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Salted Caramel Cold Brew: The Ultimate Guide to Making It at Home

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Rich homemade salted caramel sauce meets smooth cold brew coffee in this refreshing and decadent treat. Easy to make and perfect for a caffeine boost!

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
  • 6 tablespoons (90g) unsalted butter, cut into pieces
  • 1/2 cup (120ml) heavy cream, warmed
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt, or to taste
  • 1 cup (85g) coarsely ground coffee beans (good quality, medium-dark roast recommended)
  • 4 cups (950ml) cold, filtered water
  • Ice cubes
  • Cold brew concentrate (diluted to your preference)
  • Milk of your choice (dairy or non-dairy), to taste
  • Whipped cream (optional)
  • Extra sea salt, for garnish (optional)

Instructions

  1. In a medium-sized, heavy-bottomed saucepan, pour in the granulated sugar. Place the saucepan over medium heat. Do not stir the sugar! Just let it melt slowly and evenly. You can gently swirl the pan occasionally to help distribute the heat and prevent hot spots.
  2. As the sugar melts, it will start to turn clear and then gradually transition to a light amber color. Keep a close eye on it, as it can burn quickly once it reaches this stage. You want a deep amber color, but not too dark, or it will taste bitter.
  3. Once the sugar has reached that beautiful deep amber color, remove the saucepan from the heat. Immediately add the cut-up pieces of unsalted butter. Be careful, as the mixture will bubble and sputter when the butter is added.
  4. Using a whisk, stir the butter into the melted sugar until it is completely melted and smooth. The mixture will look a bit separated at first, but keep whisking, and it will come together.
  5. Slowly pour in the warmed heavy cream while continuing to whisk constantly. Again, the mixture will bubble and sputter, so be cautious. The warm cream helps to prevent the caramel from seizing up.
  6. Return the saucepan to low heat and continue to whisk constantly until the caramel sauce is smooth and creamy. Let it simmer for about 1-2 minutes, stirring continuously. This will help to thicken the sauce slightly.
  7. Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the sea salt. Start with 1 teaspoon and then taste the sauce. Add more salt to your liking, depending on how salty you want your caramel. Remember, you can always add more, but you can’t take it away!
  8. Let the salted caramel sauce cool completely before transferring it to an airtight container. It will thicken as it cools. You can store it in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. If it becomes too thick in the fridge, you can gently warm it up in the microwave or on the stovetop before using.
  9. In a large pitcher or container, combine the coarsely ground coffee beans and the cold, filtered water. Make sure all the coffee grounds are submerged in the water.
  10. Give the mixture a gentle stir to ensure the coffee grounds are evenly distributed.
  11. Cover the pitcher or container and place it in the refrigerator to steep for 12-24 hours. The longer it steeps, the stronger the concentrate will be. I usually go for around 18 hours for a good balance of flavor and strength.
  12. After the steeping time, it’s time to strain the cold brew concentrate. Line a fine-mesh sieve with cheesecloth or a coffee filter. Place the sieve over a clean pitcher or container.
  13. Slowly pour the coffee mixture through the lined sieve. Allow the liquid to drip through without pressing on the coffee grounds. This will help to prevent sediment from getting into your concentrate.
  14. Once all the liquid has drained through, discard the coffee grounds.
  15. The cold brew concentrate can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
  16. Fill a glass with ice cubes. The amount of ice you use will depend on your preference.
  17. Drizzle a generous amount of salted caramel sauce around the inside of the glass. You can also add a spoonful or two to the bottom of the glass for extra caramel goodness.
  18. Cold brew concentrate is very strong, so you’ll need to dilute it with water or milk. Start with a ratio of 1 part cold brew concentrate to 1 part water or milk. You can adjust the ratio to your liking, depending on how strong you want your cold brew to be.
  19. Pour the diluted cold brew over the ice and salted caramel sauce in the glass.
  20. If you prefer a creamier cold brew, add milk of your choice to the glass. You can use dairy milk, almond milk, oat milk, or any other non-dairy milk alternative.
  21. Stir the cold brew, salted caramel sauce, and milk (if using) together until well combined.
  22. If you’re feeling fancy, top your Salted Caramel Cold Brew with a dollop of whipped cream.
  23. Drizzle some more salted caramel sauce over the whipped cream for an extra touch of sweetness and saltiness.
  24. Sprinkle a pinch of sea salt over the top of the cold brew for a final touch of flavor and visual appeal.
  25. Grab a straw and enjoy your homemade Salted Caramel Cold Brew!

Notes

  • Adjust the Sweetness: If you prefer a less sweet cold brew, you can reduce the amount of sugar in the salted caramel sauce or use less salted caramel in the drink.
  • Add a Shot of Espresso: For an extra caffeine kick, add a shot of espresso to your cold brew.
  • Make it Vegan: Use vegan butter and non-dairy milk to make this recipe vegan-friendly.
  • Spice it Up: Add a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg to the salted caramel sauce for a warm and cozy flavor.
  • Experiment with Flavors: Try adding different extracts to the salted caramel sauce, such as vanilla extract, almond extract, or coffee extract.
  • Make it Ahead: You can make the salted caramel sauce and cold brew concentrate ahead of time and store them in the refrigerator until you’re ready to assemble the drink.
  • Caramel Sauce Seizing Up: If your caramel sauce seizes up when you add the cream, don’t panic! Just return the saucepan to low heat and continue to whisk constantly until the sauce becomes smooth again.
  • Cold Brew Too Strong: If your cold brew is too strong, simply dilute it with more water or milk.
  • Cold Brew Too Weak: If your cold brew is too weak, try steeping it for a longer period of time next time.

Find it online: https://mmmflavors.com/salted-caramel-cold-brew/