Wednesday, April 3, 2019

Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate Is A Decadent Treat

By Paul Murphy


When it comes to quick snacks after a meal, there are many options but few that are considered special. In a lot of cases, a person may want something that is quick or fairly light in consistency. Instead of gorging down cookies or something that lacks taste, try salted caramel hot chocolate for a change.

Kids of all ages are falling in love with this beverage, as it is easy to make at home. At one time, a person had to make a special trip to their nearest coffee retailer just to get a taste. Now, there are many brands and recipes that are available for anyone to try. However, the idea is to get that nice balance of salty and sweet with a hint of dark chocolate flavor.

Most call for bittersweet chocolate, which has a slightly bitter taste but when mixed with milk, there is just enough sweetness to complement the salt caramel. Although some recipes may use regular caramel, those that use sea salt give this hot beverage an interesting blend of flavors. The right combination is what makes this beverage an after dinner favorite.

Although salted caramel seems to be the dessert trend that will not go away, it is for good reason. The slight hint of sea salt lends itself well to the rich chocolate flavor. While some may think this is an overkill of sugar, most recipes call for dark chocolate instead of the milk version, which is mostly used to make candy.

While kids may like the extra sweetness, most adults go for the smooth texture right next to the flavor combination. Since salted caramel is already rich with butter flavor, there is no need for more sugar or milk products. When caramel sauce is used with the drinks prepared at the coffee shop, most fans enjoy licking the bottom of the cup to get the last hint of that thick, buttery goodness.

For those who would rather serve this at home, there are many approaches. While there are some decent instant mixes that are good, not all are made the same. So it may be best to go with one that does not have a lot of sugar but lists dark cocoa as one of the main ingredients.

Next is the salted caramel sauce. Although some who buy regular caramel say that the taste is not the same, or is too sweet, finding a brand that uses real sea salt may be a challenge. This is why some fans prefer to make theirs from scratch. The great thing about this method is they will have enough for more decadent drinks in the near future without having to travel.

For some, this is enough but for those making a presentation at a gathering, garnishments give it real visual appeal. Try a dollop of whipped cream with cinnamon sprinkles or chocolate shavings. Once newbies get a taste of this somewhat addictive beverage, they may never want to put it down.




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