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    You are here: Home / Clean Eating Desserts / Vegan Salted Caramel

    Vegan Salted Caramel

    Published: Nov 2, 2020 · Modified: Jul 30, 2021 by Elise Shivamber · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This four ingredient Vegan Salted Caramel is not only so easy, but also is refined sugar free. It’s sweet and rich and takes about 45-minutes!

    a mason jar filled with vegan salted caramel dripping from the sides

    This dairy-free Salted Caramel doesn’t require a candy thermometer, only simmering on a stove top. Thank goodness, because who has time for that! This is a lighter, healthier salted caramel treat.

    Some vegan caramel sauce recipes call for ingredients like tahini or dates, but I prefer using ingredients you already have on hand. Drizzle this dairy free caramel sauce for salted caramel ice cream, on oat milk pancakes, with apple slices, on dates, or to spruce up any dessert!

    This clean eating dessert recipe uses fresh ingredients. I’m a huge proponent of making simple recipes that don’t skimp out on taste. For desserts especially, I prefer fresh fruit, little to no sugar (almost always refined sugar free), and letting the ingredients stand for themselves. For other clean desserts like this one, try Vegan Coconut Pineapple Ice Cream {No Churn} or Frozen Greek Yogurt Cookie Bark.

    Jump to:
    • Highlights of this Recipe
    • Ingredients & Substitutions
    • Step-By-Step Instructions
    • How to Store Vegan Caramel
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Ideas for Using Vegan Salted Caramel
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    I had been wanting to make everything salted caramel for weeks, but every single time I go to the store I see the $8+ dollar price tag on the pre-made bottles. I finally bit the bullet and decided to do the only rational thing... made my own vegan salted caramel!

    This dairy-free, vegan salted caramel is way easier to make than I expected! I'd never made it before and usually just decided to not deal with the hassle of making caramel. Every food TV show I'd watch made it seem like it was so impossible to make! Guess what?! IT'S EASY!! It's only four-ingredients and you literally just bring to a boil, stir, simmer, stir, simmer, stir, add vanilla extract.

    drizzling vegan salted caramel from a spoon into a mason jar

    I'm not often a huge fan of super sweet anything, but I am a huge fan of salted caramel. I'm not sure if it's the creaminess or the saltiness that makes me feel like it's more savory, but I am a huge fan!

    Highlights of this Recipe

    This recipe is:

    • Gooey, Sticky and Delicious
    • 4 Ingredients
    • 30-Minutes
    • Simple to Follow

    Ingredients & Substitutions

    Ingredients for vegan salted caramel: a bowl of coconut sugar, a bowl of vanilla extract, a bowl of coconut cream, and a bowl of sea salt.
    • Coconut Sugar - Substitute for regular granulated sugar or brown sugar.
    • Coconut Cream - Substitute for the cream only of canned coconut milk. Coconut cream is better than coconut milk as it’s richer and thicker.
    • Sea Salt - Make sure to add a touch of salt to balance out the flavors of this salted vegan caramel sauce. Salt (weirdly enough) brings out the sweetness of the other ingredients and helps balance salted caramel. Use sea salt or kosher salt!
    • Vanilla Extract - Use vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste!

    Step-By-Step Instructions

    • coconut cream in a small pot with coconut sugar and sea salt tossed into it.
    • smoothing the ingredients for vegan salted caramel in a small pot.
    • The final step of making vegan salted caramel - add vanilla extract after taking it off the heat and smooth it together.

    STEP ONE: Pour coconut sugar, coconut cream and sea salt into a small pot. 

    STEP TWO: Bring to a boil and then simmer for 35-minutes. 

    STEP THREE: Take the pot off of the stove and add vanilla extract. 

    STEP FOUR: Stir and store in an airtight container.

    How to Store Vegan Caramel

    Store vegan salted caramel sauce in an airtight container or jar. Refrigerate for up to 1 month. 

    After being in the refrigerator, homemade salted caramel can be hard and may need to be heated up to come back to liquid consistency. You can microwave for 30-seconds and stir.

    How to Freeze Salted Caramel

    You can freeze salted caramel in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator or at room temperature.

    vegan salted caramel in a mason jar with caramel dripping off the sides. a spoon sits on the bottom.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Can caramel sauce be kept at room temperature?

    Caramel is safe at room temperature for up to one day. 

    Does vegan salted caramel taste like salted caramel?

    Yes! You really don’t taste the coconut cream. It keeps the golden, rich and sticky taste of the dairy-packed version. It's similar to butterscotch.

    Ideas for Using Vegan Salted Caramel

    • Pour on top of hot chocolate
    • For an ice cream sundae! Pair with DF Maple Bourbon Pecan Ice Cream or DF Pumpkin Chai Ice Cream
    • To make a sweet cocktail or on top of a Vegan Cinnamon Roll Cocktail
    • Drizzled in the batter or on top of Oat Milk Pancakes or Pumpkin Protein Pancakes
    • On Peanut Butter Chia Seed Pudding
    • Sprinkle on top of brownies

    📖 Recipe

    Vegan Salted Caramel in a mason jar with caramel dripping from the top and a spoon to the side with caramel on it

    Vegan Salted Caramel

    Elise Shivamber
    This four ingredient Vegan Salted Caramel is not only so easy, but also is refined sugar free. It’s sweet and rich and takes only 30-minutes!
    No ratings yet
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Cook Time 45 minutes mins
    Total Time 45 minutes mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 12 servings
    Calories 126 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 Can Coconut Cream (15-OZ Can)
    • ½ Cup Coconut Sugar
    • ½ teaspoon Sea Salt
    • 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract

    Instructions
     

    • Put coconut sugar, coconut cream and sea salt in a small pot.
    • With temperature at medium-high heat, bring to a boil, mixing frequently.
    • Once at a boil, immediately bring to a simmer. (If it boils too much it could boil over).
    • Simmer for 35-minutes, stirring occasionally, making sure to bring the browned bits from the sides into the pot. After 35-minutes, the vegan salted caramel should stick to the back of the spoon. The caramel will thicken as it cools.
    • At the end of the 35-minutes, take the vegan salted caramel off of the heat and add the vanilla extract. Stir together to combine.
    • Pour into an air-tight container or mason jar. Vegan salted caramel will last for up to one month in the fridge!

    Notes

    Store vegan salted caramel in an airtight container or jar. Refrigerate for up to 1 month.
    Caramel is safe at room temperature for up to one day.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 126kcalCarbohydrates: 8gProtein: 1gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 10gSodium: 111mgPotassium: 102mgFiber: 1gSugar: 4gVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 4mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword salted caramel, sauce, vegan, vegan salted caramel
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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