This post is sponsored by Torani and all thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make Sugared & Stirred possible!

Halloween is around the corner, and I am in the mood for all things spooky! I’ve never been super into dressing up, but give me the best horror movies, pumpkin everything, and all things cutesy and festive! I think I’ve checked out the same Halloween section at the store no less than five times already. But anyways, when Torani reached out to me about creating a Halloween themed drink with one of their delicious syrups, I was so in. With nutty black sesame, lots of buttery, rich caramel flavor, and a bit of activated charcoal coconut powder for that hint of Halloween, this Black Sesame Caramel Frappé is just what I needed. And let’s just say I was way too satisfied with the work of my sugar sprinkle rims.

Once you’ve got the toasted black sesame powder – which is super simple to make! – you’ll basically add all of the ingredients to a blender and you’re all set and ready for a lightly caffeinated, sweet and icy beverage! I added a whopping 6 Tbsp of the Torani Caramel Syrup to this recipe (which serves 2) because I just couldn’t resist, but feel free to play around with the syrup and add 2 or 4 Tbsp as the suggested serving size is 2 Tbsp per 1 cup of liquid. I topped it all off with whipped cream, extra black sesame powder, and black sesame seeds. For even more sweetness, feel free to add a caramel drizzle! And head over to www.Torani.com to get your hands on their Caramel Syrup!

Some of the ingredients I like for this recipe:

Coconut cream gives this recipe a creamier texture. You can opt for 2 cups of frozen coconut cream, or skip it all together and use ice.

Sugar adds a touch more sweetness. Feel free to adjust to your liking.

Toasted black sesame powder is a delicious and nutty add-in that pairs so well with the rich caramel syrup flavor.

Torani Caramel Syrup is a quick and easy way to deliver caramel goodness to these frappés. Plus, you can use it to create endless recipes, or just add a spoonful to your morning coffee for a buttery caramel flavor!

Activated charcoal coconut powder is a natural way to make these frappés darker in color. It is tasteless in this recipe, and adds depth to the gray.

Yield: 2 Frappes

Black Sesame Caramel Frappé

Name: Black Sesame Caramel Frappé
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 2 Frappes
Cuisine: Drinks
Ingredients: 4 cups ice or frozen coconut cream; 2 tsp espresso powder; 1/4 cup toasted black sesame powder; 4-6 Tbsp Torani Caramel Syrup, depending on taste; 2 Tbsp sugar; 1/4 cup plant-based milk; 2-3 tsp activated charcoal coconut powder (optional)**

A delicious and creamy frappé made with nutty black sesame and sweet Torani Caramel Syrup! A vegan-friendly treat to get you in the mood for Halloween!

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Ingredients

4 cups ice or frozen coconut cream
2 tsp espresso powder
1/4 cup toasted black sesame powder
4-6 Tbsp Torani Caramel Syrup, depending on taste
2 Tbsp sugar
1/4 cup plant-based milk
2-3 tsp activated charcoal coconut powder (optional)**

Instructions

Make your toasted black sesame powder. Place 1/4 cup of black sesame seeds (or more if you desire to have extra!) in a frying pan over medium heat. Stir constantly until the seeds begin to toast - you'll notice a strong nutty aroma and, if using stainless steel, the pan will begin to smoke. Remove from heat and blend toasted seeds in a food processor or blender until the seeds breakdown into a chunky powder.
In a blender, add the ice or frozen coconut cream (or mix of both), espresso powder, black sesame powder, Torani Caramel Syrup, sugar, milk, and charcoal coconut powder. Blend until smooth.
Serve immediately and add your favorite toppings - whipped cream, caramel sauce, black sesame powder, or sprinkles!

Notes

You can empty out one to two cans of coconut cream into ice cube trays (or onto a parchment lined baking sheet) and freeze for a creamier drink
Your black sesame seeds must be toasted in order to blend into a powder as the toasting softens the seeds
Recipe can be halved for one serving
For the sprinkle rim, melt 2 Tbsp of chocolate chips. Use a mini spatula to lightly spread chocolate around rim of glass. Douse in sprinkles and immediately chill in the refrigerator
**Disclaimer: activated charcoal may reduce or prevent absorption of certain medications, drugs, or supplements

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @sugaredandstirred and @torani on Instagram and hashtag #AToraniHalloween

Before I set out to make this recipe, I debated back and forth whether I wanted the caramel baked into the brownies or slathered on afterwards. But I’m such a sucker for that crackly brownie top that I couldn’t bear covering it up! So I baked the the caramel right into the brownies by spooning it between two layers of batter. And OMG I made the right choice! These brownies are ooey gooey at room temperature and, when refrigerated, taste just like fudge.

The caramel I use for this recipe is called a dry caramel, because it starts out in the saucepan with just sugar. I used an easy chewy caramel recipe from Cupcake Jemma (the second caramel in the video), swapping out a couple of ingredients to make it vegan. This caramel tastes amazing, whips up pretty quickly, and since you’ll be baking it into the brownies, I’d say it’s pretty stress-free.

