Vegan Honey Mustard Dressing

This Vegan Honey Mustard Dressing is the perfect balance of sweet and tangy and one of my favorite easy to make condiments! Spread it on a sandwich, drizzle it on a salad, or dunk tofu nuggets in it! It’s the perfect make ahead dressing or condiment for meal prep. All you need is 6 ingredients and 5 minutes.

Although buying condiments and dressings at the grocery store is incredibly convenient, it can be very expensive! They’re also often filled with preservatives or filler ingredients to make them cheaper to produce and last on the shelves.

By making your own dressings at home, you are in complete control of what you use! It’s also much cheaper and budget friendly!

This recipe is also as easy as it gets – no blenders, no dicing, no stovetop required. Just a bowl and a whisk!

Is Honey Vegan?

Honey is not vegan because it is derived from honey bees and vegans avoid products derived from animals.

Although some vegans may argue that bee farming is beneficial to the environment, the general consensus is that it simply cannot be considered vegan as it is an animal-based product.

Some plant-based diets include honey, however for the possible health benefits.

This is because plant-based diets are plant-focused diets for health purposes, but not necessarily a lifestyle or diet that completely avoids animal products for environmental or moral reasons.

Luckily for us, finding vegan friendly honey replacements is easy and versatile!

Honey Substitutes that are Vegan Friendly

Most recipes that call for honey are using them as a natural sweetener as honey is simply a sweet substance made from the fructose and glucose monosaccharides in plant nectar and fruits.

Since honey is as sweet as table sugar, it is incredibly easy to substitute that sweetness with vegan friendly substitutes.

My vegan honey mustard dressing uses a combination of agave nectar and maple syrup for the perfect flavor profile and sweetness, but below are a few more ideas you can try in other recipes that call for honey!

Liquid Honey Substitutes

1. Agave Nectar – Agave nectar is probably my favorite honey substitute as it has a lower glycemic index just like honey, is a similar golden color to honey and has a great naturally sweet flavor. I also regularly have it in my pantry for making homemade margaritas, or Homemade Vegan Marshmallows!
2. Maple Syrup – Another pantry staple I ALWAYS have on hand, maple syrup is a great, convenient choice for replacing honey. It has a bit stronger of a flavor than honey, but it is a perfect replacement for the sweetness.
3. Brown Rice Syrup – Extra thick and sticky just like honey, brown rice syrup is a great option. I tend to use it less as a honey replacer just because I don’t regularly have it on hand, but if you do, it’s a great choice!
4. Store-bought vegan honey – There are a few bee-free vegan honeys you can find in stores and online that are typically made from boiling and reducing apple juice into a thick syrup.

Granulated Honey Substitutes

Although it usually makes more sense to choose a liquid substitute for honey, since it is used as a sweetener, it’s just as possible to use granulated sugars as well depending on the recipe!

1. Organic cane sugar – Cane sugar is just as sweet as honey making it a good option for substituting! Just make sure to buy an organic sugar, as conventional sugars are regularly refined and bleached with bone char, making them not vegan friendly.
2. Brown sugar – Brown sugar is another great pantry friendly option for substituting honey as it has that bold flavor from the molasses and perfect sweetness level.

Why This Recipe Works

• Agave and maple syrup mixed together makes the perfect vegan honey substitute!
• Dijon mustard gives this vegan honey mustard dressing the perfect kick and zest!
• Vegan mayonnaise is the best creamy, neutral tasting base to the dressing.

Ingredient Notes and Possible Substitutions

• Vegan Mayonnaise – I use store-bought vegan mayonnaise because it’s easy, convenient and super versatile! Any brand should do. I used Vegenaise by Follow Your Heart. If you prefer to make your own, try this homemade vegan mayonnaise!
• Dijon Mustard – Dijon mustard is the best mustard to use for mustard dressing because it is much more tangy and a little spicier than yellow mustard. If you prefer a more mild dressing, yellow mustard will work.
• Maple syrup and agave nectar – I like to use a combination of both as a honey substitute as it makes a more unique, in depth flavor. If you are only going to use one, I recommend agave nectar as it is more subtly sweet like honey. Maple syrup has a stronger flavor profile and may overpower the mustard.
• White Vinegar – Essential to balancing the sweetness with a little sourness! Don’t skip! Substituting with apple cider vinegar may be possible, but I have not tried it.

Step by Step Instructions

1. Add all of the ingredients to a bowl or mason jar with a lid.

2. Whisk until completely smooth and combined!

Chipotle Honey Mustard Dressing Variation

If you’re looking for a spicier honey mustard dressing, try this chipotle honey mustard variation (my favorite)!

1. Add two finely diced chipotle peppers in adobo sauce to your honey mustard and whisk to completely combine.

2. Taste and add additional adobo sauce until it’s spiced to your liking!

This version is perfect for taco salads, vegan sandwiches, vegan black bean burgers, crispy potato wedges, and more!

FAQs

How long will this dressing store for in the refrigerator? This dressing will last for a couple of weeks in the fridge if stored in an air-tight glass jar! Storing in plastic or a partially covered bowl with greatly reduce it’s lifespan.

Can I make this dressing oil-free? For an oil free version, I recommend substituting the mayonnaise with 4 ounces of silken tofu. This is going to require you to break out your blender to get an extra smooth and creamy dressing and does have a more pronounced mustard flavor, but this is a great viable option for a fat-free, oil-free version!

Expert Tips

• Add the agave nectar/maple syrup 1 tablespoon at a time and taste as you go! This will ensure it’s sweetened to your personal taste. Remember – it’s easy to add more, impossible to subtract!
• Drizzle this on everything! It’s so good and addicting!

What to Use this Dressing With

• Baked Dinosaur Tofu Nuggets
• Chickpea Avocado Salad Sandwich
• Chickpea Egg Breakfast Sandwiches