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Enhancing your iced coffee, tea lattes, and general at-home-barista-skills just got a little easier with this EASY Salted Caramel Coffee Syrup!
It’s easy, quick to make, unfussy, and basically it’s foolproof. Keep a batch of this stuff in your fridge at all times to level-up your drinks!
Why this recipe works
This isn’t one of those recipes that insists that you stir the sugars over low for 20 minutes and come out with a grainy syrup. I’ve done that, and it’s not fun. This method takes less than 5 minutes and it comes out perfect every time.
The reason that this recipe works is because we’re basically making a simple syrup, adding a dash of vanilla, and a pink of sea salt. When you taste it, it tastes just like…salted caramel!
Jump to:
- Why this recipe works
- Ingredients
- Instructions
- Substitutions and variations
- Other ways to use Salted Caramel Syrup
- What does Salted Caramel Coffee Syrup taste like?
- Storage
- FAQ
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- Easy Salted Caramel Coffee Syrup
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Ingredients
I love that this coffee syrup doesn't have any crazy, or hard-to-find ingredients. It's likely that you have everything you need in your pantry.
- Water - use filtered water to avoid any unpleasant or funky flavors from tap water. Since sugar isn’t soluble on its own, you need water to mix with it to make the base of the syrup.
- White sugar (granulated sugar) - white granulated sugar proves a nice neutral canvas for the caramelization process. White sugar is best for color control (you won’t end up with a dark syrup). It provides a clean flavor, and smooth texture.
- Vanilla extract - this is for enhancing flavor, balancing sweetness, and gives the syrup a slightly more “caramely” color.
- Sea salt - be sure to use sea salt and not iodized table salt (because iodized salt has a metallic taste. I like this brand of sea salt, you can get it here.
Instructions
Put the water and white sugar into a small saucepan and whisk it together over medium heat.
Whisking continuously, bring it to a simmer for 2 minutes, it should change color slightly.
Immediately remove it from the heat. (Don’t continue to cook it further because then you risk burning the sugars, and the mixture will become gritty).
Whisk in the vanilla extract and sea salt.
It should look a lot like this, let it cook.
Store it in an airtight container for 3-4 weeks in the refrigerator.
Substitutions and variations
- White sugar (granulated sugar) - you can swap this ingredient for brown sugar (light or dark) and end up with a slightly altered flavor but it’ll be delicious and work in any recipe that may call for salted caramel syrup. Or you can make this version of brown sugar syrup.
- Vanilla extract - almond extract or pure maple syrup will work as a 1:1 substitute for vanilla extract in this recipe.
- Sea salt - be sure to use sea salt and not iodized table salt (because iodized salt has a metallic taste. I like this brand of sea salt, you can get it here. You can swap the sea salt for pure kosher salt, it has a coarser texture and a slightly different flavor but it’ll work in this recipe as a 1:1 substitution.
Other ways to use Salted Caramel Syrup
Salted caramel syrup is a versatile sweeter that can be used in more ways than just coffee and tea lattes. Here are a few ideas:
- Salted Caramel Latte: add a tablespoon of salted caramel syrup to your latte along with a pump of chocolate syrup for a salted caramel mocha.
- Salted Caramel Iced Coffee: Mix salted caramel syrup with iced coffee and milk or cream for a refreshing caramel-flavored iced coffee, top it with whipped cream and drizzle with caramel sauce.
- Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate: Stir salted caramel syrup into your hot chocolate to uplevel a basic hot chocolate.
- Salted Caramel Frappé: Blend salted caramel syrup with ice, milk or cream, and coffee for a creamy and indulgent frappe!
- Salted Caramel Cookies: Add a few tablespoons to your cookie batter to give your cookies a salted caramel flavor.
- Salted Caramel Brownies: Add a few tablespoons to your brownies, or swirl the syrup on top of your brownies when they’re in the pan to add flavor.
What does Salted Caramel Coffee Syrup taste like?
Salted caramel coffee syrup combines the rich, sweet flavor of caramel with a hint of saltiness to create a delightful and balanced taste profile. Here's what you can expect from the taste of salted caramel coffee syrup:
- Caramel Flavor: The primary taste you'll experience is the rich, buttery, and slightly nutty flavor of caramel. Caramel is created by caramelizing sugar until it reaches a deep amber color, resulting in a complex and sweet taste.
- Sweetness: Salted caramel coffee syrup is sweet, but the salt helps balance out the sweetness, preventing it from being overly sugary.
- Saltiness: The addition of salt provides a subtle salty note that enhances the overall flavor profile. The saltiness doesn't overpower the caramel but instead adds a pleasant contrast that brings out the sweetness.
- Creamy Undertones: Depending on the specific formulation of the syrup, it might also have a creamy undertone, akin to the taste of caramel candies or caramel sauces made with dairy ingredients.
- Versatility: The beauty of salted caramel coffee syrup lies in its versatility. It can be used in various coffee beverages, hot or cold, to elevate the taste and add a unique twist to your drinks.
- Complementary Flavors: Salted caramel pairs well with other flavors like chocolate, coffee, and vanilla, making it a popular choice for a range of dessert recipes and coffee drinks.
Overall, salted caramel coffee syrup is a smooth, balanced way to add extra flavor to your coffee, tea and baked goods!
Storage
Store your (cooled) Salted Caramel Coffee Syrup in an airtight container, such as a mason jar, and keep it in the refrigerator for 3-4 weeks.
These mason jars are perfect because they come with pumps!
FAQ
What are some ways to use caramel coffee syrup?
You can use caramel coffee syrup to enhance the flavor of iced coffee, lattes, tea lattes, boba milk teas, and cocktails.
What is the difference between caramel coffee syrup and caramel sauce?
The consistency and the uses. The consistency of caramel coffee syrup is thin (not watery, but it’s about the consistency of a natural syrup! The consistency of caramel sauce is thick and opaque.
You can use caramel coffee syrup to make lattes, tea lattes, and boba milks, while you will likely use caramel sauce for topping ice cream, baked goods, and garnishing your drinks.
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Make more flavored coffee + tea recipes at home!
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Easy Salted Caramel Coffee Syrup
Ingredients
- 1 cup water filtered
- 1 cup white sugar granulated sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp sea salt
Instructions
- Put the water and white sugar into a small saucepan and whisk it together over medium heat.
- Whisking continuously, bring it to a simmer for 2 minutes, it should change color slightly.
- Immediately remove it from the heat. (Don’t continue to cook it further because then you risk burning the sugars, and the mixture will become gritty).
- Whisk in the vanilla extract and sea salt.
- Let it cool and store it in an airtight container.
Notes
Nutrition
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