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    Home » Recipes » Plant-Based Desserts

    How to Make Vegan Caramel Sauce

    Published: Jun 1, 2021 · Modified: Oct 10, 2022 by Nicolette · This post may contain affiliate links. By browsing this website, you agree to our privacy policy and terms of use.

    1.9K shares
    Jump to Recipe

    This vegan caramel sauce is made by blending together Medjool dates, coconut cream, maple syrup and kosher salt! No butter, oil or heating cane sugar slowly over the stovetop required, yet this version is just as silky and gooey. Perfect for drizzling overtop ice cream, brownies and more! All you need is about 5 minutes.

    Vegan caramel swirled in white bowl with gold spoon.

    Before going vegan I absolutely loved caramel. I always went for the chocolates filled with caramel, caramel apples, caramel drizzled coffee frappuccinos. All the things.

    When recipe testing, I made a more classic version of caramel with cane sugar, butter, and vegan condensed cream. Surprisingly I preferred the taste and texture of this easier version and I know you will too!

    A vegan caramel that’s quick, easy and pretty healthy?! Yes, please!

    TABLE OF CONTENTS show
    1 Why This Recipe Works
    2 Ingredients and Substitutions
    3 Step by Step Instructions
    4 FAQs
    5 Expert Tips
    6 What to Eat this With
    7 Vegan Caramel Sauce

    Why This Recipe Works

    • Medjool dates are a very sweet, gooey fruit that naturally have a caramel undertone.
    • Coconut cream makes this caramel rich and creamy without the need of dairy butter or oil.
    • Soaked medjool dates are very easy to blend into a smooth paste!
    • This vegan caramel is completely fuss free and fool proof. All you need is a high powered blender!

    Ingredients and Substitutions

    Ingredients needed measured into individual glass bowls.
    • medjool dates – Medjool dates have the perfect caramel flavor without the need for refined sugar.
    • coconut cream – Makes this vegan caramel taste so rich and indulgent! Can substitute full fat coconut milk.
    • maple syrup – Adds additional sweetness with more caramel undertone! Can substitute with agave nectar.
    • kosher salt – Very important to balance the sweetness.

    Step by Step Instructions

    1. Soak the medjool dates in boiling hot water for 3-5 minutes until soft and gooey. If you’re dates aren’t as fresh and are harder to squish together with your fingers, you may need to soak them for a bit longer.

      The goal is to get them very squishy so the blender doesn’t have a hard time blending them into a smooth paste texture. If your dates are very fresh, you may be able to skip this step all together!
    Medjool dates soaking in hot water in glass bowl.
    1. Remove the pits from the medjool dates. If you accidentally leave them in, you can greatly damage the blade in your blender!
    3 medjool dates split down the middle with their pits removed.
    1. Add pitted dates, coconut cream, maple syrup and kosher salt to a high speed blender and blend until completely smooth. This will take about 2 minutes depending on your blender.
    Medjool dates, coconut cream, maple syrup, and kosher salt in Vitamix blender before blending.
    1. Store vegan caramel in an air tight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

    FAQs

    Are store bought caramels vegan?

    Not usually. Traditional caramel is made with dairy butter and heavy cream. I personally have a difficult time finding any store bought vegan caramel.

    I don’t have a high powered blender. Can I use a food processor?

    No, a food processor is not going to be able to blend this completely smooth. I also do not recommend using the Ninja blender with the blade up the stem because that is going to have the same problem. It will be gritty.

    Where can I buy medjool dates?

    I buy them at Costco, but I have seen them in smaller packages at most grocery stores. They are usually found in the produce section.

    Is the caramel syrup at Starbucks vegan?

    The caramel syrup at Starbucks is vegan, but the caramel drizzle they put on top of drinks is not. If you want a true caramel Frapp experience, you’ll have to bring your own vegan caramel sauce (like this one!) and vegan whipped cream.

    Closeup photo of vegan caramel sprinkled with salt in white bowl.

    Expert Tips

    • Really make sure the vegan caramel is super silky smooth. Over blending this really isn’t a concern so err on the side of caution here and blend more than you think you need.
    • Enjoy this vegan caramel hot and cold. It’s really good both ways!
    • Use fresh dates. I find they have the best, strongest caramel flavor and are the easiest to blend.

