Do you want to know about Dark Caramel Sauce Starbucks? We will know about this today, and I will share my personal experience.
Starbucks is world-renowned for its major discoveries in the world of coffee and snacks. Moreover, they are a modern brand of coffeehouse, and roastery chain spread across the globe. With over 30,000 stores spread across 80 countries, it is the largest and best in the business.
In due alteration, Starbucks has a new flavor for their coffee, be it the coffee itself, the toppings, or the sauces. One of those new additions to their enormous roster of sauces is the dark caramel sauce Starbucks special. Since its release a few days ago, it has already been a customer favorite due to its rich flavor. People have already started collecting its recipe and creating their version or even the exact version at home for regular usage.
What is Starbucks Dark Caramel Sauce?
As mentioned in the previous lines, the dark caramel sauce is one of the newest editions to the huge sauces they use to make their coffees more delicious. Usually, this sauce is used in frappuccinos. It is cooked longer than the regular caramel sauce making the overall consistency richer, hence the name.
However, the original recipe for this sauce dates back to 1984, when Starbucks first used it. Then, it was known as the dark caramel latte, handcrafted by their sauce makers. The concept of dark caramel sauce dates back to the late 18th century from Latin Americans when corn syrup was cooked to a maximum level where it simultaneously reached a threshold of being sweet and bitter. At that time, it was known as cannamella, where
What does Starbucks Dark Caramel Sauce Taste Like?
Compared to regular caramel sauce, which is sweet, the dark caramel sauce Starbucks edition is sweet with a bitter aftertaste and smoky flavor. It is quite dense with a blackish-brown color. To make it sarl, rich, and smoky, the caramel sauce must be cooked more than the regular one. This makes the overall consistency thick and sticky, giving a mildly bitter taste that enhances the taste of the base.
It is a glaze in desserts like cakes, savory ice creams, and sweet frosting. On the other hand, it is also used to top coffees like frappuccinos and espresso that contain a bold and strong flavor.
Starbucks Dark Caramel Sauce Calories
The calories in dark caramel sauce depend on the number of pumps the customer asks for. Usually, a single pump is equivalent to one fluid ounce or roughly 30 milliliters. One such pump of dark caramel sauce contains around 50 calories. Apart from the calories, one pump of this sauce also contains 13 grams of carbohydrates, 7 grams of sugar, and many other nutrients. However, one should note that there is no such trace of caffeine in the dark caramel sauce Starbucks makes.
Starbucks Dark Caramel Sauce Nutrition
If we consider two full pumps of the dark caramel sauce served by Starbucks, here are the nutritional facts.
- Calories- 100 approximately
- Total fats- 8 grams
- Cholesterol- 20 milligrams
- Sodium- 55 milligrams
- Total carbohydrates- 26 grams
- Sugars- 14 grams approximately
- Caffeine- 0 grams
- Protein- 0 grams
- Trans fat- 0 grams
- Dietary fiber- 0 grams
All this nutritional information is solely based on the approximation mark. It depends on the number of pumps you take, the quantity in each pump, and the person who pumps it in the drink or food.
Starbucks Dark Caramel Sauce Ingredients
Making the dark caramel sauce Starbucks version is not very difficult. The ingredients are primarily simple, like the process. Here is a list of ingredients required to make the dark caramel sauce.
- Corn syrup- Corn syrup is an extracted or reduced form of corn starch and its sugars. It is useful for sweetening and thickening the caramel sauce.
- Condensed milk- Condensed milk is nothing but a reduced mixture of sugar and milk. It is cooked whereby the excess water is removed, resulting in a thick and consistent form of milk. It allows the caramel sauce to have a smooth texture and enhances the mutational value of the sauce.
- Water- Like everything, water is also an essential ingredient of caramel sauce. It is primarily used for the caramelization of sugars and to create a thick liquid.
- Sugar- To make caramel, sugar is the most essential component. Sugar is reduced and burns to some extent to create the caramel flavoring.
- Butter- Butter is milk and salt mixed. It is used to help the smooth texturing of the sauce and also to neutralize the extremely burnt taste.
- Potassium sorbate- Potassium sorbate is mainly used to preserve the sauce. The caramel sauce can expire quickly without adding this compound, making it difficult to store.
- Natural flavoring- Mostly, vanilla flavoring is added to the caramel sauce. Vanilla has a soothing taste and only enhances the taste of the sauce. Any other flavoring, like chocolate or fruit flavoring, can overpower the taste of the sauce.
Popular Starbucks Drinks with Dark Caramel Sauce
The dark caramel sauce Starbucks makes is used in many of its drinks. Most of those drinks are frappuccinos or espresso. Some popular frappuccinos using dark caramel sauce are listed below.
Caramel Ribbon Crunch Frappuccino
Dark caramel sauce is used to make one of the most popular drinks in Starbucks, the Caramel Ribbon Crunch Frappuccino. It is a buttery caramel-type syrup blended to a fine consistency with coffee, milk, and sugar. It is then topped with three things- a thick layer of whipped cream, a drizzle of dark caramel sauce, and crunchy caramel topping made by solidifying caramel.
