the water in a small saucepan over medium heat until the sugar has dissolved and the syrup just begins to simmer, about 3 minutes. Take it off the heat. It makes about 1/2 cup.
2. For each drink, put 2 shots of hot espresso (1/4 cup), 2 tablespoons of the syrup and a handful of ice into a cocktail shaker or a jar with a tight lid.
3. Shake hard for 15 to 20 seconds, until the shaker is cold on the outside and the espresso has a layer of foam.
4. Pour the espresso, foam and ice into a 16-ounce glass, add ice to fill it, and top with 3/4 cup of oat milk.

Nutrition

Calories:

160

Calculated from the ingredient quantities above using the USDA FoodData Central database, then divided by the number of servings. It is an estimate and will vary with the exact products you use.

Dunkin' and Starbucks make two different drinks

Starbucks has a drink with almost the same name. Its Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso is described as Blonde espresso shaken with brown sugar and cinnamon, then topped with oat milk. The differences are the lighter Blonde roast and the cinnamon. For that version, add a pinch of ground cinnamon to the shaker.

Why the espresso is shaken

Shaking hot espresso with ice does two things at once. It chills the coffee in seconds, and it whips air into it, which is where the layer of foam comes from. Stirring does the first and not the second.

The espresso has to be hot when it goes in. The ice it melts is part of the drink, which is why the recipe adds no water.

Without an espresso machine

• Moka pot: the closest thing to espresso on a stove. Use 1/4 cup per drink.
• Strong coffee: brew it at double strength and use 1/4 cup per drink. The foam will be thinner.
• Instant espresso powder: 2 teaspoons dissolved in 1/4 cup of hot water.

The brown sugar syrup

Equal parts brown sugar and water, heated only until the sugar dissolves. Dark brown sugar contains more molasses than light and gives a stronger flavour. The syrup keeps two weeks in a jar in the refrigerator, and the recipe doubles.

The brown sugar shaken espresso creamer is a make-ahead version for people who want the flavour in ordinary coffee.

Dunkin's other espresso drink on this site is the Dunkalatte, and the Dunkin' Brownie Batter Donut is what to eat with either.