The brownie recipe itself is pretty standard – feel free to mix more walnuts or pecans right into the batter for even more nutty goodness. You’ll pour half of your batter into a prepared baking dish, spoon caramel over the batter, and then top the caramel with the remaining brownie batter. Easy! Top the brownies with nuts, extra chocolate bits, or even salt.

A few of the ingredients I love for this recipe:

Coconut cream mimics the heavy cream that’s standard for a caramel recipe. You won’t taste it at all in this vegan caramel. It’s the perfect plant-based substitute!

Cane sugar (I used unrefined) gives the caramel that classic flavor. I’ve made caramel with coconut sugar, but the flavor is very different. I recommend using cane sugar for this recipe.

Coconut sugar helps sweeten the brownie batter. It’s my go-to sweetener for baked goods since it’s unrefined and low glycemic index.

Dutch process cocoa adds a richer chocolate flavor. And these brownies are rich. Since there are no leavening agents in this recipe, feel free to use regular cocoa powder instead.

Instant coffee helps deepen the chocolate flavor, lending to the brownies richness. This ingredient is totally optional, but I like to add it in.

Eggs help give these brownies lift and create that tried and true brownie texture.

Arrowroot starch replaces flour/grain in this recipe and helps keep these brownies moist and fudgy.

Yield: 12 brownies

Grain-Free Caramel Turtle Brownies

Decadent, fudge-like brownies filled with a layer of gooey vegan caramel, all topped with chopped walnuts (or pecans!) for a "turtle" candy taste.

Prep Time 40 minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes

Additional Time 2 hours

Total Time 3 hours 10 minutes

Ingredients

Caramel Filling

1 1/2 cups sugar (I used Zulka unrefined cane sugar)
200mil canned coconut cream
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
6 Tbsp vegan butter (I used Earth Balance Buttery Sticks)

Brownies

1 1/2 cups dairy-free chocolate chips
1/2 cup coconut oil, solid
2 tsp instant coffee granules (optional)
6 Tbsp dutch-process cocoa (natural cocoa works, too)
3 large eggs, room temp
1 cup coconut sugar
4 1/2 Tbsp arrowroot starch (or corn starch)
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

Instructions

Prepare your caramel: measure out all of your ingredients. Then, in a medium, heavy-bottomed saucepan, add your sugar and turn the heat to medium. Push the sugar around with a wooden spoon until all the sugar is melted and turns to a nice amber color.
Remove melted sugar from the heat and gradually stir in the coconut cream - your mixture will bubble up, so be careful! Stir in the vegan butter until melted. Move saucepan back to the heat and bring mixture to a boil. Use a candy thermometer to measure the temperature. Boil just until mixture reaches 240°F (or 245°F for a firmer caramel filling). Remove from heat and pour into a heat-proof bowl.
Prepare your brownies: preheat your oven to 325°F and prepare an 8x8" baking dish with non-stick spray. Then, line the bottom + all four sides with parchment paper. I like to cut two long, strips that criss-cross along the bottom, and then I fold the excess paper over the sides to help me pull the brownies out later. Also, bring your eggs to room temperature by placing them in a glass of warm water for ~10 minutes.
In a microwave-safe bowl, add the chocolate chips and coconut oil. Microwave in spurts of 20 seconds, stirring well between each one, until chocolate is totally melted. Whisk in the instant coffee granules and cocoa powder; set aside.
In a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, add the eggs and coconut sugar. Whisk on medium-high speed until mixture is thick, fluffy, and light in color. When you lift your whisk, the batter "ribbons" should take 2-3 seconds to disappear.
Fold the chocolate mixture into the whisked eggs + sugar - it may take a minute for them to combine. Add in the arrowroot starch and salt and gently mix until totally combined. If you have mix-ins (nuts, chocolate, etc), add them now.
Pour half of the batter into your prepared baking dish. Then spoon some of the thickened caramel over the batter, leaving ~1/2" at the edges (I used about 3/4 cup and had leftover caramel). Cover caramel with the remaining batter. Smooth out the top with a spatula and sprinkle with chopped walnuts or pecans.
Bake at 325°F for 25-35 minutes or until brownies no longer jiggle. You can also use a toothpick to check for doneness. For optimal fudginess, you want a bit of batter on the toothpick.
Allow brownies to cool totally at room temperature. For a firmer caramel, refrigerate the brownies and slice just before serving (they will taste extra fudgy when cold!). For a more melty caramel (like what's picture below), you can slice up your brownies in the pan as soon as they're cool. Store leftovers at room temperature or in the refrigerator.

Notes

You can use either dutch-process (like Hershey's Special Dark) or natural cocoa powder.

The caramel recipe can be halved if you wish to avoid having leftover caramel!

Caramel recipe loosely adapted from Cupcake Jemma

caramel