Frozen Caramel Macchiato Pie
Caffeinate your summer in the sweetest way possible with this Frozen Caramel Macchiato Pie. Espresso-infused ice cream is layered in a chocolate cookie crust and topped with loads of salted caramel and whipped cream.
Happy July! Predictably, it’s hotter than blazes outside. When I take my four little dogs outside at 5:30 a.m. each morning, it’s already warm and muggy. If there’s a breeze, it’s neither cool nor fresh. It feels like a hairdryer blowing right in my face. Perhaps I shouldn’t complain when there’s so many sweet antidotes to this weather (plus air conditioning). And really, it’s given me a new playground to explore with ice box cakes, frozen custards, and other chilled desserts. Like this coffee house-inspired Frozen Caramel Macchiato Pie.
This pie is made with a homemade chocolate cookie crust that holds espresso-infused ice cream. It’s layered with the most delicious homemade salted caramel. Then, it’s topped with a big mound of whipped cream and chocolate shavings. Even though this pie is pretty easy to make as written, there are a few additional shortcuts you can take. Which I’ll be sure to mention and include in the recipe notes.
Sweet Inspiration: Caramel Macchiato
I am a true coffee enthusiast so I love making desserts with a caffeinated kick. Caramel Macchiatos are so delicious, made with espresso, vanilla syrup, milk, and caramel sauce. This coffee drink is practically dessert you can sip! Served both hot and cold, I just knew it would translate well in a chilly ice cream pie.
Chocolate Cookie Crust
Start this recipe by mixing up some chocolate cookie crumbs and butter. Then bake it for just a few minutes to set it. If you’re not into firing up your oven on a hot day, the no-bake option is to refrigerate it for 15 minutes to stiffen the butter in the crust.
Or, you can simply pick up a ready-made deep dish pie crust at the grocery store. If you can’t find a deep dish pie crust, then pick up two regular 9″ chocolate cookie crusts. The caramel macchiato ice cream mixture will fill two standard pie crusts. Which means you’ll have one pie to give and one to keep!
Homemade Salted Caramel
Nothing compares to homemade salted caramel, if you ask me. It’s not hard to make, but it does require your full attention. Here’s the gist of caramel-making.
Pour granulated sugar in a saucepan and cook it until a deep amber color forms. Then add a stick of butter into the mixture all at once. The caramel will boil and sputter with this addition, so be very careful! Turn the heat off, then whisk in heavy cream (which will boil and sputter also). Followed by vanilla extract (again, boil sputter). Add in fine grain sea salt and stir well. Transfer it to a bowl to cool before using in this recipe.
If you’ve never made homemade caramel before, then watch the video just before the recipe card in this blog post. It gives important visual cues to look for as the sugar melts and the amber color forms.
Speed the cooling process by transferring the caramel to the refrigerator. Stir intermittently as it cools. The caramel should still be just warm enough to drizzle, but not hot enough to melt the ice cream.
Alternatively, you could purchase a jar of ready-made salted caramel. I personally think it’s the homemade caramel that makes this recipe extra-special. But I’m not a snob when it comes to shortcuts. Do what fits into your skill set and time frame.
Make the Coffee Ice Cream
For the ice cream, pour 1/4 cup of espresso powder into a small bowl. Add 2 tablespoons hot water and stir well. It will be a little pasty and first – just keep stirring until dissolved. Set aside to cool down.
Purchase two pints of your favorite vanilla ice cream and place it in a big bowl. Stir well to soften it.
Add the cooled espresso mixture and stir well until incorporated, and the ice cream is lightly coffee hued.
You could also use two pints of your favorite coffee ice cream here, but I really like the flavor the concentrated espresso powder gives the pie. If you do opt for coffee ice cream, stir in a little vanilla extract. Because it’s an important element of the Caramel Macchiato flavor.
Layer into the Pie Crust
Pour half of the espresso ice cream mixture into the prepared pie crust. Drizzle over a generous 1/4 cup of the salted caramel. Then, pour the remaining espresso ice cream on top, smooth evenly into the crust.
Whipped Cream and more Caramel
Drizzle more salted caramel on top of the pie, then top with unsweetened whipped cream. Drizzle caramel over the cream. You don’t need to sweeten the whipped cream because the caramel will add the sweetness. Swirl the caramel into the whipped cream with a spoon (see video for action).
Finish with chocolate shavings, which can be made using a bar of chocolate and a vegetable peeler. I added a few roasted coffee beans to the top of the pie for food styling purposes, but this is completely optional.
Frozen Caramel Macchiato Pie is made for sharing! Serve it any time you need a cold, refreshing sweet. I particularly love this as an ending to a rich Italian dinner.
