Healthy Paleo Dairy-Free Caramel Sauce Recipe | Wicked Spatula (2024)

See how to make dairy-free caramel sauce with 4 ingredients + 25 minutes! This vegan, healthy paleo caramel sauce recipe is EASY and silky smooth, with no refined sugar.

by Maya Last Updated on May 29, 2020 15 Comments

This dairy-free caramel sauce is so dreamy! Use this paleo caramel sauce recipe on top of ice cream, fruit, smoothies, and use it in any recipe that calls for caramel sauce.

After years of making healthy caramel sauce and it not having a dedicated post all to its glorious self, I decided it was time to highlight this liquid gold in a stand-alone post. No one will guess this is a paleo, vegan caramel sauce, because it tastes just like the regular kind.

What Is Caramel?

Caramel can vary between being a sauce or chewy candy. Dairy-free caramel sauce is a delicious topping that can be used on top of many treats and in several sweet recipes. When the ingredients are heated, they caramelize, and that is where caramel gets its name.

Enjoy healthy caramel sauce with all your favorite dessert recipes! It also makes a wonderful gift idea if you put it in a cute jar.

This gluten-free paleo caramel sauce recipe is versatile and can be used in many different ways.

How To Make Caramel Sauce

I actually have two versions of this recipe to share, both are really delicious, and it’s more of the “what ingredients do I have on hand?” than one being more delicious than the other. One uses maple syrup, and one uses coconut sugar. Here are the 2 sweetener options:

• 3/4 cup maple syrup OR
• 1/2 cup coconut sugar

Feel free to use whichever you have on hand!

There are just 2 easy steps for how to make healthy caramel sauce:

1. Combine coconut milk, maple syrup (or coconut sugar), coconut oil, vanilla extract, and sea salt in a medium saucepanover medium-high heat. Stirring frequently, bring the caramel to a boil.

2. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes. This may be medium or medium-low, depending on your stove.Continue to stir frequently for about 15 minutes, until it has reduced and thickened just enough to coat the back of a spoon. Set aside to cool.

How To Make Caramel Sauce Perfectly Every Time

PRO TIP #1: Use a tall-sided pot. The caramel will bubble up in the beginning, so to avoid a boil over, use a larger saucepan that you would think was necessary. Trust me when I say it’s not fun to clean up!

PRO TIP #2: Watch it closely. To tell when the caramel is done, you’ll want it to be able to coat the back of a spoon but not be super thick. As it cools, it will thicken up a bit more, so to avoid having hard caramel, be sure to pull it off at the right time.

Troubleshooting Tips For Dairy-Free Caramel Sauce

Sometimes, healthy caramel sauce can turn out different than what you intended. These troubleshooting tips will ensure you end up with perfect, delicious dairy-free caramel every time:

• Don’t pull it off too early. If after letting it cool for about 10 minutes at room temperature, it’s super runny, simply place it back on the heat and bring it to a simmer for a bit longer to thicken more.
• Don’t cook it too long. So you’ve let it get to the hardball stage, and your sauce is more like taffy? I’d suggest spreading it out onto wax paper and cutting into little squares. My favorite thing to do when this happens is to coat them in chocolate and top with a sprinkle of flaky sea salt. Yum!

If you follow the steps above you’re just a few moments away from having a jar of liquid gold to drizzle, scoop, and dollop.

Does Vegan Caramel Sauce Go Bad?

Yes, vegan caramel sauce can go bad. If you notice that it smells funny, looks really thick or watery, or has mold growing on it, then it’s time to toss it.

How Do You Store Dairy-Free Caramel Sauce?

Store dairy-free caramel sauce in the fridge in an airtight container or jar for 2 weeks. Additionally, you can store easy caramel sauce in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Warm this paleo caramel sauce recipe in the microwave for a few seconds before using, or reheat over low heat in a saucepan. After it is warm and melty, it’s ready to eat.

TIP: Sometimes homemade caramel sauce can split or separate if you heat it too fast. Pureeing it in a blender can help bring it back together.

What Can I Use Homemade Caramel Sauce For?

Homemade caramel sauce is great for so many things! Here are some common uses:

• Fruit – Drizzle a little bit of dairy-free caramel sauce on fresh apples, bananas, pears or any other fruits you enjoy.
• Desserts – Cookies, cakes, or ice cream. Healthy caramel sauce will make almost any dessert better!
• Drinks – Stir in a little bit of fresh vegan caramel sauce into your hot or cold drink, especially coffee or tea.

Paleo Dessert Recipes That Use Paleo Caramel Sauce

So many paleo desserts are better with homemade caramel sauce! Here are a few favorites:

• Vegan Caramel Creme Brulee
• Caramel Apple Nachos
• Paleo Iced Caramel Macchiato
• Paleo French Toast with Fried Bananas