Frozen Caramel Espresso Martini
Savor the frozen magic of the Caramel Espresso Martini! This quick and easy recipe blends bold espresso with sweet caramel for a refreshing twist. Elevate your cocktail game with this delightful, icy treat—perfect for any occasion. Say cheers to a frozen masterpiece that's both easy to make and impossible to resist!
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What is a frozen caramel espresso martini?
A frozen caramel espresso martini is a cold, slushy, boozy martini that combines the traditional aspects of an espresso martini in frozen form with a splash of caramel vodka. The drink components include frozen espresso cubes, Kahluua, and caramel vodka. The caramel vodka adds a warm and sweet note to the martini, adding an extra level of dimension to the drink!
When is the best time to enjoy a frozen caramel espresso martini?
There is no wrong time to enjoy the frozen caramel espresso martini. Because it is a frozen cocktail, it's best enjoyed in the summer when the temperature outside is warmer. The perfect cocktail to unwind and cool off on a hot summer evening or perhaps a pick-me-up for a summer’s day brunch.
Looking for some other delicious summer time recipes? Try one of these:
The Best Bloody Mary Bombs Recipe
Easy Strawberry & Lemon Rosé Popsicles
The great part about this recipe is it can be easily converted to non-frozen by using fresh brewed espresso instead of frozen espresso ice cubes so you can enjoy it any time of year. Yelp’s 2024 restaurant food and beverage report said espresso martini searches were up 56% last year, so there’s no sign of their popularity slowing down. The frozen caramel espresso martini is just a fun twist to enjoy the traditional recipe!
What kind of liquors should you use in a frozen caramel espresso martini?
For the frozen caramel espresso martini recipe you need two different liquors. The first liquor you need for this recipe is Kahlua, a coffee based spirit. You can substitute Kahlua with another coffee spirit like Bailey’s or Mr. Black Spirits but Bailey’s may change the texture and flavor of the martini since it is a creamy spirit. The second spirit you need is caramel vodka. I was able to find a Caramel Kiss vodka from Smirnoff at my local BevMo!. The only other caramel flavored vodka I found was by Baileys but it was a bit more pricey and since you’re only using a shot I didn’t see the need for the added price tag.
How do you make a frozen caramel espresso martini
The recipe for the Frozen Caramel Espresso Martini is quite easy. The longest part is brewing the espresso and letting it freeze for a couple of hours or overnight. The steps to making the Frozen Caramel Espresso Martini are:
Brew a pot of strong coffee or espresso
Pour freshly brewed espresso into a silicone ice cube tray and freeze for at least 4 hours or overnight
Once espresso ice cubes are frozen combine 12 ice cubes, the caramel vodka, and the Kahlua in a blender
Blend the mixture for one minute, it may be a bit frothy and that’s okay. It also will be a bit slushy which I did not mind. You can pour the mixture into a cocktail shaker and strain the drink if you prefer no slush
Pour into a martini glass and enjoy
The ingredients and equipment you will need for the frozen caramel espresso martini are:
Ingredients
12 frozen espresso ice cubes, about 10-12 ounce of coffee/espresso
4.5 ounces of Kahlua
2 ounces of Smirnoff Caramel Kiss Vodka
6 espresso or coffee beans for garnish (optional)
Equipment
Coffee or espresso machine
Silicone ice cube tray
Jigger
Blender
Cocktail shaker with strainer
Martini glasses
Tips for making the Frozen Caramel Espresso Martini
If you don't want to use up several espresso pods you can either brew very strong coffee, grind up espresso beans in a coffee grinder and brew the espresso in a coffee pot, or use one of my favorites, Bustello ground espresso/coffee in your coffee pot.
If you don’t want your frozen martini to be slushy, use a cocktail shaker with a strainer to strain the ice out but it will be more like a really cold drink than a frozen/slushy drink.
Don’t freeze the espresso and enjoy this as a regular caramel espresso martini all year long.
You can refreeze the mixture for up to 3 months in the freezer and blend it in the blender when ready to use again.
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