Vegan Caramel Sauce (Healthier Recipe) - Plant Based Jess (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Jessica

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This healthier vegan caramel sauce is like magic! Amazing sweet dates are blended with a few simple ingredients to create a luscious, super sweet and highly addictive caramel sauce. It's a very simple recipe done within 15 minutes. You can spoon/pour it over just about anything without feeling like you are overindulging. SO good!

Vegan Caramel Sauce (Healthier Recipe) - Plant Based Jess (1)

There are so many vegan caramel sauces on the web, but lots of them are made using vegan butter, vegan cream and granulated sugar. These amazing gooey vegan caramel sauces are perfect for the occasional special moments. But, don't you feel like we should be able to enjoy caramel sauces at any time without feeling like we are spoiling a good healthy eating day? A caramel sauce that you would generously pour over your children's morning oatmeal bowls without any guilt?

I got you covered.

This version is made using only 4 ingredients: fresh medjool dates, maple syrup, vegan milk and a hint of coconut oil. It will NOT give you the exact classic caramel-y texture that stretches and pours like a thin sauce. BUT, its flavor and smooth sticky texture is SO darn delicious. You won't be able to resist eating it by the spoon!

And it is very straight forward to prepare. After you soak the dates, then you only have to blend everything together. Easy peasy. Play around with the amount of vegan milk to reach a desired consistency and use this caramel sauce in anything you want to add a caramel-y flavor!

(psst. if looking for a delicious layered caramel dessert, then check out this vegan millionaire shortbread!)

Vegan Caramel Sauce (Healthier Recipe) - Plant Based Jess (2)

Why you will love this vegan caramel sauce

  • Rich flavor
  • Sticky, thick and super smooth texture
  • Extra sweet, thanks to the medjool dates
  • Easy, quick and simple recipe
  • No cooking required!
  • A healthier option compared to regular caramel sauces

How to make this vegan caramel sauce

  • Soak the pitted dates in plenty of boiling water for 10 minutes. Drain.
  • Then, blend the softened dates, maple syrup, coconut oil and vegan milk until smooth.
  • Et voilà!
Vegan Caramel Sauce (Healthier Recipe) - Plant Based Jess (3)

Watch how to make it

Vegan Caramel Sauce (Healthier Recipe) - Plant Based Jess (4)

Tips when making a date caramel sauce

  • The type and freshness of your dates will largely influence the result of your caramel. You want to choose large, moist, soft and fresh medjool dates. The small-ish, dried out and old dates that have been hanging out in your pantry for a while might not be the best choice when making this caramel sauce. You are looking for plump dates that will create a rich flavor and texture. You can find medjool dates in the produce section at your grocery stores.
  • When blending the sauce, take a few breaks to scrape the walls. You might have to do this for a few times. Even after soaking your dates and using a high speed blender, dates can take some time to be crushed into a luscious sauce.
  • You can adjust the texture of your sauce with more vegan milk if desired, especially if looking for a more pourable sauce. Using more milk will make your sauce not as sweet, which you could adjust by adding an extra tablespoon or so of maple syrup.

Recipe variation

I keep this recipe simple as I find its flavor so rich and delicious just as it is. But, you can also:

  • Add a hint of vanilla extract to enhance even more the sweetness.
  • Use canned coconut milk (mix well before using) instead of regular vegan milk. This will add more fat to the recipe, but also more richness and creaminess.
  • If you love the salt and sweet flavor combo, then add a pinch of sea salt.
Vegan Caramel Sauce (Healthier Recipe) - Plant Based Jess (5)

How to use this vegan caramel sauce

The question should be more how not to use this decadent delicious sauce! Here are my favorite usages:

  • Morning oatmeal or overnight oats (yes, you are allowed)
  • Generously spread over toast or this apple cinnamon bread
  • As a dipping sauce for fruits (perfect for apples)
  • Over vegan ice cream or when making caramel ice cream cups
  • To top cakes, cupcakes, brownies, muffins
  • Or, for bad-days-binge-eating by the spoon. You do you, we are not watching.

Storage

Keep the date caramel sauce in a airtight container for 1-2 weeks in your fridge. Stir before using. The caramel might appear thicker as it cools down.

It can also be frozen for up to 3 months.

