Time: 11:29pm
I'm listening to: Crash Into Me by Dave Matthews Band
I still remember the first sip I ever took of a caramel macchiato. It was years ago. The whip cream combined with the caramel sauce made the coffee so sweet and incredibly rich and creamy. It was heaven, and I became an addict for life; although that addiction took a bit of a hiatus when I went dairy free.
Coffee is just one of those things that runs in my blood. I started drinking it early. When I was in middle school I wanted to be a coffee drinker like my dad, so he'd pour me an inch of coffee in a mug and then top the rest off with milk.
In high school I discovered the world of flavored coffees and mochas. I had the reputation of being a "good girl," so I used to talk one of my teachers into letting me skip her class so I could go get us coffee. Often times she would give me the keys to her car to go do it. 🙂
In my 20's I was a latte or coffee with cream girl. But when I went dairy free, I went through a really rough time with my coffee. I couldn't find a creamer or dairy free milk that met my expectations. One day I finally made myself try drinking my coffee black, and to this day, that's how I prefer it. Just black, although I still enjoy an occasional Dairy Free Caramel Macchiato as a treat!
Coffee just isn't a caffeine addiction for me. It's a lifeline. I depend on it. My pain depends on it. Mornings generally are my worst times for pain. I don't take painkillers. I've tried a few and either they don't touch my pain, or I don't feel comfortable taking them while I'm alone at home with the girls. Coffee is my drug of choice. There is something incredibly healing for me in sitting down with a hot cup of black bold coffee. The girls watch cartoons while I drink it and "come to." The heat from the coffee touches my achy bones, while the aroma plays with my senses. It's the only thing I've every experienced "relief" from... although I do recognize it's a mental form of "relief."
I find my sanity in coffee, and I'm sure many of you can relate to that.
This Dairy Free Carmel Macchiato recipe won't disappoint. It's everything I remember the dairy-filled version being. Silky smooth and creamy... and I bet it will go down faster than you anticipate.
Dairy Free Caramel Macchiato Recipe:
Yields 1 serving
2 drops of vanilla extract (please note: that's *drops* not splash)
2 tablespoons coconut cream (see recipe notes)
2-4 tablespoons "Liquid Gold" a.k.a. Dairy Free Caramel Sauce
8-10 ounces hot coffee
- In a large mug, stir together the vanilla extract, coconut cream, and "Liquid Gold." Pour in the hot coffee and stir again.
- Sit back, put your feet up, relax, and enjoy your creamy Dairy Free Caramel Macchiato!
For an iced variation of this drink:
- Fill a tall glass with ice and then pour in 8-10 ounces of room temperature coffee. Set aside.
- In a small mixing bowl, combine the vanilla, coconut cream, and "Liquid Gold." If the mixture is lumpy, heat it up in the microwave for 15-20 seconds and then stir until smooth. Pour into the tall glass of iced coffee and stir gently with a spoon or straw until blended.
Megan's Recipe Notes:
Coconut cream is the thick cream that separates and floats to the top of an undisturbed can of full fat canned coconut milk. If you aren't able to get just the cream, it's okay. Coconut milk will do just fine.
Enjoy it!
All my love,
Megan (with a long E)
This recipe is linked to Fight Back Fridays, Wellness Weekend, Allergy Free Wednesdays, Slightly Indulgent Tuesdays and Fat Tuesday.
Cassidy @ Cassidy's Craveable Creations says
Oooohhhhhh, this looks good! I can't wait to make it 🙂
Megan says
Thanks, Cassidy! It's really YUMMY! 😉
Shirley @ gfe & All Gluten-Free Desserts says
Ugh, lost my comment. Here's a shorter version. Love Dave Matthews and that's a great song of his. I almost never drink coffee, but I'd go for this coffee concoction! 🙂 So glad that coffee helps you. If you consider at least 30% of meds work due to the placebo effect, I'd say that your coffee works just as well. 😉
xo,
Shirley
Megan says
Hiss-boo. I hate when that happens, Shirley! This coffee is so perfectly sweet and creamy, I bet you would enjoy this! And I agree, although I think the coffee might even work better than any drug. I don't care what the doctors say! LOL!
Hugs,
Megan
Shirley @ gfe & All Gluten-Free Desserts says
I featured this recipe over at All Gluten-Free Desserts and used some of your words to me to describe it. 🙂
xo,
Shirley
Megan says
Shirley,
Thank you so much my friend! 😉
Hugs,
Megan
Laura says
Ahh a big cup of coffee and good music...that makes life pretty good! I was never a coffee drinker until I became a mother and well now that is exactly how I start my day 🙂 And being up at a high elevation it calms my spirit too and warms my soul. I hope we get to chat over coffee one of these days, especially with this amazing macchiato!
Megan says
I sure hope so too, Laura! That would be wonderful! Sending you lots of hugs! Have a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend!!
xo,
Megan
Vicky says
I've never had a caramel macchiato! This looks so indulgent! But I'm with you on the coffee! I drink decaff - I don't really like it black but I love it with almond milk. I'm glad you've found something which helps to make you feel ready to start the day.
Someday I will try one of these, it looks absolutely delicious!
Megan says
Hi Vicky,
They are VERY indulgent! But so good. 🙂 Maybe a little too good. Lol!
Thank you!! 🙂
Hugs,
Megan
Johnna says
I'm excited to try this iced!
Megan says
I would love to know what you think of it when you do, Johnna! 😉
Hugs,
Megan
Janet says
Totally love my morning coffee too. I am trying to have only one cup instead of two. It is hard but I am trying to not eat a lot of sugar in my diet and my coffee needs sugar 🙂 I have finally said out loud that I think I am addicted to sugar. I can go like two days without dessert and wham the cravings hit me like a brick wall. I am determined to win this fight!!
Today I used unsweetened coconut milk in my coffee instead of my favorite half and half. It is a lot different 🙁 It is too dark but I will suck it up and try it again tomorrow 🙂
Gratefulfoodie says
Oh this looks simply divine. Thank you for sharing such dairy free bliss!
Megan says
You're so welcome - thank you! 😉
Laura says
I used coconut cream instead of coconut milk when I made this. That won't be a problem, right? 🙂
Megan says
No, that shouldn't be a problem at all!
Lora O'Brien says
Hi, just to let you know we recently featured this recipe in our latest Eluxe article.
Feel free to check it out and share it on.
Great recipe, thank you so much!