Creamy Starbucks Salted Caramel Mocha Copycat Recipe

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Have you ever tried Starbucks’ Salted Caramel Mocha? It is so delicious and creamy that it can energize you for the whole day. Its rich mocha flavors pair perfectly with sweet and salty caramel, and you will fall in love with this combination.

Restaurant Style Starbucks Salted Caramel Mocha

At one point, I was so addicted to this drink that I would often visit Starbucks to treat myself. But my world came crashing down in 2021 when I learned that they had discontinued it. I was upset that it would no longer be on their menu and in my life.

That’s when Chef Jasbir came to the rescue. He simply asked me to describe the taste of my favorite mocha once so he could fully grasp the flavors. I was more than glad to do so because I knew he would definitely crack the code (LOL).

To my surprise, he made me an exact replica of Starbucks’ salted caramel mocha the very next day. I was overjoyed because now I could enjoy this delicious drink by making it myself.

I promptly asked him for the recipe without any delay. Now, I’m excited to share with you all how to recreate this delightful salted caramel mocha at home. With just a few simple ingredients and the right techniques, you can treat yourself to a wonderful coffee experience.

What's In The Post

Equipments Required

Milk Pan: I use a milk pan to heat the milk. You can also heat it in the microwave using a glass or cup.
Milk Frother: Usually, I use a milk frother to froth the milk. However, you can also use a hand blender or mixer to get frothy milk.
Glass: I use a big glass to froth the hot milk; you can also use a jar or a bowl.
Coffee Mug: While I use a glass cup to show off the layers of my salted caramel mocha, you can use any fancy coffee mug.

Starbucks Salted Caramel Mocha Ingredients & Substitutions

Note: The ingredients in this recipe will help you make this coffee for 2 people. However, you can adjust the quantities of the ingredients according to your requirements.

2 Tsp Honey: You can also use maple syrup as an alternative in this recipe.
60ml Espresso: You can also use instant coffee powder or brewed coffee as a substitute in this recipe.
200ml Milk: Almond, oat, or soy milk can be substituted in this recipe for regular milk.
2 Tbsp Mocha Sauce: You can also alternate white mocha if you want a white chocolate flavor in your mocha. However, a perfect substitute for mocha sauce is chocolate syrup.
1 Cup Whipped cream: You can use coconut cream or half and half as an alternative to whipped cream in this recipe.
Caramel Topping (For Garnish): I sometimes use butterscotch bits as an alternative for caramel for garnishing my mocha and love how it gives that similar caramel taste to my mocha.
Sea Salt Topping (For Garnish): Himalayan pink salt or kosher salt can also be used instead of sea salt for garnishing in this recipe.

Preparation And Cooking Time

Preparation Time	Cook Time	Total Time
10 minutes	10 minutes	20 minutes

How To Make Starbucks Salted Caramel Mocha At Home

Step 1- Start by whisking milk in a glass.

Step 2- Now, take a cup and add espresso shots to it.

Step 3- After you are done with the espresso shot, add mocha sauce to it.

Step 4- It’s time to add some whisked milk to the mix.

Step 5- Add whipped cream on top of the drink.

Step 6- Lastly, season it with sea salt and add sugar for sweetness.

Step 7- Your delectable salted caramel mocha is ready to serve. Enjoy!

Expert Tips That I Recommend

Starbucks is known for its quality, and hence, I always ensure that I use high-quality ingredients while mimicking their mocha.
For this recipe, I opt for a rich and creamy caramel sauce, and I most often prefer making it from scratch to get the best flavors.
When using salt, I make sure to use just a pinch while garnishing. Going overboard will completely spoil the flavor of your caramel mocha.
Milk frothing is important in this recipe to get that creamy texture, so make sure to blend your milk well to get that nice forth on your milk.
The layering of this drink is important to achieving the balance between the flavors, so I go slow with the process.
I dip a cup into the salted caramel sauce to create the caramel rim. This makes my presentation look fancier when serving the guests.
I also experiment with the flavor profiles, like adding more milk when I want it to taste milky or an extra shot of espresso to make it a little stronger. I sometimes also like making it a little chocolaty, so I garnish it with chocolate shavings and drizzle some chocolate sauce on top.
Usually, I heat the milk to 150°F (65°C) before frothing to achieve an optimal texture.

FAQs About Starbucks Salted Caramel Mocha

Why is my Starbucks salted caramel mocha tasting bitter?

