This creamy Vegan Salted Caramel Sauce requires just three ingredients and about five minutes to make. It’s not a health food, but it’s a lighter alternative when you want to indulge.
This salted caramel began as a simple topping for another recipe, but it was so good I had to share it on its own.
I was inspired by Regina’s vegan caramel from her clean-eating blog. Initially I tried combining cashew butter with date syrup and warming it, but the texture was too nut-forward for the smooth, caramel-like finish I wanted.
After discovering Regina’s method, I realized coconut cream would give the sauce the rich, silky texture I was after. Coconut cream (thicker than coconut milk) reduces beautifully and yields a luscious, caramel-like consistency.
This versatile sauce works as an apple dip, a frozen-yogurt topping, or a drizzle over cakes and pies. It keeps in the fridge for several days if you can resist dipping the spoon straight into the jar.
Tips for Vegan Salted Caramel Sauce
- Coconut cream is different from coconut milk: it contains less water and is creamier. You can substitute full-fat coconut milk, but it will take longer to reduce and may require more careful simmering to avoid foaming. The result will be slightly thinner but still tasty.
- Make it Paleo: if you follow a strict Paleo diet and prefer not to use date syrup, honey is an acceptable substitute in this recipe.
Vegan Salted Caramel Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 cup coconut cream
- 1 cup date syrup
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
Instructions
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Combine the coconut cream, date syrup, and sea salt in a saucepan. Heat over medium and bring to a low boil.
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Whisk every minute to keep the mixture smooth and prevent sticking.
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After about five minutes, test the sauce by dropping a small amount into a glass of cold water. If it disperses into a cloudy puddle, it’s still too thin. Continue simmering and retest every minute until the drop forms a small ball in the cold water. Depending on your stove, the total time should be 5–10 minutes.
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If using full-fat coconut milk instead of coconut cream, expect a longer reduction time and more foaming; lower the heat as needed. The finished sauce will be slightly less thick but still delicious.
Nutrition
Other Healthy Dessert Sauce Recipes:
- Vegan Date Caramel, by Nadia’s Healthy Kitchen
- Healthy 3 Ingredient Chocolate Sauce, by Whole Heartedly Healthy
- Paleo Lemon Curd, by Flavor and Savor
- Paleo Hot Fudge, by Vitamin Sunshine
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