We’re back with another Starbucks inspired coffee drink! Here’s our iced salted caramel mocha recipe.
If you’re obsessed with iced mochas at Starbucks, but not obsessed with the price, why not try making it at home?
I love making my own Starbucks inspired recipes at home.
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You can control the amount of sweetness, the type of coffee beans you use and can customize the drink (like extra shots of espresso!) without having to pay anything extra.
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What is an Iced Salted Caramel Mocha?
The iced salted caramel mocha is a cold coffee drink from Starbucks. Mocha is a flavor used to describe desserts and drinks with both chocolate and coffee. So this is a coffee for the chocolate fans!
If you order on the app, this salted caramel flavored mocha is under the Iced Mochas section along with other flavors like white chocolate, dark chocolate and a classic mocha.
It’s made with espresso, milk, mocha sauce and a toffee nut flavored syrup and poured over ice. Then topped with a generous layer of sweetened whipped cream and a drizzle of caramel sauce. Oh and there’s a mix of turbinado sugar and sea salt on top too.
It sounds like a ton of ingredients but it’s easy to make at home and tastes so good together.
To make it at home, I decided to add caramel syrup to get the caramel flavor in the coffee instead of toffee nut. I also omitted the turbinado sugar (it’s a sugar similar to brown sugar) and sea salt topping and instead, I put a pinch of sea salt in the coffee.
I just felt like there was enough sugar from the chocolate sauce, caramel syrup and whipped cream already. But feel free to mix a pinch of sea salt and a pinch of turbinado sugar together and sprinkle it on top of the whipped cream and caramel sauce to make the drink as close as possible to what you’d expect to get at Starbucks.
Also as personal preference, you’ll see in the pictures I drizzled extra chocolate sauce on top of the whipped cream instead of caramel sauce. You can do either based on your preference, it’ll taste great either way!
Here’s my recipe…
Iced Salted Caramel Mocha Ingredients
- ½ cup espresso
- 1 tablespoon chocolate sauce (I used Torani Chocolate Sauce)
- 2 teaspoons caramel syrup (I used Monin Caramel Syrup)
- Pinch of salt
- 10-12 ice cubes
- ½ cup milk
- Optional: whipped cream, caramel sauce
Espresso
I used Illy Intenso whole beans and brewed it in a stovetop moka pot.
To make true espresso, you’ll need an espresso machine. Espresso machines are able to apply the right amount of pressure for the water to pass through tightly packed coffee grounds.
However, a moka pot is a great alternative and will get the job done. It’s what I use for most of my coffee drink recipes that require espresso.
If you don’t have an espresso machine or moka pot at home, you can also use a French press or Aeropress. The goal is to create a concentrated coffee so you can still taste the coffee through all the flavors in this drink.
Read our guide to making espresso without an espresso machine.
Chocolate sauce
I used Torani Chocolate Sauce.
This is my favorite chocolate sauce to use for coffee. Check out our super simple iced mocha recipe and homemade java chip frappuccino. Both use the same chocolate sauce. Plus, I like the sauce because it can be used for more than just coffee. Drizzle it on top of ice cream or any other dessert.
Caramel syrup
I used Monin Caramel Syrup.
Alternatively, you can use a toffee nut syrup, which is what Starbucks uses for their iced salted caramel mochas. Monin also has a Toffee Nut Syrup, which is a macadamia nut flavored syrup with a buttery and toffee base. It does not have any artificial preservatives or sweeteners.
Since Starbucks calls it an iced salted caramel mocha, I wanted to use caramel syrup instead.
Salt
I used just a pinch of sea salt.
If you really like the sweet and saltiness of chocolate and salt together, add a little more.
Milk
I used almond milk.
Use whole milk, skim milk or any of your favorite milk alternatives.
Toppings
I used whipped cream with a drizzle of more Torani chocolate sauce.
If you wanted to make this drink as close to the drink at Starbucks, add a drizzle of caramel sauce over the whipped cream. Both will taste great!
I used store bought whipped cream but you can also make your own at home. If you have heavy cream, pour ½ a cup of it into a bowl and use an electric mixer on medium to high speed to mix it until stiff peaks form. Add a splash of vanilla syrup to make it like Starbucks’ sweet whipped cream.
How to Make Iced Salted Caramel Mocha
Step 1
Brew espresso. I used Illy Intenso whole beans and brewed it in a moka pot.
Step 2
Mix hot coffee, chocolate sauce, caramel syrup and sea salt in a mug. Set aside to cool.
Step 3
Put ice cubes in a glass. Pour cooled coffee over ice, then pour in milk.
Step 4
Top iced coffee with whipped cream and drizzle of chocolate or caramel sauce.
Optional: Mix equal amounts of turbinado sugar and sea salt and sprinkle on top of the whipped cream and caramel sauce.
Iced Salted Caramel Mocha Recipe
Iced Salted Caramel Mocha
We’re back with another Starbucks inspired coffee drink! Here’s our iced salted caramel mocha recipe.
Materials
- ½ cup espresso
- 1 tablespoon chocolate sauce (I used Torani Chocolate Sauce)
- 2 teaspoons caramel syrup (I used Monin Caramel Syrup)
- Pinch of salt
- 10-12 ice cubes
- ½ cup milk
- Optional: whipped cream, caramel sauce
Instructions
1. Brew espresso. I used Illy Intenso whole beans and brewed it in a moka pot.
2. Mix hot coffee, chocolate sauce, caramel syrup and sea salt in a mug. Set aside to cool.
3. Put ice cubes in a glass. Pour cooled coffee over ice, then pour in milk.
4. Top iced coffee with whipped cream and drizzle of chocolate or caramel sauce.
Optional: Mix equal amounts of turbinado sugar and sea salt and sprinkle on top of the whipped cream and caramel sauce.
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