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.
–
–
- 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
- 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!
Starbucks can make the drink year round but the salt topping is only available during holiday season
..im a former Starbucks barista
Starbucks must have brought this back. I have had four this week. Unbelievable
Love it! Just a note to let you know I linked you to my blog, AND check out my recipe there for Pumpkin Pie Spice Hot Cocoa. It’s delicious too!
http://thepinkpeonyoflejardin.blogspot.com/2012/11/salted-caramel-hot-chocolate-more.html
Actually a Starbucks barista clued me in one day and made my whole world! They still offer SALTED CARAMEL MOCHAS!—So you would be getting a little bit of coffee like you originally wanted 🙂
Inlove any starbucks I made a cake
This warm winter holiday treat is just perfect for the holidays! You have got to share it with all the fans on the U.S. Postal Service page! http://on.fb.me/ujGGtE
Just wanted you to know that I linked to your recipe on my blog: http://stanwoodtoseoul.blogspot.com/2011/12/homemade-caramel.html
Thanks for the recipes–they’re amazing!
My son-in law was a manager for Starbucks for several years, & this is one of my granddaughters’ FAVORITE drinks, too! When my daughter brought me one yesterday, I also wondered about making my own, & found your lovely post!
We’re gluten & dairy free, so when making the caramel just now, I did a half batch, using coconut milk & oil. It turned out fine – a bit paler than yours, but did set up nicely. I’ll also use coconut milk when making the hot chocolate – so yummy, & full of healthy fats! (Starbucks has a soy option, which they get)
Thanks for sharing your re-creation!
I love that you posted this amazing recipe. I will have to try it. My favourite part of the Starbucks drink was the SALT. All the Starbucks I visit seem to run out of the stuff. I even went to the great length to leave feedback on the Starbucks website (I love it that much). Do you know where I could find something similar to that salt? The SB salt is “smoked” and mixed with rock sugar? Is there anything like this available to the public? If so, I will be in heaven . . . Thanks again!
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!
hey, just thought i’d let whoever was wondering that starbucks still does have salted caramel hot chocolate, you just need to say that you don’t need the salt on top. the salt at the top doesn’t chage or alter the drink. so try it out (:
What a great idea! Thanks for sharing it
Thanks for sharing!
This recipie sounds very similar to the Starbucks recipie! I added a few things i though i would share :p. So i added 1 tsp. of vanilla and just a pinch or two of cinnamon to the hot chocolate to give it a little more flavor. I also added i little bit of just regular syrup and it was delicious! Thanks so much for the recipie!
This message is for Alice – thank you for your recipe for salted caramel hot chocolate! I, too, fell in love with it during Christmas 2010, at which time Starbuck’s had it for the holidays. Just yesterday, I discovered that Starbuck’s has a new treat for those of us who are addicted to salted caramel. My husband brought one home for me, and now I’m trying to figure out how to make it! It’s a candy/cookie bar with salted caramel and pecans atop a shortbread crust, and then dipped in milk chocolate. It is absolutely one of the best things I’ve EVER tasted. If I figure it out, I will post the recipe here. If you decide to work on it, I would love to hear about your recipe, too!
THEY SELL IT!! i was at starbucks today and got one!! amazing
I love this drink too! I think your recipe is great. On starbucks website they mention that it has toffee nut syrup in there recipe. I bought a bottle there for 8 bucks and it makes your recipe absolutly divine.
I made these this morning for my sweetie for Valentine’s Day and they turned out really well. Thanks for the recipe and happy Valentine’s Day to you and yours!
I am completely in agreement with you about the Starbucks drink. When they introduced it, I had a mini party in my mind and when I drank it — wow. Well, I tried to recreate it this winter and really loved my creation but I think next time I’m going to coat the mug with caramel. What a great idea. Thank you for sharing this recipe and my love for this drink!
Starbucks in my area, Beal Parkway, FWB, Fl has Signature salted caramel hot chocolate, they just don’t have the salt…you are however missing an ingredient..they also put “toffee nut” in the Salted caramel hot choc.
A guy at Barnes & Noble Starbucks (I know not the real real deal) here in NC clued me in to the secret. Their secret is SMOKED sea salt. He showed me the bottle. So, check out William Sonoma or Sur La Table or another gourmet food supplier for that ingredient & you’ll be getting closer to the flavor they offer. I attached a link to my 30 day waste project blog where I took a picture of that magical hot chocolate in a mason jar they filled for me. I am a fan of this yummy little menu item too.
I love that you get it. coffee=therapy. When my, now 22 month old, daughter was born she was colicy and lets say my coffee addiction started there 😉 I am not normally one to try a different coffee at Starbucks; I have two I like (white choc mocha and caramel frap) and I stick to them. But when a friend suggested this on FB I had to try it…SOOOO good. New addiction-I love that you recreated it and now I can have it at home and not force the kids (3 and 22 months) out just so I can have a therapeutic moment-although the car ride to my closest one (30 mins) can be a nice peaceful time =naps 🙂 thanks for the great recipe.
I just bought a Sea Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate today. They are continuing it, I live in FL and they’ve had in October too. I think maybe it depends on the place. But still, I think this drink goes GREAT with BlueBerry Scones. Best thing you can ever try together! Trust me.
oh, whoopsie….I see now that my comment was repetitive. Anyway, thanks for the recipe, I hope to try it soon!
Our Starbucks has the salted caramel hot chocolates right now! (Eugene, OR) Just had one this morning. It’s not the signature hot chocolate though, they did discontinue that, I think for good! But it’s just as tasty with their usual hot chocolate.
Try asking at your starbucks, even if it’s not on the menu. Unless you have already…