As the weather gets a bit chilly, and the apples begin to ripen, it is finally time for one amazing culinary concoction…. CARAMEL!!
By the way, how did you read that last word? Care-uh-mel? Or car-muhl… Regardless of how you pronounce it, I’m sure you can agree with me on this fact–It’s DELICIOUS!
Let me walk you through making a simple, healthier and delicious Caramel Drizzle that is PERFECT for so many recipes….
Caramel Drizzle Recipe
First, gather a few items from around your kitchen. A small saucepan, a stick of butter, some sugar (coconut is what I’m using, but cane sugar works just as well,) maple syrup, and vanilla extract. You will probably want to grab your favorite spatula for stirring and a half-cup and teaspoon for measuring.
Next, place the pan on your stovetop and turn the burner onto medium-low heat. Add 1 stick of butter, 3/4 cup of sugar and 3/ 4 cup of maple syrup. Stir to combine, then allow it to simmer without stirring for 5-7 minutes. At this point, the caramel should be thickened and bubbly. Remove from heat, allowing it to cool for several minutes before moving on.
The last thing you need to do is stir in a teaspoon of vanilla extract. This will cause the caramel to bubble slightly. Once it has cooled down, pour into a squeezy bottle for easy drizzling.
If you would prefer a creamier dip-style caramel, add about 1/3 cup of heavy cream in the last 2 mintues of cooking time.
Iced Caramel Macchiato
Once you have created the caramel drizzle, store it in the fridge for several hours or overnight. When it has cooled fully, it is time for the next step in this process…. The drink recipe!
A true Caramel Macchiato would be hot and creates beautiful layers of vanilla syrup, frothed milk, a shot of espresso and caramel drizzle. But, since our Oklahoma fall temps are still rather warm, a cold drink seems much more appealing! An iced version of the above drink skips the frothed milk step and simply uses cold milk.
To put this drink together, begin by filling a glass about halfway with milk, 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract and 2 teaspoons of maple syrup. (Of course, you could make a large batch of vanilla syrup ahead of time by mixing 1 part vanilla extract to 2 parts maple syrup. This could be stored in the fridge for several weeks.) Give the milk a quick stir, then add several ice cubes.
Carefully, add a shot (or 2..) of espresso on top of the milk/vanilla mixture. The goal of the macchiato is to not stir the drink, which allows the layers of flavor to be experienced separately. (You could totally stir the drink prior to drinking if you are not a fan of the layers. However, it gives a very fun “flight” taste as you progress through the drink.)
Finally, top the drink with the caramel drizzle, creating a lovely zigzag pattern. Enjoy!!
Video Instructions
To follow along with me as I make the drizzle and the latte, watch the video below:
Other Blog Posts
Want some other fun drink recipes? Check out these older posts:
Cold BREW: A Simple and SMOOTH Coffee Drink – The Rural Companion
Maple Coffee: Two Recipes for Fall – The Rural Companion
Two of a Kind: A Fall Flavored Syrup and A Latte Recipe – The Rural Companion
Coffee Maker: Three Brewing Options for a Coffee Connoisseur – The Rural Companion
