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    Home » Recipes » Dietary Need » Dairy free » Dairy free & Vegan Salted Caramel Sauce

    Published: Sep 15, 2021 by Ansley Beutler

    Dairy free & Vegan Salted Caramel Sauce

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    Velvety smooth and luscious dairy free caramel sauce made without cream and only four ingredients! This vegan salted caramel is rich and gooey and easier than ever to whip up at home. Be prepared to want to drizzle it on EVERYTHING!

    Dairy free caramel dripping off a spoon and running into a glass container.

    This dairy free caramel is not your average butter and cream filled caramel sauce. This recipe is made with a coconut milk base infused with delicious coconut sugar making it vegan, paleo-friendly, and dairy free!

    Don't worry, it doesn't taste like coconut - just straight up cozy caramel sauce! Trust me when I say you'll want to dip, dunk, and drip this vegan salted caramel on everything in site (including my dairy free macarons and gluten free turtle brownies).

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients and notes
    • Step by step directions
    • Best ways to use your caramel
    • Storing
    • Frequently asked questions
    • Recipe
    • Reviews

    Ingredients and notes

    You only need four main ingredients to whip up this dairy free caramel!

    Dairy free caramel ingredients spread out on a pink surface with black labels.
    • Full-fat coconut milk - Make sure you use full-fat coconut milk for this recipe - not lite coconut milk. A high-quality brand like Native Forest, Thai Kitchen, and even Trader Joe's is also best. You can substitute with coconut cream if desired.
    • Coconut sugar - This is what adds the deep caramel flavor and glorious golden brown caramel color.
    • Vanilla - I know, it sounds weird to add vanilla to something that is supposed to taste like caramel. However, the vanilla extract actually elevates the caramel flavor and leads to a more robust caramel so don't skip it!
    • Sea salt - To add a salted flavor to the caramel. Sea salt is best, not table salt.
    Overhead closeup photo of a silver spoon full of dairy free caramel.

    Step by step directions

    This vegan salted caramel recipe is beyond easy to make. All you need is a pot and an airtight container to store the dairy free caramel sauce.

    Step 1 : Heat in a pot

    First, heat the coconut milk and coconut sugar in a pot and heat it on the stove over medium heat. Stir frequently to prevent burning.

    Allow the mixture to simmer for about 10 - 15 minutes until the coconut sugar is completely dissolved. The mixture will look darker in color and be slightly thick. If you stick a spoon into the pot, the entire spoon should be coated in the caramel sauce.

    Step 2 : Stir in the vanilla and sea salt and store

    Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the vanilla and sea salt. This will give the caramel sauce a little more flavor as the salt with dissolve in the warm mixture.

    Pour the dairy free caramel sauce in an airtight container with a lid (I love using one of these glass jars.) Place the container in the fridge to chill for at least 2 hours. It will thicken up even more in the fridge.

    Glass jar full of dairy free caramel with a lid on top on a pink surface.

    Best ways to use your caramel

    I'm not kidding when I say this vegan salted caramel sauce goes well with practically anything. Here are my favorite ways to use it:

    • As a dip for apples (or other fruit)
    • Drizzled over ice cream (my paleo vanilla ice cream to be specific)
    • To top off a gluten free ice cream cake
    • Swirled into some overnight oats in the morning to add a touch of sweetness
    • Folded into gluten free turtle brownies
    Hand picking spoon up from a glass jar with dairy free caramel.

    Storing

    The best way to store this vegan caramel is in a glass jar. This allows you to heat it up in the microwave at a later date easily.

    Once made, pour the caramel in a jar and place in the fridge to thicken up a bit. When ready to eat, pop it in the microwave if you prefer a thinner consistency in 8 second intervals (be careful, it does thin out quickly).

    Alternatively, you can set the jar out on the counter for at least 30 minutes to allow it to thin out.

    The caramel will keep in the fridge for up to a month.

    Spoon resting inside a glass jar full of dairy free caramel on white parchment paper.

    Frequently asked questions

    Is caramel gluten free?

    Caramel is naturally gluten free. However, it's always a good idea to check the ingredients to make sure no additives or preservatives
    are added that may contain gluten or have been made in a facility that also manufactures gluten food.

    What's the difference between butterscotch vs caramel?

    Although they sometimes do taste similar, they are actually different. Butterscotch doesn't use cream or milk like caramel. Instead it's made with butter and brown sugar. Caramel also typically has a bit of a sweeter taste from the vanilla which isn't always used in butterscotch.

    Does caramel have dairy?

    Typical caramel does contain dairy from cream or milk or sweetened condensed milk. This dairy free caramel sauce recipe uses coconut milk in place of typical dairy products used to make caramel

    How to thicken caramel sauce?

    This dairy free caramel will thicken up when cooled. If you prefer your caramel thick, I recommend not heating it back up too much. As it warms up, it will become thinner in consistency.

    Dairy free caramel sauce dripping off a spoon into a jar.

    For more caramel recipes, check out my:

    • Salted Caramel Tart (Vegan!)
    • Easy Salted Caramel Apple Butter
    • Salted Caramel Oat Milk Latte

    PS : If you make this recipe, be sure to leave a star review and comment below! Also be sure to follow along with me on Instagram and Pinterest to stay up to date on all tasty recipes here at The Fit Peach!


     

    Recipe

    Dairy free & Vegan Salted Caramel Sauce without Cream

    Velvety smooth and luscious dairy free caramel sauce made without cream and only three ingredients! This vegan salted caramel is rich and gooey and easier than ever to whip up at home. Be prepared to want to drizzle it on EVERYTHING!
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Sauce
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: Dairy-free Caramel, Homemade Caramel Sauce, Paleo Caramel Sauce, Vegan Caramel Sauce
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes
    Total Time: 25 minutes
    Servings: 16 servings
    Calories: 74kcal
    Author: Ansley Beutler

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 1 13- oz can full fat coconut milk
    • ¾ cup coconut sugar
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla
    • 1 teaspoon sea salt

    Instructions

    • In a skillet, heat the coconut milk and coconut sugar over medium heat. Stir frequently to prevent burning. Allow the mixture to simmer for 10 - 15 minutes until the coconut sugar is fully dissolved. The mixture should be thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.
    • Remove the pot from the stove and stir in the vanilla and sea salt. Pour the caramel into an airtight container with a lid. Place the container in the fridge to chill for at least 2 hours. The caramel will thicken up the longer it's in the fridge.

    Notes

    Coconut milk substitutes : If desired, you can use coconut cream in place of the milk. This will provide a thicker caramel sauce.
    Storing : The best way to store the caramel is in a glass container with an airtight lid. It will keep in the fridge for up to a month.
    Warming it up : When ready to enjoy, heat the jar in the microwave in 8 second intervals until desired consistency 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 74kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 163mg | Potassium: 55mg | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 5mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @the.fit.peach or tag #thefitpeach!
    « Gluten free Everything Bagels
    Vegan & Dairy free Vanilla Ice Cream with Coconut Milk »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Brooke Hallie says

      February 03, 2022 at 9:15 pm

      5 stars
      The best caramel sauce I've made! I've been df for years and haven't been able to find a caramel that resembles the real thing. This recipe was so delicious and tastes just like it. I'll definitely be saving this one!!

      Reply

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