This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Safeway. All opinions are 100% my own.
You don't need to go to a coffee shop to get your caramel brulee latte fix this year! This homemade version is just as good and so easy to make.
With many coffee shops closed and the drive-thru lines so long, I've turned to making my coffee drinks at home. Plus, it's so much more affordable. Especially with the wonderful ingredients exclusively available at Safeway.
To keep things even easier, I love using the Safeway Grocery Delivery and DriveUp & Go™ services. It is so convenient and easy, especially during the holidays when the stores can be crowded.
Why This Recipe Works
This caramel brûlée latte recipe is the best because it actually gives you a brulee topping. This is one of the things that most at-home recipes miss. Without it, it is more or less just a caramel latte that uses sauce instead of caramel syrup.
The brulee flavor comes from bringing caramelized sugar to an almost burnt stage. Just like the topping on a creme brulee dessert.
Ingredients
Ingedient Notes:
- The less fat that is in the milk the more foam you get. If you choose whole milk however, you get a thicker, creamier foam. Choose based on your preferences, or us 2% to get the best of both worlds.
- Using fine granulated sugar instead of raw sugar helps the topping melt together better. It also browns better in the oven. I use Signature SELECT™ fine granulated sugar.
- I used O Organics® aseptic milk for this recipe. It is a magnificent shelf stable alternative to standard milk. It is exclusively available at Safeway stores and is a great way to get a USDA Certified Organic milk you don't have to worry about spoiling!
How To Make This Recipe
To Make the Brulee Topping
Preheat the oven to 375°F and line a baking sheet with Signature SELECT™ parchment paper. This makes a safe nonstick surface for the brulee topping during baking.
Next, pour the sugar onto the parchment paper and shake to spread it into an even layer. Bake in the oven for 30-40 minutes, or until the sugar liquifies and caramelizes. Remove from the oven and let cool completely.
Once cooled, you can break or cut the sugar into small pieces for the brulee topping. I like to put it into a bag and smash it.
To Make the Coffee Drink
To make the caramel brulee latte, start by adding the caramel sauce and vanilla syrup in the bottom of the cup. This makes it easier for the caramel to dissolve as the hot espresso is added in.
Next add in the hot espresso and stir it a little to make sure all the caramel sauce is incorporated.
Use a milk frother to froth the milk and pour it into the coffee.
Top the caramel brulee latte with whipped cream, an additional drizzle of caramel sauce, and the brulee topping.
Expert Tips
- Caramel syrup does not give the same flavor as caramel sauce. The syrup makes the drink too sweet and a little thin. For fun you can even use salted caramel sauce.
- Dairy-Free. Use any non-dairy milk in place of the cows milk for this latte. Double check the ingredients in your caramel sauce though because it is usually made with cows milk.
- The extra brulee topping can be stored room in an airtight container at room temperature. Since it is just sugar and water it stays fresh almost indefinitely. However, the pieces may stick together over time.
FAQ's
This recipe is delicious hot or cold. To make it cold, use the hot espresso to melt the caramel sauce, then refrigerate it until ready to use. Don't forget to use a frother that makes cold foam.
This is the caramel sauce that coffee shops use to make caramel brulee lattes. It has a sweet and smoky flavor that comes from almost burning the caramel, similar to a creme brulee topping.
This can be hard to mimic at home unless you are practiced at making caramel sauce, so most homemade recipes use standard caramel.
Related Recipes
If you want more delicious coffee shop drinks like this caramel brulee latte, I recommend:
Don’t forget to try the minimally processed Open Nature® products and USDA Certified Organic O Organics products exclusively at your neighborhood Safeway stores and online. Whether you want plant-based, gluten-free, or environmentally conscious, they have the quality products you want at a great price. Visit www.safeway.com/exclusivebrands to see the selections!
You can also find them exclusively at the Albertsons Companies family of stores, including Albertsons, ACME Markets, Jewel-Osco, Vons, Pavilions, Randalls, Tom Thumb, Shaw’s, Star Market, United Supermarkets and Carrs/Safeway. Visit Safeway.com to find a store near you. Plus, they have a bunch of meal plan prep tips and recipe inspiration.
Happy Cooking! 🙂
Caramel Brulee Latte Recipe
Ingredients
- ¼ cup Signature SELECT fine granulated sugar
- 1 Tablespoon caramel sauce, plus more for drizzling
- 1 teaspoon vanilla syrup
- 1 shots espresso
- 8 ounces milk
- whipped cream, as desired
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with Signature SELECT parchment paper.
- Pour the sugar onto a baking sheet and shake to evenly distribute. Bake for 30-40 minutes or until melted and golden brown. Let cool completely.
- In the bottom of your cup, combine the caramel sauce and vanilla syrup. Pull two shots of espresso over it and gently stir to combine.
- Use a milk frother to froth the milk to 155°F - 160°F. Gently pour it into the espresso, keeping the foam on top. Top with whipped cream, a light caramel drizzle, and the brulee topping. Serve.
Notes
- Caramel syrup does not give the same flavor as caramel sauce. The syrup makes the drink too sweet and a little thin. For fun you can even use salted caramel sauce.
- Dairy-Free. Use any non-dairy milk in place of the cows milk for this latte. Double check the ingredients in your caramel sauce though because it is usually made with cows milk.
- The extra brulee topping can be stored room in an airtight container at room temperature. Since it is just sugar and water it stays fresh almost indefinitely. However, the pieces may stick together over time.
- Is the latte hot or cold? This recipe is delicious hot or cold. To make it cold, use the hot espresso to melt the caramel sauce, then refrigerate it until ready to use. Don't forget to use a frother that makes cold foam!
- What is caramel brulee sauce? This is the caramel sauce that coffee shops use to make caramel brulee lattes. It has a sweet and smoky flavor that comes from almost burning the caramel, similar to a creme brulee topping. This can be hard to mimic at home unless you are practiced at making caramel sauce, so most homemade recipes use standard caramel.
Dawn says
It looks yummy! I am going to make it this weekend.
Mackenzie Ryan says
It's so delicious Dawn. I hope you loved it!