The Best Copycat Golden Eagle Dutch Bros Recipe Ever!

If you’ve never had the pleasure of tasting the utterly smooth, creamy, and intensely sweet Golden Eagle from Dutch Bros, you’re missing out!

And unless you live in one of the few select states with a Dutch Bros store, you’ll continue to miss out.

Fortunately, you can easily recreate this recipe at home. 

No plane ticket required!

Stick with me as we cover this classic drink from the exclusive Dutch Bros coffee shop!

And click here if you want to skip right to the copycat recipe.

Let’s get to it!

This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost if you purchase through a link. Please see my full disclosure for further information and privacy policy. Specific images on this page are courtesy of Canva. Although I am a medical professional, I am not your medical professional, and the information on this page is for informational and educational purposes only. Please seek a qualified medical professional for questions or concerns about your health status.

What is the Golden Eagle from Dutch Bros?

The Golden Eagle drink is technically a creamy breve. 

A breve is a very tasty drink made with half-and-half instead of skim or 2% milk.

Breves also contain a shot of espresso and flavor syrup.

The Dutch Bros Golden Eagle recipe is basically a vanilla caramel breve classically finished with a dollop of soft top and drizzle of caramel sauce.

You can order the drink iced, hot, or in a blended version.

Their menu also has a Golden Eagle chai (stay tuned for this copycat recipe!).

But the vanilla and caramel flavors and the subtle hint of coffee and creaminess from the half-and-half take this drink right over the top!

I promise your mind will be blown when you try this epic drink from the Dutch Bros menu!

What’s in the Dutch Bros Golden Eagle?

Like most coffee drinks, the Golden Eagle breve has three basic components: milk, coffee, and flavor syrup.

Milk

As previously mentioned, the Golden Eagle is a breve, meaning it’s made with half-and-half instead of other types of milk.

The result is a creamier, thicker mouth feel than other coffee drinks.

It also means that the drink itself contains more fat than other espresso-based drinks made with different types of milk.

But if you’re following a lower-fat diet, you can substitute other milk types.

Non-dairy milk, such as oat milk or even almond milk, blends well with the other flavors in this drink.

And by swapping out various ingredients, you get a healthier drink you can enjoy more often!

Coffee

When it comes to the coffee component, you have a ton of flexibility.

If you have an espresso machine, pull a couple espresso shots, depending on the size of the drink, and you’re good to go!

But if you don’t have an espresso machine, you can brew coffee to give a similar flavor in different ways.

My favorite is with a French press.

Simply add 4 tablespoons of bold espresso that has been ground finely.

Add 3.5 cups of almost boiling water and let steep for approximately 4 minutes.

Push down on the plunger, and voila! You have a brew that has a strong enough flavor to hold its own alongside milk and flavor syrups.

You can also use cold brew or brew your regular coffee about twice as strong as usual.

Although I haven’t tried it, you can buy instant espresso powder.

Experiment with several different options and see which one you prefer.

And if you’re making the drink for your kids, consider using decaf or leaving the coffee out entirely.

You really have so many options!

Flavor Syrup

One of the best things about this drink is the flavor mash-up created by vanilla and caramel syrups.

And here again, you have options for creating the perfect combo!

My favorite way to flavor this drink is with caramel melting candies and vanilla extract.

This method creates a flavor that’s sweet but not overpoweringly so.

It’s the perfect balance of vanilla and caramel without sending yourself into sugar overload.

But you can also use flavor syrups to create the flavor mash-up.

Torani syrups are perfect in this drink. Use up to a tablespoon of caramel and a tablespoon of vanilla syrup to easily recreate the flavors.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between a latte and a breve?

The breve is an espresso-based drink made with half-and-half and often sweetened with flavor syrup, while a latte can be made with various milk and non-dairy milk options.

Due to the half-and-half, the breve is a much thicker, creamier drink than a latte.

Is the Golden Eagle from Dutch Bros good for you?

Order a large size of this drink at a Dutch Bros shop, and you’ll be consuming 560 calories, 36 grams of fat, and 39 grams of sugar. On the plus side, it does contain about 12 grams of protein. 

Even the small size contains 340 calories, 18 grams of fat, and 33 grams of sugar. It has about half the protein content at 6 grams. 

Neither size contains any fiber, increasing the punch your body gets from the sugar spike.

Although tasty, this drink isn’t considered healthy by any stretch of the imagination.

But by whipping up your own version at home, you can make a few slight adjustments to reduce the fat and calorie content.

One of the ways to make it healthier is by making a smaller size. This reduces the impact of calories, fat content, and sugar.

You can also try sugar-free alternatives for sweetening the drink. 

These are my favorite sugar-free vanilla and caramel syrups.

You can also opt to sweeten the drink with organic honey or agave and flavor with vanilla and caramel extracts.

But I’m also a firm believer in all things in moderation. If you love this drink and live near a Dutch Brothers coffee shop, go ahead and treat yourself every once in a while!

How do you make a hot Golden Eagle?

The best way to get through a cold winter day is a hot version of the Golden Eagle!

This delightful beverage will have your taste buds dancing as you forget all about the wind and snow!

Pull a couple shots of espresso and add the warm milk with melted caramel and vanilla extract swirled in.

Pour into your favorite mug and finish with soft top and a caramel drizzle.

Absolutely delicious!

Final Thoughts

If you’ve never had the pleasure of visiting a Dutch Bros shop in person, making a copycat version of one of their signature drinks is the next best thing.

And this drink is the perfect way to dip your toes into the Dutch Bros pool!

With only a few key ingredients, you can easily create your perfect version of the drink from the comfort of your kitchen.

What could be better?!

If you love this recipe, check out my other fun, coffee-inspired content. 

Until next time, happy sipping!

• How to Make an Irresistible Candy Cane Latte
• How to Make an Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai Tea Latte
• How to Make a Copycat Iced Apple Crisp Shaken Espresso
• Copycat Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte Recipe
• How to Make an Easy Homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte
• How to Make a Golden Milk Latte with Turmeric
• Copycat Dunkin’ Iced Chai Latte Recipe
• How to Make a Copycat Raspberry Green Tea with Bubbles
• How to Make a Raspberry Chai Tea Latte at Home
• How to Make Dutch Bros Christmas Morning