You will have a little leftover salted caramel. So transfer it to a small pitcher and serve it alongside the pie. This pie is definitely indulgent, but also refreshing. Happy Summer!
Related recipe: Tiramisu Semifreddo
Frozen Caramel Macchiato Pie
Heather Baird
Enjoy a chilly caffeinated summer treat with this Frozen Caramel Macchiato Pie. It’s made with a homemade chocolate cookie crust, luscious espresso-infused ice cream, and generous layers of homemade salted caramel. Topped with fluffy whipped cream and delicate chocolate shavings, this pie captures all the flavors of your favorite coffeehouse drink in a cool, refreshing slice.Use 2 pints of your favorite vanilla ice cream in this recipe. See recipe notes for shortcuts and substitutions.
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Prep Time 5 minutes minsCook Time 17 minutes mins4 hours freeze time 4 hours hrsTotal Time 4 hours hrs 22 minutes mins
Course DessertCuisine American, Italian-inspired
Servings 10
Equipment9 inch deep dish pie dish
Ingredients Chocolate cookie crust2 cups chocolate cookie crumbs such as pulverized Oreo cookies or packaged chocolate cookie crumbs8 tablespoons unsalted butter meltedCaramel sauce1 cup granulated sugar8 tablespoons unsalted butter cubed1/2 cup heavy cream1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract1/4 teaspoon fine grain saltCoffee ice cream filling and toppings2 tablespoons hot water4 tablespoons instant espresso powder32 oz. vanilla ice cream 2 pints or about 5 2/3 cups1 cup heavy cream whipped to stiff peaksChocolate shavings
Instructions Chocolate cookie crustPreheat the oven to 375°F.In a large bowl, stir together the cookie crumbs and melted butter. Mix well until all of the crumbs are coated with the butter.Pour the crumbs into an ungreased 9’inch deep dish pie plate and pack them evenly into the bottom of the pan and up the sides.Bake for 7 minutes to set. Remove to a wire rack to cool completely.Caramel sauceMelt the sugar over medium-high heat in a medium saucepan. Gently prod the sugar as it melts to promote even cooking. Once the sugar is melted with just a few lumps of sugar remaining, whisk briefly to disperse the lumps.Cook until the sugar turns deep amber and add the butter all at once, using a whisk to combine. Be very careful with this addition because the butter will cause the caramelized sugar to bubble and sputter.Keep whisking until the butter incorporates (this make take a minute or two). Turn the heat off and remove the pan from stove eye. Pour in the heavy cream, whisking constantly. When the mixture is smooth, stir in the vanilla extract and the salt.Transfer the mixture to a bowl and let thicken slightly in the refrigerator, about 30-40 minutes. Stir intermittently to speed cooling.Espresso ice cream filling and toppingsIn a small bowl, combine the hot water and instant espresso powder, mix until dissolved. Set aside to cool 5 minutes.Pour the ice cream into a large bowl and stir until softened but still very thick. Add the espresso mixture and stir well.Transfer half of the ice cream mixture into the bottom of the cooled chocolate crust. Drizzle with about 1/4 cup of the salted caramel.Top with the remaining ice cream mixture. Spread evenly to the edges of the crust. Drizzle with more salted caramel.Place the whipped cream in the center of the pie and drizzle on salted caramel. Swirl the caramel into the cream using a spoon.Add one last drizzle of caramel to the top of the pie, then sprinkle on chocolate shavings.Transfer to the freezer to chill until firm. Freeze the pie uncovered, until firm, 4 to 6 hours.
NotesWhat to expect: This pie has zippy espresso flavor with layers of salted caramel and whipped cream. The filling is reminiscent of a chilled caramel macchiato coffee drink. The chocolate crust adds richness and a study base for the pie. You may have salted caramel sauce leftover; serve it alongside the pie in a small pitcher.
Make chocolate shavings by running a vegetable peeler down the side edge of a bar of chocolate. If your kitchen is particularly warm, freeze the chocolate bar first before shaving it.
Shortcut This Recipe:
Purchase a ready-made deep dish chocolate cookie pie crust at the grocery store, or if you can’t find deep dish, you can purchase two standard 9-inch pie crusts. The espresso ice cream mixture will fill two pie crusts.
Coffee ice cream may be substituted for the vanilla ice cream. Just omit the espresso and water concentrate. While softening the coffee ice cream in a mixing bowl, add 1 teaspoon vanilla extract to give the mixture the vanilla note in the café macchiato drink.
Use a jar of your favorite ready-made salted caramel in place of homemade. However, I must urge you to try to the homemade caramel when you have to time to make it.
This recipe is original to sprinklebakes.com.
Keyword caramel macchiato, chocolate cookie crust, homemade salted caramel, ice cream pie, summer dessert, vanilla ice cream
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