Vegan Caramel Sauce (Healthier Recipe) - Plant Based Jess (6)

Other sweet dessert sauces/toppings you might like

  • Cherry marmalade
  • Coconut whipped cream
  • Healthy peanut butter frosting
  • Vegan cashew vanilla icing
  • Tahini caramel sauce
  • Vegan fruit dip

I hope you enjoy this vegan caramel sauce recipe as much as we do! If you try it, please leave a comment below and rate the recipe to let me know how it was. Your feedback is so helpful!

Let's stay in touch with Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook. Also, don't forget to subscribe to my newsletter to be sure not to miss anything.

Vegan Caramel Sauce (Healthier Recipe) - Plant Based Jess (7)

Vegan Caramel Sauce (Healthier Recipe)

This healthier vegan caramel sauce is like magic! Amazing sweet dates are blended with a few simple ingredients to create a luscious, super sweet and highly addictive caramel sauce. It's a very simple recipe done within 15 minutes. You can spoon/pour it over just about anything without feeling like you are indulging. SO good!

PRINT RECIPE PIN RECIPE

Prep Time15 minutes mins

Cook Time0 minutes mins

Total Time15 minutes mins

Author Jessica Laroche

Ingredients

  • 15 large medjool dates - pitted
  • ¼ cup maple syrup
  • 1 tbsp coconut oil - choose refined to avoid coconut flavor
  • ¾ to 1 cup vegan milk - or more to reach desired consistency, use oat milk for a nut-free recipe

Instructions

  • Soak the pitted dates in boiling water for 10 minutes.

  • Drain the date and transfer to a blender. Add the rest of the ingredients and blend until very smooth. Start with ¾ cup of vegan milk and add more (¼ cup at the time) to reach the desired consistency.

  • Transfer to a air-tight container and store in the fridge for up to 7-10 days. Can be frozen for up to 3 months.

Video

Vegan Caramel Sauce (Healthier Recipe) - Plant Based Jess (8)

Notes

  • This healthier recipe yields a caramel sauce that is not easily pourable (it is more of a plop-able caramel!). This texture is due to its healthier ingredients. The flavors are incredible and the texture very smooth and sticky.
  • Serve over vegan ice cream, cakes, toasts, oatmeal bowls, overnight oats, ice cream cups, topping muffins or cupcakes. Or, simply by the spoon!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Vegan Caramel Sauce (Healthier Recipe) - Plant Based Jess (10)Kimberly Grant says

    Vegan Caramel Sauce (Healthier Recipe) - Plant Based Jess (11)
    Love this sauce! Has a great flavor and just the right amount of sweetness.

    Reply

    • Vegan Caramel Sauce (Healthier Recipe) - Plant Based Jess (12)plantbasedjess says

      Oh great Kimberly! I'm glad you liked it 🙂

      Reply

      • Vegan Caramel Sauce (Healthier Recipe) - Plant Based Jess (13)Pam says

        Vegan Caramel Sauce (Healthier Recipe) - Plant Based Jess (14)
        This is a wonderful recipe!
        I make it often! Just wanted to add that I save the soaking water and use it in a variety of ways!!! It’s just enough sweetness for smoothies or cereal or whatever creativity takes you with it!!☺️

        Reply

        • Vegan Caramel Sauce (Healthier Recipe) - Plant Based Jess (15)Jessica says

          Hi Pam! I'm so glad you like it, thanks for your comment! 🙂

          Reply

  2. Vegan Caramel Sauce (Healthier Recipe) - Plant Based Jess (16)Evelyn says

    Vegan Caramel Sauce (Healthier Recipe) - Plant Based Jess (17)
    This is absolutely my favorite. I make it weekly😊. I first tried it with Deglet Noor dates as that is all I had and a big tub from Costco. Finally tried Mejooled dates and what a difference. I loved them before. But now wow these are fantastic

    Reply

    • Vegan Caramel Sauce (Healthier Recipe) - Plant Based Jess (18)Jessica says

      Thank you for your comment Evelyn! I'm glad you like it 🙂

      Reply

  3. Vegan Caramel Sauce (Healthier Recipe) - Plant Based Jess (19)Jenny says

    Vegan Caramel Sauce (Healthier Recipe) - Plant Based Jess (20)
    This is soooo delicious! I’m totally addicted to this dip with apple slices…Yummo!! I make it with canned coconut milk to make it extra creamy and add a pinch of salt.

