Salted Caramel Mocha
Creamy salted caramel mocha to make at home.
If you love salted caramel flavour then you’ll love this salted caramel mocha! This delicious drink can be enjoyed both hot and cold so perfect all year round. It can be made with regular caffeinated coffee or decaffeinated, depending on your preference.
Starbucks used to make their own own salted caramel mocha but it is no longer available. However, perhaps that not a bad thing as it’s way cheaper to make it at home. You can also have one whenever you like … without leaving the comfort of your own home!
Making your own at home is also healthier in that you know exactly what ingredients have gone into the making of your drink. If you had to take a good look into ingredients that go into everyday food and beverages, you’d be surprised by how many unnecessary additives and fillers are included. Most people don’t give a second thought to what they’re putting in their bodies.
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What is a salted caramel mocha?
A cafe latte contains the following ingredients: espresso, milk and cream, in that order. So a mocha is basically, a cafe latte with the addition of chocolate. A salted caramel mocha is therefore a mocha with the addition of a syrup which has a salted caramel flavor.
In this recipe we’re going to be using unsweetened cocoa powder as the sweetness will come from the salted caramel flavor syrup. You can either use homemade salted caramel syrup (instructions below) or if you’re short on time you can do what I did and use this salted caramel syrup which I purchased from Amazon.
Store cupboard ingredients you will more than likely have at home:
- Half and half – this contains more milk fat than whole milk so will result in a much creamier mocha.
- Unsweetened cocoa powder – we will be adding sweetness with the salted caramel syrup however see in the FAQ section below if you only have drinking chocolate powder on hand.
- Coffee – this can either be caffeinated or decaffeinated, it’s up to you!
- Sugar – I like to use coconut sugar but plain white or brown sugar is good too.
- Sea salt – I prefer using himalayan or sea salt as table salt is stripped of it’s valuable minerals and usually contains an anti caking agent to stop it from clumping.
- Maple syrup – don’t worry if you don’t have any maple syrup as you can use salted caramel syrup instead.
Ingredients you may not have on hand:
- Salted caramel syrup (shop bought or homemade.)
- Cream for topping – You can use coconut cream too which will give the mocha extra flavor.
Can I turn this into an iced salted caramel mocha?
Definitely! After following step 2 in the recipe, allow the coffee/milk mixture to cool before placing into an ice tray. Once the ice has frozen you can blend either half or all of the ice blocks to make a cool, icy drink perfect for a summer’s day.
Can I make my own salted caramel syrup?
Don’t worry if you don’t have any salted caramel syrup on hand because you can always make your own. This easy recipe will is extremely versatile as not only can this syrup be used to sweeten coffee itself but it can also be drizzled onto ice cream and on cakes. You can even drizzle it on your morning bowl of hot oats! The only ingredients you need are sugar, water and salt.
Homemade Salted Caramel Syrup Recipe
- Mix together 1 cup of white sugar with 1 cup of water. Stir well with a wooden spoon and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat to medium without stirring and in around 10 minutes, you should have a thick, light brown coloured syrup.
- Add 1 cup of warm water and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Keep stirring at this stage to ensure that everything is thoroughly mixed and the salt is dissolved. Allow to cool and pour into a glass jar.
Is this a healthy salted caramel mocha?
I’m not sure you can actually call any salted caramel mocha healthy but you can certainly make it ‘healthier’ by using good quality ingredients and by eliminating fat and sugar containing toppings, for example, whipped cream and salted caramel syrup.
Is a salted caramel mocha dairy free?
This particular recipe is not diary free however you can certainly make this salted caramel mocha recipe dairy free by using a plant based milk and creamer. In addition, you can, instead of using whipped diary cream, use whipped coconut cream to make it that little bit more luxurious and looking more like a Starbucks treat.
What is half and half?
Half and half is simply 50% milk and 50% cream and is often sold as a coffee creamer. It contains approximately 10 – 18% fat.
Can I use whole milk if I do not have half and half?
Yes! It obviously won’t be as thick and creamy but you can still get away with just using whole milk. In fact, you can use whatever you milk you have on hand. I have made a few salted caramel mochas now using different types of milks, both plant based and dairy, and they always taste great no matter which I’ve used.
Is there a half and half substitute?
If you don’t have any half and half on hand then you can simply your own using any milk you have on hand and butter. This is a great alternative if you want a more filling, creamy tasting salted caramel mocha. Simply melt 3 tablespoons of butter in the saucepan on the stove on low heat before adding 11.6 oz (330ml) milk. Then follow the rest of the instructions as mentioned in the recipe below.
Can I use hot chocolate drinking powder instead of cocoa powder?
You could get away with substituting cocoa powder with hot drinking chocolate powder however as drinking chocolate powder is usually sweetened already, you will need to reduce the amount of salted caramel syrup used in the recipe. This will come down to personal preference but I would suggest halving the amount of salted caramel syrup used ie. using 2 tablespoons of syrup instead of 4 tablespoons. The only issue I can forsee is that the salted caramel flavour will be reduced. However, for those who do not have an extremely sweet tooth, then it may not be a problem.
If you do happen to try it please let me, and others, know in the comments below.
Salted Caramel Mocha
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cup half and half
- 2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
- 3 1/2 cups strong coffee
- 4 tbsp salted caramel syrup
Topping
- whipped cream
- maple syrup
- coconut sugar (or regular sugar if you don't have any on hand)
- sea salt
Instructions
- In a saucepan over medium heat, add the half and half and cocoa. Whisk until it begins to bubble.
- Add coffee and salted caramel syrup together and pour into the milk mixture. Heat over medium heat until hot but not boiling.
- Pour the mixture into a coffee mug and top with whipped cream and drizzle with maple syrup.
- Top with a sprinkle of coconut sugar and sea salt.
This salted caramel flavor mocha makes a nice change from drinking plain coffee and is great if you have a bit of a sweet tooth and are looking for something tasty after a meal. The whipped cream on top is optional however but certainly adds a more decadent touch.