Ultra Caramel Frappuccino
The ultra caramel frappuccino is an infusion of cold-brewed coffee, exotic and liquified white chocolate, and dark caramel. This infusion sits between two layers of authentic whipped cream, and the layers of cream are topped with thick dollops of the dark caramel sauce Starbucks makes.
Dark Caramel Coffee Frappuccino
The dark caramel coffee frappuccino is similar to the ultra caramel frappuccino. The only difference is that the dollops of the dark caramel sauce are less quantity while the rest of the infusion remains the same.
How to Make Dark Caramel Sauce at Home?
Making the dark caramel sauce, Starbucks makes is not very difficult to make at home. Both ingredients and equipment requirements are minimal. On the other hand, the steps are less and quite easy. Here is a comprehensive guide.
Equipment Required
- Heavy bottomed saucepan
- Stirrer
- Pastry brush
- Stove
- Storage container
Ingredients Required
- 1 cup of sugar (room temperature)
- ½ cup of normal water
- 2 cups of heavy cream
- Potassium Sorbate (optional)
Steps to Make Dark Caramel Sauce
- Mix the sugar and water thoroughly and put it to cook on medium to high heat. Constantly stir the solution and brush any residues sticking to the saucepan’s sides.
- Continue stirring till the color changes to a medium amber shade.
- Pay attention when the color changes from medium amber to dark mahogany brown. This is a crucial time since the solution at this point can burn easily. Reduce the heat to avoid burning.
- Remove from the heat as the bubbling turns tan color.
- Slowly and carefully pour the heavy cream into the solution while stirring. This is usually occupied by heavy bubbling and smoke.
- Stir until you find the right thickness and consistency.
- Let it cool to room temperature, and then store it in an airtight container for future usage.
- If you are aiming to make the dark caramel sauce in large batches, you can add Potassium Sorbate. This preservative allows it to stay intact without expiring for long days.
Health Implications of Dark Caramel Sauce
There are certain yet mild health implications of consuming excess dark caramel sauce. Some of them are
- Too much sugar can cause the body to be tired and sleepy. The sugar rush in the blood causes the body to get fatigued.
- Heart diseases can go up a roll due to an increase in triglycerides in the blood. These are non-dissociative fat chunks that block the functioning of the heart.
- Too much sugar from the caramel can deteriorate oral health through plaque and cavity development.
- Due to the high levels of fat, sugar, and carbs in caramel, you can unnecessarily gain weight.
Conclusion
The dark caramel sauce’s dark amber color is constantly popular among Starbucks customers. The sauce’s thick and consistent, bitter yet sweet taste makes it a delicacy with espresso and frappuccinos. Moreover, it forms a great topping for whipped cream frosting, cakes, cookies, and even waffles. While it is easy to make, it can be stored for a long time and in large batches for regular use. It is a great ingredient for delicious coffee and treats for sweet lovers.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
What is the difference between dark caramel sauce and regular caramel sauce?
Ans– While regular caramel sauce is lighter in taste and cooked for a regulated period, dark caramel sauce is a bit bitter and cooked for longer periods. The color also differs in both cases, where the regular caramel sauce is medium amber, and the dark caramel sauce is dark mahogany brown.
Where can I buy dark caramel sauce similar to Starbucks?
Ans– You can buy similar dark caramel sauce used by Starbucks at Amazon, eBay, and many more online shopping sites. You can also make dark caramel sauce at home with easy ingredients and a simple process.
What are some recipes that use dark caramel sauce?
Ans– Some recipes that use dark caramel sauce are
- TikTok Iced White Mocha
- Caramel Snickerdoodle Macchiato
- Caramel Brulée Latte
- Fall Breeze
What is the flavor profile of Starbucks’ dark caramel sauce?
Ans– The dark caramel sauce used by Starbucks is mostly sweet. But due to the burning and overcooking process, it has a bitter and thicker aftertaste.
Is Starbucks’ dark caramel sauce vegan?
Ans– The dark caramel sauce is not vegan since it uses butter and milk (dairy products) to create a thick consistency.
What are some drinks at Starbucks that use dark caramel sauce?
Ans– Some of the drinks at Starbucks that use dark caramel sauce are
- Caramel Ribbon Crunch Frappuccino
- Ultra Caramel Frappuccino
- Dark Caramel Coffee Frappuccino
- Caramel Brulée Frappuccino
- Iced Caramel Macchiato
- Cinnamon Toast Crunch Frappuccino
- Salted Caramel Cream Cold Brew
- Salted Caramel White Mocha Cold Brew
- Salted Caramel Mocha
How many calories are in two pumps of Starbucks’ caramel syrup?
Ans- Two Starbucks caramel syrup pumps approximately 40 calories.
How much sugar is in the dark caramel sauce from Starbucks?
Ans- One pump or 30 milliliters of dark caramel sugar contains approximately 7 grams of sugar.
Also Read:
What is a skinny vanilla latte at Starbucks?
