Vegan Salted Caramel Sauce

Recipe Key:

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 is the only caramel recipe you will ever need. I whip up a batch at the start of every fall season and it lasts me through the holidays!

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!

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What makes this Vegan Caramel Recipe the best:

With the classic rich and tacky flavor of traditional caramel, but only made with 2 main ingredients and half the time, this vegan caramel is one of those recipes you’ll be referring to agin and again.

You only need a pot and about 15 minutes of cook time to make a batch which makes this on of the easiest caramel recipes out there. It’s sweet and smooth and pairs perfectly on top of ice cream, as a fruit dip, on top of brownies, and more.

Vegan Caramel Recipe Ingredients

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.

How to make Vegan Caramel

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.

How to Use Vegan Salted Caramel Sauce

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:

Hand picking spoon up from a glass jar with dairy free caramel.

How to Store Vegan Salted Caramel

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.

Vegan Caramel Sauce Recipe FAQs

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:


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

Vegan Salted Caramel

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!
4.50 from 2 votes
Print Pin Rate
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
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2 Comments

  1. 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!!

4.50 from 2 votes (1 rating without comment)

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