True story – Last year I fell crazy in love with Starbucks Signature Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate. Each day I would drink 2 of these bad boys as a treat to myself. My son was only 6 months old back then and I would have the baristas pour double shots of espresso into my drink. It was my guilty pleasure except I would call it more like therapy. And if you’re a mom reading this – thank you for understanding what I mean when I say “therapy”.
There was something very magical about this type of hot chocolate Starbucks was offering. As a result I became an addict. You see, I love salted caramel anything and the combination of salty-sweet chocolate sludge was just too much for me to only drink 1 a day. Imagine how much I mourned when I discovered a couple months ago Starbucks was not bringing back my seasonal drink. WHAT THE HECK STARBUCKS!?
But you see all was not lost because I had a light bulb moment! When life gives you no more favorite drink, get off your lazy butt and make it at home. Not only did I resurrect this seasonal favorite, I knocked it out of the park! – Booya! I love my version and I have no shame in boasting about it.
So if you are mourning the loss of Starbucks Salted Caramel Signature Hot Chocolate this holiday season – have no fear, Alice is here. Enjoy!
*Before we start listing ingredients, I wanted to make this recipe as simple as possible. For everything listed you can buy it pre-made, but to make it sublime, making each element is what really makes this drink come alive. I also have used Swiss Miss instant hot chocolate and still have great results! So do what you can to tailor this drink to your liking.
Alice’s Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate Recipe
Ingredients:
3 tablespoons Caramel syrup, heated to luke warm (recipe here)
Hot Chocolate (4 tablespoons of ganache plus 6 oz. of milk, heated)
Canned Whipped Cream
Pinch of Medium Coarse Sea Salt
Directions:
Pour 2 Tablespoons of caramel syrup into a mug so the inside of the mug is coated well. Add hot chocolate and stir everything. Top off with with cream, drizzle with remaining caramel, and sprinkle with sea salt. Enjoy!
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Love it!! No need to go to starbucks now. I feel like lighting up my fireplace toast some smores and have a tall mugful of this. Yum!
What?! They’re not bringing it back?! Tragic. Really. THANK YOU for this though…will be making it asap.
This drink looks amazing. Wow, can’t wait to make it! thanks:)
This looks delicious!
question for you – can you make and store the ganache for when you want it? Or is this a make it, drink it sort of situation? As someone who doesn’t normally keep milk/cream in the house unless there is a specific reason being able to make it and then store it would be wonderful…
As a fellow addict who was also devastated to hear they weren’t bringing it back, I thank you. You’re my hero of the day.
I love that Starbucks drink too… but who needs it when you can make it like that, at home!
We still have the signature salted caramel hot chocolate at Starbucks! I am a shift supervisor at a Starbucks and we still have all of the ingredients to make it except the salt. Well, our store has regular salt to use, we just aren’t sent the smoked sea salt anymore. The key ingredient in the drink is the toffee nut syrup and the signature hot chocolate mix which all stores still have! Just ask!
This is beautiful!! I found out the other night about Starbucks getting rid of the best drink they EVER had! I’ll definitely try yours, though!! Thanks!
Oh no! Say it isn’t so! I just asked my starbucks barrista last week and she didn’t say they weren’t making them this year, just that they don’t have the sea salt behind the counter. I’m so happy you’ve come up with a home version. You’ve just gone ahead and saved winter!
Oh YUM!! I will be trying that for sure! If you get a chance, stop by and link it up to my Chocolate Friday! So glad you shared the recipe!
Yum! I feel warm and content just looking at this. I’ve never tasted one from Starbucks but now I may have to try making it myself. Looks perfect for a cold day beside the Christmas tree!
Julie: I usually always have homemade caramel and ganache in my refrigerator. Both store incredibly well and long! Ganache is very versatile, especially late at night on a spoon as a midnight treat to me! It can also can be warmed up as chocolate sauce for desserts and makes a great rich chocolate frosting. But for this recipe, you can make any type of hot chocolate. I’ve used Swiss Miss packaged hot cocoa except I double up on the powder to make it extra rich. Hope this helps!
Alice
Jane: My barista at Starbucks told me this too a couple days ago, but doesn’t not having the sea salt defeat the purpose of calling it a “Salted” caramel hot chocolate? I love the hint of saltiness
Oh, I’m gonna make some of this. Yummy!
if i don’t have ganache -or if it is (more likely) frozen solid & I am too impatient to melt it,I like to use chopped semi-sweet callebault chocolate -or dark w/brown sugar added.
mmmmmmmm, Im so gonna have to try this.
Ooohhhhhh I can’t wait!
Mmmm salted caramel. Now I’m craving a big glass of this!!!
Oh my! I think I will be making this very soon. Starbucks drinks don’t always agree with me (gluten), but this looks like a fabulous way to fake it. I think its even better!
This is absolutely freakin’ lovely! Starbucks deleted my almond flavor too so I feel your pain…
I wondered why Starbucks didn’t have these this year. I had one last year and thought it was good! *REALLY* sweet but good. Love that you made your own version! Looks amazing.
