Salted caramel ice cream
Salted caramel ice cream is a rich, creamy frozen dessert that masterfully balances the deep, buttery sweetness of caramel with a contrasting kick of sea salt. Typically made from a base of cream, milk, sugar, and egg yolks, the signature flavor comes from caramelized sugar folded in with a finishing salt. While caramel has European roots, this specific salty-sweet combination became a global phenomenon in the early 2000s.
🍽️ Nutrition at a glance
This is a high-fat, high-carb dessert, with a typical serving containing roughly 250-350 calories. Its primary nutrients are energy from fat and sugar, along with some calcium from the dairy base, but it is not a significant source of protein or fiber.
Nutrition breakdown
| Calories | 270 kcal |
| Protein | 3 g |
| Carbs | 34 g |
| Fat | 14 g |
| Fiber | 0 g |
| Sugar | 28 g |
| Sodium | 100 mg |
| Calcium | 100 mg |
| Phosphorus | 80 mg |
| Potassium | 150 mg |
| Vitamin A | 120 mcg RAE |
| Vitamin D | 0.5 mcg |
| Vitamin B12 | 0.3 mcg |
| Riboflavin (B2) | 0.1 mg |
| Cholesterol | 45 mg |
Per 1/2 cup (120 g) · estimated, varies by recipe
💡 What's interesting
The magic of salted caramel lies in its use of salt not as a savory element, but as a flavor enhancer that suppresses bitterness and amplifies sweetness, creating a more complex and addictive taste profile. This balance of opposites has made it a cultural staple in modern gastronomy, moving from a French confection to a worldwide flavor trend.
