We don’t know about you, but when summertime rolls around, fewer drinks are more refreshing than iced mochas. Think about it: flavorful coffee, cold milk, and a drizzle of chocolate syrup for sweetness. It doesn’t get better than that. Or does it?
If you’re strictly a chocolate fan, you probably have no interest in adding to the recipe. However, if you think the chocolate and coffee drink could use a little something extra, we recommend trying an iced salted caramel mocha.
Blending two of our favorite flavors creates a beverage perfect for days when you need a kick of coffee flavor but want it to taste like dessert.
Meet the Salted Caramel Mocha
It’s no secret that chocolate and caramel flavors complement each other quite well (see: Rolos, Caramello candy bars, Milk Duds, etc.). And since both treats blend beautifully into coffee alone, it’s unsurprising that the three make a great team.
Take Starbucks Coffee’s salted caramel mocha, for example. The seasonal drink was undoubtedly a fall favorite before its discontinuation in 2021, proving that caramel and chocolate flavors are better together.
In our recipe below, we teach you how to make an iced version of this beverage, so if you’re a cold coffee drinker looking for something sweet to brew, this coffee, chocolate, and caramel recipe is for you!
What’s the difference between caramel and salted caramel?
Before diving into this coffee drink recipe, we should probably clarify the difference between caramel and salted caramel — though honestly, it’s self-explanatory!
The only difference between caramel and salted caramel is that the latter contains a pinch of salt. The combination of sweet and salty creates an even bolder flavor experience, which is why so many swear up and down that salted caramel is supreme.
@roastycoffee So delicious #mocha #icedcaramelmocha #coffeetok ♬ original sound – summer❤️🩹
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Homemade Iced Salted Caramel Mocha Recipe
You’ll Need:
- Chocolate sauce
- Salted caramel sauce
- Double shot of espresso
- 1 or 2 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder
- Milk (or one of your favorite milk alternatives)
- Tall glass
- Milk frother
- Bowl, glass, or frothing pitcher
The Process:
Step 1
The first step is to line the inside of your glass with a drizzle of chocolate syrup and caramel sauce because, as they say, presentation is everything. Besides, this is where the drink gets its caramel flavor. Use as little or as much of each as you’d like.
Step 2
Then, add ice cubes* to your cup and pour your milk of choice over them. Any type of milk will work here, from whole milk to non-dairy nut milk (almond milk is one of our favorites, by the way). You can even use coffee creamer or heavy cream.
Step 3
Now, it’s time to make the espresso! (We used two ounces of coffee, a.k.a., a double shot, but feel free to skip out on the extra shot if you’re watching your caffeine intake.)
Spoon a scoop or two of cocoa powder into the shot glass and let the hot coffee brew over it. Stir the mixture well, as you want to be sure no lumps of cocoa powder make it into your cup.
Next, pour the coffee and cocoa mixture into the glass of milk and ice.
Step 4
Finally, pour a bit of your creamer, cream, or milk of choice — whatever you used before — into a bowl, glass, or frothing pitcher, and use your frother to create fluffy foam.
Finish making this coffee beverage by topping the chocolate, caramel, and coffee mixture with a layer of froth. Feel free to add extra chocolate sauce, caramel syrup, or chocolate shavings to the top of the milk foam for extra sweetness.
*Pro-tip: pour the leftover coffee from your morning brew into ice trays and make coffee ice cubes. These, in our opinion, are best for iced coffees because when they melt, they don’t water your drink down. Instead, they release even more delicious java flavor.
No Espresso Machine? No Problem!
Don’t let not having an espresso machine keep you from trying this chilled coffee drink.
If you can’t or don’t want to go through the trouble of brewing coffee with an espresso machine, use cold brew coffee instead.
Or brew regular drip joe in your traditional coffee maker and let it chill in the refrigerator for a few minutes before adding it to this drink. Either of those options works just as well as espresso.
Make Your Morning Coffee Sweeter
We won’t pretend we don’t love those fancy coffee house drinks, too. But when you make them at home, it’s a real game changer for the budget, not to mention a massive ego boost when your homemade beverage tastes almost like the pricey coffee shop version.
You can even make this drink if you don’t love cold coffee; all you have to do is skip the ice cubes. Hot or cold, this mocha is lovely and is sure to become one of your favorite coffee drinks in no time.
Happy Caffeinating!
Iced Salted Caramel Mocha Recipe
Iced Salted Caramel Mocha is exactly the refreshing drink you should be sipping on all summer long! A delightful combination of espresso, milk and rich mocha salted caramel sauce will spice up your coffee routine!
Ingredients
- Chocolate sauce
- Salted caramel sauce
- Double shot of espresso
- 1 or 2 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder
- Milk (or one of your favorite milk alternatives)
- Tall glass
- Milk frother
- Bowl, glass, or frothing pitcher
Instructions
- Line the inside of your glass with a drizzle of chocolate syrup and caramel sauce.
- Add ice cubes to your cup and pour your milk of choice over them.
- Make the espresso.
- Pour the coffee and cocoa mixture into the glass of milk and ice.
- Pour a bit of your creamer, cream, or milk of choice into a glass and use your frother to create fluffy foam.
- Top the chocolate, caramel, and coffee mixture with a layer of froth, and enjoy!