    Reply

    • Vegan Caramel Sauce (Healthier Recipe) - Plant Based Jess (21)Jessica says

      Oh yum, coconut milk sounds amazing 😊 Thanks for sharing!

      Reply

  4. Vegan Caramel Sauce (Healthier Recipe) - Plant Based Jess (22)laura says

    has anyone use honey instead of maple syrup??

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Vegan Caramel Sauce (Healthier Recipe) - Plant Based Jess (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between caramel and vegan caramel? ›

Like regular caramel, this vegan caramel is made from a base of sugar, cream, and butter. We'll be using coconut cream instead of regular cream, and dairy free butter to keep it all dairy free since most caramel is not vegan. Then you'll need some salt and vanilla for extra flavor and that's it!

What is vegan caramel made of? ›

The base for this 5-ingredient caramel is coconut cream, dates, and arrowroot starch, which are blended until creamy and smooth. This makes up the liquid ingredients, which are added to a bit of coconut sugar and cooked until glossy and just bubbly.

What is not vegan about caramel? ›

Is caramel vegan? Because caramel is essentially just sugar, in its purest form, it is vegan. However, it is often mixed with dairy cream, butter, or milk, which is why it's important to always check the back of store-bought caramel candy.

Is Liquid caramel vegan? ›

Most homemade caramel sauces contain heavy cream, so no. A simple caramel sauce will most likely contain sugar, water, heavy cream and butter.

Is there natural caramel? ›

Natural caramel is made by heating sugars (or starches) in the presence of acid or alkali. The process is referred to as caramelisation and produces a water-soluble, brown mixture that gives a burnt sugar taste.

Why is Starbucks caramel not vegan? ›

Caramel Frappuccino

Note: you may notice the Starbucks menu offers a Caramel Frappuccino and a Caramel Ribbon Frappuccino; the latter is not vegan as it includes a dairy-based Dark Caramel Sauce in the mix.

Why is my vegan caramel grainy? ›

Grainy caramel is caused by crystallization, which is easy to avoid (and can also be fixed). Caramel becomes grainy when the sugars crystallize, a process that happens when the melted sugar splashes up onto the cold sides of the pan. It loses its moisture and turns back into a sugar crystal.

Why is caramel syrup not vegan? ›

Still, non-vegan ingredients like milk, cream, and butter give caramel its fat and protein content and provide caramel with its signature rich, velvety texture. You can find dairy-based caramel in an assortment of forms, including candies, sauces, puddings, and baking chips.

What is surprisingly not vegan? ›

Honey. Honey is a controversial food for many vegans. Bees do produce it, and it is also a food source in the hive. Because bees produce it, and bees have died to make it, honey is not considered vegan.

Can vegans eat sugar? ›

Most vegans consider sugar a generally acceptable food, but strict vegans abstain from refined cane sugars that are likely to have been processed with animal products. They can, however, consume vegan-friendly raw cane sugar, certified-organic cane sugar, and sugar made exclusively from beets.

What caramel is vegan at Starbucks? ›

Case in point: the caramel syrup is vegan but the caramel sauce is not. Here is everything you need to know about these flavor-enhancers so you can order with confidence the next time you stroll up to a Starbucks.

Is Smuckers caramel sauce vegan? ›

This product is not vegan as it lists 4 ingredients that derive from animals and 1 ingredient that could derive from animals depending on the source.

What are the two types of caramel? ›

When creating caramel, there are typically two different versions: wet caramel and dry caramel. Wet caramel refers to caramel that has been made by adding water to the sugar during the heating process.

What are the three types of caramel? ›

How long to cook caramel to achieve the right texture
TextureTarget temperatureCook time (approx.)
Caramel sauce215 - 235 degrees Fahrenheit5-10 minutes
Chewy caramels245 degrees Fahrenheit10-15 minutes
Hard caramels300 - 310 degrees Fahrenheit15-20 minutes
Oct 14, 2021

Is all caramel vegan? ›

Unfortunately for vegans, most commercially available forms of caramel include non-vegan ingredients like milk that give caramel its creamy, rich texture. Thankfully, vegans don't have to give up caramel entirely. There are plenty of animal-product-free varieties as well as easy vegan DIY recipes.

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