    What to Eat this With

    • Vanilla mug cake topped with fresh raspberries and a gold spoon.
      Vegan Vanilla Mug Cake
    • Finished nachos spread on large plate.
      Vegan Apple Nachos
    • cooke bars on wood board with blue ribbon
      Healthy Vegan Cookie Bars
    • Easy Coffee Overnight Oats

    [popout_newsletter]

    Vegan caramel swirled in white bowl with gold spoon.

    Vegan Caramel Sauce

    This vegan caramel sauce only requires 4 ingredients and takes less than 10 minutes to make. No butter, refined sugar, or whisking needed!
    5 from 10 votes
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 2 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 7 minutes minutes
    Servings: 16 servings
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate this Recipe

    What You’ll Need

    • High-Powered Blender
    • Fine Mesh Sieve
    • Silicone Spatula
    • Glass storage jars

    Ingredients

    • 18 Medjool dates
    • 1 cup coconut cream
    • ¼ cup maple syrup
    • ½ teaspoon Morton kosher salt
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Soak the medjool dates in boiling hot water for 3-5 minutes, or until softened. If your dates are super fresh and gooey, you may be able to skip this step.
    • Drain the medjool dates and remove pits.
    • Add all ingredients to a high powered blender and blend until completely smooth.

    Storage

    • Store caramel in refrigerator for up to 5 days for best freshness.

    Recipe Notes

    • If your medjool dates are older and dried out, a longer soak time may be required.
    • You can substitute full fat coconut milk instead of coconut cream and agave nectar for the maple syrup.
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    Nutrition

    Serving: 2tbsp | Calories: 138kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Sodium: 74mg | Potassium: 248mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 21g | Vitamin A: 40IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 24mg | Iron: 1mg

    Disclaimer: The Nutritional Information provided for this recipe is only an estimate. The accuracy of the facts listed is not and cannot be guaranteed.

    Course: Dessert, Sauces and Dips
    Cuisine: American
    Author: Nicolette Wax

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    1.9K shares

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Angela

      June 07, 2022 at 10:19 am

      5 stars
      I had extra dates from another recipe and did a search for something yummy. This easy caramel sauce I stubbled upon and glad I did. I am not sure how long it will last as I keep dipping a spoon into the jar for more tastings. So good and not overly sweet like regular ones.

      Reply
      • Nicolette

        June 23, 2022 at 10:01 am

        Hi Angela! I am so glad you enjoyed it!! 🙂

        Reply
    2. Jill

      June 07, 2022 at 10:06 am

      5 stars
      I love caramel too. I’m not vegan but this certainly is healthier than traditional caramel loaded with sugar. I’m going to try it!

      Reply
      • Nicolette

        June 23, 2022 at 10:02 am

        Yes! Much much healthier than traditional caramels.

        Reply
    3. Tara

      June 07, 2022 at 10:05 am

      5 stars
      I love how you made this caramel sauce vegan! It sounds absolutely amazing with the use of the Medjool dates.

      Reply
      • Nicolette

        June 23, 2022 at 10:02 am

        Medjool dates are pretty amazing! Thanks, Tara.

        Reply
    4. Alisa Infanti

      June 07, 2022 at 10:01 am

      5 stars
      This recipe is genius! Just goes to prove again that dates are a magic food.

      Reply
      • Nicolette

        June 23, 2022 at 10:02 am

        Thank you, I agree completely. Dates are magic.

        Reply
    5. April

      June 07, 2022 at 9:59 am

      5 stars
      I love the use of dates, I sometimes have some left over and this is a great application for those. Thank you for the recipe!

      Reply
      • Nicolette

        June 23, 2022 at 10:02 am

        I hope you enjoy it 🙂

        Reply
    6. Yuri

      January 25, 2022 at 5:49 pm

      What about substituting coconut cream with cashew heavy cream? I was hoping for a coconut free caramel…🤔🤔🤔

      Reply
    7. Teena

      November 07, 2021 at 2:45 pm

      Just wondering if you have tried it in coffee?

      Reply
    8. Allison

      September 04, 2021 at 12:53 pm

      Can you substitute the coconut cream with something else such as silken tofu? I really want to make this! Thank you!

      Reply
      • Nicolette

        September 04, 2021 at 3:13 pm

        Hi Allison, I haven’t tried this with silken tofu and can’t recommend it. That would likely taste very different from the original recipe since coconut cream is higher in fat.

        Reply

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