Food trend: Salted Caramel

By A'Dell

I see salted caramel a lot of places these days. Cakes, coffee, brownies, actual caramels. It's a legit Thing, like acai or pomegranate. Add it to anything and people will buy it. Or, maybe it's just really that good? I don't know, I can just see a room full of marketers going over ideas and saying, "Salted caramel! Yes! It's The Next Big Thing!" And, because marketing is tricky, it IS the next big thing.

Whatever, salted caramel is delicious. I don't care if I've been marketed to. Here are some of my favorite ways to ogle and dream about salted caramel.

My first brush with salted caramel was in 2008 with actual Salted Caramels from Holly at Nothing But Bonfires. I made these a few days before my first daughter was born, because when I'm almost 42 weeks pregnant? Apparently I read the internet looking for complicated things to do.

Oh, these were good caramels. 

Source: nothingbutbonfires.com via A'Dell on Pinterest

 

More recently, Starbucks sells a Salted Caramel Mocha, which is a mighty, mighty fine beverage. (Not that I have extensive experience with this $5 drink. No, not at all. I have no idea what you're talking about.)

Source: starbucks.com via A'Dell on Pinterest

 

Annie, over at Annie's Eats, featured this beauty of a Dark Chocolate Salted Caramel Layer Cake last week and even though it has swiss meringue buttercream in it, which I hate making because it takes forever and a thousand dishes, I will be making this on Friday. I mean, how can you just leave a cake like this in the internet? You can't. 

Source: annies-eats.net via A'Dell on Pinterest

 

Then we have Salted Caramel Chocolate Shortbread Bars from Annie, which also look totally fabulous.

Source: annies-eats.net via A'Dell on Pinterest

 

I've never heard of a budino before, but this salted caramel version of an Italian pudding looks lovely in a mason jar. (It would also look adorable in my belly, where it belongs.)

Source: bonappetit.com via A'Dell on Pinterest

 

What about you? Any favorite recipes featuring salted caramel that you're tried or are dying to try? 

 

Comments

[Ellie H.]

I don't have any salted caramel recipes...but I do know that Stonewall Kitchen's Dark Chocolate - Sea Salt - Caramel sauce is to die for!

[K]

I haven't tried anything salted caramel yet but just the idea makes my mouth water. I should try some of these recipes!

[Jessica]

The Salted Caramel Mocha was way too salty for me, but I'm kind of a salt hater, so I guess I'm not the best judge.