This is one of my favorite treats. Wonderful recipe!
I want to come to Alice’s coffee shop instead of Starbuck’s – WOW – speechless!
Starbucks barista here. I’ll tell you why (or at least what I was told why) they stopped making the salted caramel: the special salted caramel sprinkle topping would melt and clump together. They’re currently tinkering with the recipe and I am fully expecting them to bring it back eventually.
One thing your recipe misses that’s not in the Starbucks recipe: Toffee nut syrup. Yup. Shocking, huh? You’d think it’d be caramel.
For the record, you can still order a regular Signature Hot Chocolate with toffee nut and caramel drizzle, you’ll just have to find your own salt.
Hey Matt and Jane: Thanks for explaining what’s happening over at Starbucks. I’ve been told I can order the drink w/Toffee Nut syrup but its the salt that makes the drink. Pouring real caramel syrup instead of toffee nut is actually very decadent and dangerous.. love the home version!
Holy cow!!! You just made my week! I have added sea salt and caramel to the shopping list. I’m tired of waiting for SBUX to get the salt(my barista’s told me this too), so I’m going to make this instead! It’s gotta be cheaper anyway, right? ;P
Looks gorgeous… I don’t usually drink hot chocolate straight because it’s too sweet for me, but I’m thinking that would be delicious with a shot or two of espresso. Yum! I love your copycat Starbucks recipes!
This looks AMAZING!!! I especially love the idea of adding espresso! I can see this being therapy!!!
Although I only tasted the Starbuck’s version once, the occasion stands out in mind. Your recipe sounds divine. What a treat!
Great job with the recipe, Alice, and I love those beautiful photos. I will be trying this one.
Salty Caramel is one of the signature flavors at Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams in Columbus, Ohio. It’s one of the great things about living here. They ship if you’re interested. jenisicecreams.com
I never tried the Starbucks version (I hadn’t even noticed it), but this looks amazing! I love the combination of salt with both caramel and chocolate. Wow, this looks good.
OMG I can’t believe someone feels as strongly as I do about this hot chocolate!!!!! What did u do Starbucks!????? P.S.> One of the barista’s told me that they used (smoked sea salt). I’m on my way to get it!!!!!
Wowwww! I’m making homemade salted caramel sauce for gifts and this is another amazing use for it (I can’t believe Starbucks isn’t bringing back that drink…what????). Thanks for posting (love your blog….yummmm).
What? They got rid of it?? *cries* I don’t drink Starbucks. I don’t like Starbucks. (I don’t drink coffee. At all. Ever. Bleck!) But one chilly day last year, I was at Super Target and thought a hot cocoa would be good. The guy recommended this one – the Salted Caramel Signature Hot Chocolate – and I said sure.
I was hooked.
Living in Florida, it doesn’t get cold often enough to drink hot beverages. (IMHO. Feels-like 110F I don’t want hot drinks.) It’s cold again this week and I was looking forward to getting one. But I didn’t see it on the menu on their site so I googled it and found your blog.
I’m so sad. Thanks for the copycat. I think I’d be too lazy to make it myself but it’s still a nice thought.
I do not go into Starbucks often. Maybe on vacation or while I’m at Barnes and Noble. But last year when they had the Salted Carmel Hot Chocolate it sounded good but I did not get it. But I so want to make this. I have some dark chocolate ganache I used to make a frosting for a cake it has a bit of powdered sugar in it as I rolled it in it as I tried taking the unused ganache and made truffles they are a bit soft and never st up well so they are in my freezer. I bet I could take 1 or 2 of these and add to heated milk and carmel syrup and make this hot chocolate. Yum
Oh my goodness!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!! I share your addiction, and I said the same thing when I found out the drink was not back this season. Whhaaaaa??! I’m soooo happy now!!
I too share your addiction. Picture this: 4 months pregnant. Just getting over the 1st trimester blues and able to smell coffee again without the “morning sicknes” hitting. I have waiting all fall for the winter flavors to come out. Its girls night out and I deside to treat myself to my favorite drink. I drive up to the window and order. “Im sorry mam but we’re not serving that flavor this year.” I said, “Um, dont you know Im pregnant and I NEED it! Who authorized this?” I was so sad. The sweet girl wanted to help but there was nothing she could do… Thanks so much for the recipe! Alas, my winter will be complete. (even though I may be slightly addicted to the peppermint mocha now)
I’m almost certain that they’re not serving that drink anymore because it was recently named in several publications as the worst hot chocolate drink in America. A Grande has more calories and fat than a Big Mac burger, and a Venti has more calories than a Double Big Mac. And don’t get me started on the amount of sugar.
Sure they’ll tell you it’s because of some technical issue with the salt granules sticking together or some such nonsense, but I’m pretty positive it’s gone because of the negative health publicity that particular drink received.
Patrick,
When I discovered they had more calories than a big mac last year I finally realized this is why I gained so much weight… I was drinking/buying 2 a day.