Caramel liqueur can be made at home using vodka as a base.
The term caramel liqueur describes any alcoholic beverage that tastes like caramel. Most of these liqueurs contain a combination of brown sugar and butter to achieve the desired sweet, smooth, rich flavor. The coloring in these liqueurs may be artificial caramel coloring or may come from molasses in brown sugar. Although many people find this liqueur too sweet to drink neat, it is the main ingredient in several cocktails. Some beverage enthusiasts may also enjoy making this delicious liqueur at home.
Some versions of caramel liqueur contain maple syrup.
Some manufacturers make different flavors of caramel liqueur by mixing different flavors right in the bottle. Vanilla and apple are common, as are cream and coffee. All of these flavors can also be added to caramel liqueur after serving, to create a wide variety of cocktails. Many of these recipes are popular during the fall and winter months because the caramel tastes warm and sugary. Plus, it pairs well with the tart flavor of cinnamon, ripe pumpkin, and creamy chocolate.
Some coffee drinkers add caramel or other flavored liquor to their drink.
The above flavor suggestions can be added to caramel liqueur in the form of alcoholic beverages or non-alcoholic flavorings. For example, a quick and tasty winter cocktail might include a cup of hot coffee, a few pieces of milk chocolate, and a few drops of caramel liqueur. This often creates a slightly alcoholic drink. Those looking for something stronger can use coffee as a base, add a shot of coffee liqueur, some chocolate cordial and a touch of caramel liqueur. This second recipe would probably be a lot stronger because it contains a lot more alcohol.
A few pieces of chocolate can be added to coffee with caramel liqueur for a tasty winter cocktail.
Many caramel liqueur recipes seek to recreate some traditional flavor of the season in cocktail form. Apple and pumpkin pie are two very popular after-dinner cocktails. When creating an apple pie cocktail, the ingredients typically include apple cider, cinnamon schnapps, apple schnapps, and a bit of caramel distillate. There are, of course, variations that omit the cinnamon and apple flavored liqueurs in favor of non-alcoholic ingredients. For pumpkin pie drinks, a recipe typically includes pumpkin cordial, milk, caramel liqueur, and cinnamon sprinkled on top.
Sometimes a liqueur is called a cordial.
Those interested in creating a homemade caramel liqueur should generally start with a good quality brandy or vodka base. Cognac is a strong, sweet blend, while vodka-based recipes tend to have a crisper, lighter flavor. Some people like to mix equal parts of the two. Ingredients to create the caramel flavor include butter, molasses or brown sugar, and caramel extract. Some may prefer to use maple syrup and white sugar instead of molasses or brown sugar. Experimentation is often the key to discovering a good recipe for this spirit.