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Lately, I’ve been stepping away from the computer, silencing my phone, and taking some time for myself in the afternoon. A relaxing playlist or a good book is perfect, and lighting a fall-scented candle instantly signals my mind to unwind.
The one thing that’s an absolute must in this ritual is to make myself a cup of something warm and soothing, and to accompany it with a little sweet treat. Sometimes this is the highlight of my day, and it keeps me working hard all morning knowing I’ll have a reward soon enough.
My go-to has been a homemade Salted Caramel Pumpkin Spice Latte alongside one (or two) of the premium Ghirardelli Milk Chocolate Caramel SQUARES. The combination is so perfectly cozy and comforting, it makes me want fall to last all year long. For an even more festive flair, I also love pairing the latte alongside a Milk & Pumpkin Spice Caramel SQUARE. Yum.
The latte itself takes a few extra minutes to make, but I find the steps and process to be relaxing. Plus, nothing quite compares to experiencing the delicious chocolate and luscious filling of just about any Ghirardelli SQUARE. I have to say, though, that silky, velvety, and smooth caramel filling of the classic Ghirardelli Milk Chocolate Caramel SQUARES is just pure bliss.
I also love to switch up my drink in this self-care ritual as well.
A simple homemade mocha is even easier, and pairs beautifully with the Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Caramel SQUARES. I just adore the salty-sweet flavor combination. For the mocha, simply combine a cup of coffee with a tablespoon of unsweetened cocoa powder, a tablespoon or two of sugar, and a little milk if you’d like. I even love to dip my SQUARE into my coffee for an extra blissful treat.
If I’m in the mood for something a little more intense, I get creative with a simple cup of pour over coffee by using brown sugar and adding in some cinnamon. This stronger drink pairs perfectly with the flavor profile of the Dark Chocolate Bourbon Caramel SQUARE – which is actually a new flavor for 2017.
I’d love to know your go-to self-indulgence rituals to unwind and relax. Snap a picture the next time you’re enjoying a Ghirardelli SQUARE alongside your favorite fall drink and upload it to Instagram using #handletheheat and #ghirardelli so we can see!
Photos by Constance Higley.
Salted Caramel Pumpkin Spice Lattes
Ingredients
For the coffee:
- 1 1/2 cups milk (any percentage dairy milk or any non-dairy milk)
- 4 tablespoons pure pumpkin puree
- 2 tablespoons salted caramel sauce
- 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup hot brewed strong coffee or espresso
For topping:
- Whipped cream
- Ground cinnamon
- Salted caramel sauce, for drizzling
- Milk Chocolate and Caramel SQUARES, for garnish
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, combine the milk, pumpkin, sugar, caramel, spice, and vanilla over medium-high heat. Bring to a rolling boil, stirring constantly. Whisk vigorously until it starts to froth, about 1 minute. For a more frothy consistency, use an immersion blender or electric mixer to beat the milk mixture until the desired frothy consistency. Divide the milk mixture between two large mugs.
- Slowly pour about 1/2 cup coffee into each mug. Top with whipped cream, a drizzle of caramel, and a sprinkling of cinnamon. Serve.
Hi
Which is your favorite Pumpkin Spice? I live in Switzerland and it doesn’t exist here. I have to make it or order it on Amazon or something like that. But so far, I didn’t found a good one.
ELine
Hi!
As much as I am hesitant about the lack of comments I do wanna try making this recipe.
In the instructions it say to combine sugar with the pumpkin, milk etc but in the ingredients sugar is not listed.
Is this a typo? If so please fix the recipe so I can try to make this
Thank you
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