Abby’s Caramel Frappuccino is made with Homemade Caramel Sauce, milk, coffee (or coffee substitute), whipped cream, and pumpkin pie spice. It adds a bit of grown-up cozy this fall for the older kiddos…and Mom and dad will enJOY it too!
Cozy, Fall, Iced Caramel Frappuccino
Not yet ready for hot, cozy drinks? Do you still want to hold on to those last bits of summer on ice, yet long for a little spice in your life? I get it. Cozy drinks, whether they be a Summer or Winter Shrub, Chai Tea Latte, Golden Milk, Hot Chocolate, or just a simple cup of hot or iced tea, are some of my favorite things…ever! I love to hold something in my hands whether warm or cold in every season.
Move Over Starbucks
My thirteen-year-old decided she was oh so grown up and wanted to go to Starbucks for a Caramel Frappuccino. A Carmel what??? I don’t remember having these fancy drinks growing up, but I do remember feeling so grown up when grandpa would greet us on Saturday morning with a cup of coffee and a stack of pancakes. His idea of coffee for us was hot water and milk with a tablespoon of his coffee stirred in. We thought we were big stuff.
Unfortunately, I am not down with spending $7 plus on a cup of coffee with fancy whipped cream when I can make it at home. Maybe for a special occasion or night out with my girls, but truthfully, after making them at home, they are waaaay too sweet in the coffee shop. Try it at home together with your “grown-up” kids and see if you do not take the “Mom’s Best” Ribbon.
Tim Hawkins Starbucks Order… Just for fun
If you don’t know who Tim Hawkins is, you are in for another treat. He is our family’s favorite comedian and has ruined us for life on many levels. There is rarely a day that goes by that he is not referenced in our home either through song or one-liners. We have purchased several of his DVD stand-up shows such as Tim Hawkins – Greatest Hits & Greatest Bits and even seen him in person. Truly, a great night of laughter and fun for the whole family.
A Note About Coffee
Many people may be surprised to find out that coffee is in fact an herb. Not only that, but it has many healthy qualities as well. I know, you are thinking this is one of those “chocolate is healthy for you” tricks. Technically, dark chocolate is also healthy and both coffee and chocolate are loaded with antioxidants. The simplest way to describe the health benefits of coffee is to say that it is a stimulant. Coffee is great for stimulating energy, circulation, digestion, and even urination…thus the reason you have to run to the potty so often after drinking coffee.
In essence, coffee wakes you up and gets things moving, which is why so many enJOY it first thing in the morning. As with any herb, it can be abused. Not only is it addictive, but it can seriously disrupt sleep patterns. I don’t recommend it for children, although an occasional treat won’t hurt.
Coffee Substitute
If you want a healthy, caffeine-free alternative to coffee, Dandy Blend Instant Herbal Beverage with Dandelion Root is fantastic. Not only does it have the robust flavor of coffee, but with no caffeine, even the younger kiddos can enJOY this special treat. Dandy Blend is great if you want that something special in the middle of the afternoon or evening. You don’t have to worry about suffering from insomnia or caffeine withdrawal from this drink. Try it. Amazingly, you will never even notice it is not made with coffee. Great hot or iced!
Building Your Frappuccino
For starters, either add a heaping teaspoon of Dandy Blend to 8oz of hot water for a caffeine-free option or you can boost your health and energy level and add a tablespoon of instant Super Amazing Coffee by Superfoods Company to 8oz of boiling water. Loaded with twelve power-packed superfoods and mushrooms, it is a great way to boost metabolism, help with brain fog, increase your energy, and sip on something warm and cozy. It also boosts your caramel frappuccino with tons of superfoods so you can feel good about your treat. It does contain caffeine though. For the traditional method, brew a fresh pot of strong, hot coffee. We use an organic whole bean coffee from Costco that we fresh grind called Subtle Earth Medium Roast Organic Coffee.
For an 8 oz portion, add 2 T Caramel Sauce to a drinking glass, such as a 16 oz Ball Jar. Pour in 1/2 cup of hot coffee to melt caramel and stir. Fill with ice and add about 3/4 cup of milk of your choice and mix together. We prefer whole, organic milk but feel free to use oat, almond, cashew, or any other nut milk. Top with whipped cream, a drizzle of caramel sauce, and a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice for kicks!
Recipe for the Caramel Sauce
If you prefer to prepare your own Caramel Sauce instead of purchasing a store brand, I included the recipe below. Even a gourmet brand like Torani Caramel Sauce is made with corn syrup and “natural” flavors that aren’t always so “natural”. Companies can be very deceptive with labeling so just beware. I prefer to be in charge of my own ingredients, especially when dealing with sugar and dairy.
Caramel Sauce
Creamy with hints of butterscotch, this molten caramel sauce, drizzled over your favorite fall treats, is sure to sweeten and warm up those cozy autumn evenings.
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/3 cup filtered water
- 1 cup organic heavy cream
- 1 1/2 tsp vanilla
- pinch of sea salt or fleur de sel
- a dollop of heavy cream on top
Instructions
- Have all your ingredients measured and ready to go.
- Add the sugar and water to a 4 qt saucepan or pot and give it one good stir to incorporate.
- Turn the heat up to medium and bring to a boil, stirring only occasionally. This process will take anywhere from 4-8 minutes depending on the color desired.
- When it reaches a deep honey color, remove from heat and stir in the cream. The cream will bubble and the contents of the pot rise. It may also start to separate and crystalize. That is okay. Just keep stirring.
- Once you add the cream, turn on the heat to low and stir until completely creamy and incorporated for an additionaly 1-2 minutes.
- Remove from heat and add in your vanilla and sea salt.
- Pour contents into a 13 oz glass jar with lid and store for several weeks.
Notes
Great as a dipping sauce for apples, drizzled over spiced cakes, poured over ice cream, stirred into coffee for a caramel frappuccino, or right from the spoon (I have never done that...liar liar pants on fire.)
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In everything you do -eat, play, and, love- may it always be Seasoned with Joy!
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