A bitter taste in your mocha is due to an over-extracted espresso or burnt coffee grounds. To avoid the bitter taste, it is important to either brew your coffee or use a good-quality espresso. You can balance out the bitterness by adding a bit more caramel sauce or a little sugar.

Why is my milk not frothing?

If your milk doesn’t froth, it might be because it was not heated enough or because you used low-fat milk. Ensure that you warm the milk gently before frothing, and use whole-fat milk to ensure a nice frothing sensation.

What makes my salted caramel mocha taste bland?

The use of improper proportions of ingredients can lead to a bland taste. You can easily fix this by adjusting the flavors or amount of caramel sauce, coffee, and sea salt to your taste.

Why is the texture of my salted caramel mocha not right?

Over-frothing milk will give you a thicker texture, which can be adjusted by adding some more milk. Conversely, when you don’t froth the milk, it fails to come to a creamy texture, resulting in a thinner mocha, which can be fixed by adding some milk froth to get the desired consistency.

How can I avoid the variations in your mocha from one serving to another?

You can achieve uniformity in your servings only by following the same proportions for every cup as per the recipe. Also, the technique and layering should be the same for all the servings.

What is the best type of coffee to use for this recipe?

Strong coffee, such as a dark roast or espresso, is best for this recipe. It brings out a rich and well-balanced mocha flavor.

Nutritional Information Per Serving

This mocha cannot be considered a healthy drink with all that whipped cream topping with caramel sauce and milk added. However, you can enjoy this delicious drink in moderation occasionally.

I have also added the values of the ingredients that are being used in this recipe for your reference.

Calories	429 Kcal
Polyunsaturated Fat	1 g
Saturated Fat	12 g
Fat	20 g
Monounsaturated Fat	5 g
Cholesterol	70 mg
Sodium	95 mg
Total Carbohydrates	44 g
Dietary Fiber	0.03 g
Total Sugars	40 g
Protein	9 g
Vitamin A	745 IU
Vitamin C	0.2 mg
Calcium	316 mg
Iron	0.2 mg
Potassium	474 mg

This Starbucks salted caramel mocha can be absolutely enjoyed by people who are following a vegetarian and a gluten-free diet.

Recipe Variations For Different Diets

Vegan Diet: People who follow a vegan diet can substitute dairy-based milk for almond, soy, or oat milk. Also, coconut cream can be substituted with whipped cream to make this mocha suitable for their diet.
Dairy-Free Diet: People who are lactose intolerant can also opt for the same substitutes as suggested for a vegan diet.
Keto-Friendly Diet: People following a keto diet can use almond milk and use swerve sweetener-based caramel sauce to make this mocha keto-friendly

Storing And Reheating This Recipe

Storing

Refrigerator: The leftovers of this salted caramel mocha can easily be stored in the refrigerator. I transfer the mocha into an airtight jar and refrigerate it to a place that lasts for about 2 – 3 days.
Freezer: To make it last longer, I usually freeze this drink in an airtight container and place it in the freezer. This way, it can last for about a month.

Reheating

Microwave: When you’re ready to have this drink, you can thaw the frozen mocha in the refrigerator overnight and transfer it to a microwave-safe coffee mug. Then, reheat in a 30-second interval until it reaches the desired temperature.
Stove: You can reheat the mocha on the stove by transferring the content to a milk pan over medium heat. Once it reaches the ideal temperature, turn off the heat and enjoy.

What To Serve With This Recipe?

This Starbucks salted caramel mocha is a drink that can be enjoyed on its own, although occasionally, I prefer having some buttermilk biscuits with it.

It also tastes good along with orange pound cake, waffles, lemon loaf, butter cakes, banana bread, cookies, croissants, puff pastries etc.

Printable Version

More Starbucks Recipes That You Can Try

Starbucks Ginger loaf — Starbucks Gingerbread Loaf

Starbucks Official Coffee Bread — Starbucks Gingerbread Loaf

Conclusion

Starbucks’ salted caramel mocha is sadly no longer on their menu. However, our chef, Jasbir Singh, has skillfully crafted a replica of this delightful drink. I have learned the art and technique of making this delightful drink at home from him.

If you want to craft this delicious caramel mocha at home, look no further than this recipe. After giving it a shot and enjoying this drink with your loved ones, don’t forget to share your experience in the comment section below.