Chocoholic’s Guide to Salted Caramel in Philly

Chocoholic is a column by Tina Kartika about all things sweet in Philly.

I vividly remember my introduction to the sweet and salty marriage that is salted caramel. I saw “Salted Caramel Mocha Frappuccino” on a Starbucks menu, got curious, and decided to order it. That was my first encounter with salted caramel, but it was certainly not my last. Since then, I have developed a weakness toward everything salted caramel.

When I looked back at the various salted caramel desserts and beverages I have tasted, I realized that the flavor is so versatile it can be incorporated into many forms of deliciousness. Below are just a few notable salted caramel desserts local to Philly:

1. Salted Caramel Macaron
The Sugar Philly Truck offers salted caramel macarons every Monday from 12-6 pm. The concept may seem simple–salted caramel filling sandwiched between two macaron cookies–but the salty-sweet filling will elevate your mood any day.

2. Salted Caramel Pudding
Salted caramel pudding is arguably Audabon Bakeshop’s most popular item–more popular even than its macarons. Audabon sells out of its salted caramel pudding every day, so come before 2 pm if you want to try this delectable treat!

3. Salted Caramel Budino
Barbuzzo’s salted caramel budino is out-of-this-world delicious. The finely ground chocolate cookie crumbs on the bottom perfectly complement the smooth texture of the budino and the sweetness of the salted caramel sauce on top. Chef Marcie Turney of Barbuzzo shared the recipe with Bon Appétit.

4. Salted Caramel Bon Bon
The pairing of salted caramel and chocolate is a sinful, addictive combination, and John & Kira’s knows that.  John & Kira’s famous bees contain liquid salted caramel in their dark chocolate shells, and the purple mushrooms from the Enchanted Forest collection also feature the flavor, and are accompanied by pink wildflowers filled with white tea ganache and green butterflies filled with mint ganache.

5. Salted Caramel Chocolate Mousse
With its decadent flavor and thick texture, Harvest Seasonal Grill & Wine Bar’s salted caramel chocolate mousse will satisfy your sweet tooth. Served in shot glasses, this dessert may appear deceptively small, but it is actually quite filling.

-Tina Kartika