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    Home Β» Recipes Β» Sauces

    Vegan Caramel

    Published: Apr 20, 2023 Β· Modified: May 13, 2025 Β· by Puja Verma

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This dreamy vegan caramel recipe is a rich and velvety sauce perfect for all your dessert needs! Made with simple, plant-based ingredients, it's incredibly easy to make and has the perfect balance of sweet and salty elements. Serve it with pancakes, waffles, ice cream, and more!

    A spoonful of vegan caramel sauce drizzling over a glass jar full of caramel sauce.

    Why you'll love this recipe

    • Easy to make: In just a few simple steps, you can achieve a rich, smooth, and creamy homemade caramel sauce.
    • Vegan-friendly: This recipe is suitable for a wide audience since it’s both dairy-free and gluten-free.
    • Versatile: Use vegan caramel for ice cream, cake, pancakes, cookies, frappes, and any other treat you can think of!
    • Customizable: Adjust the saltiness, use different plant milk, or add in other flavor enhancers like cinnamon, chocolate, and pumpkin spice.

    What is vegan caramel?

    Vegan salted caramel is a plant-based alternative to traditional caramel sauce, only this time without dairy! Caramel can be traced back to ancient times, but adding a touch of salt is a more modern take that really balances the sweetness of the sauce.

    Once reduced, it has a deep amber color, a velvety texture, and a rich flavor that everyone will love! All you have to do is melt the sugar and combine it with vegan butter, oat milk, vanilla, and salt.

    You can serve vegan salted caramel with so many different recipes, but some of my favorites include waffles, pancakes, ice cream, and cheesecake.

    Why isn’t caramel vegan?

    Traditional caramel is made with heavy cream, butter, granulated sugar, and vanilla. Since some of those ingredients are only suitable for vegetarians, I decided to create a vegan caramel recipe instead.

    By using oat milk and vegan butter, you can achieve almost the same flavor without compromising the texture. I promise once you try this version, you won’t miss dairy-based recipes one bit!

    Ingredients & Substitutions

    Ingredients for vegan caramel sauce laid out individually with labels.
    • Sugar: Provides a delicate sweetness and caramelization. You can substitute it with an equal amount of coconut sugar for a slightly more pronounced flavor.
    • Oat milk: Creates a creamy vegan salted caramel sauce. If you’d prefer another option, try cashew, soy, or almond milk.
    • Vegan butter: Gives the sauce a rich, buttery flavor and silky consistency. Replace vegan butter with coconut oil if you don’t have any on hand.
    • Vanilla extract: Enhances the caramel's flavor, adding a sweet and creamy element. You can also try vanilla bean paste or a different extract like almond or maple.
    • Salt: Balances the sweetness, creating the perfect salted caramel taste. I recommend using sea salt or kosher salt for the best results.

    How to make vegan salted caramel

    Caramel sugar in a sauce pan.
    • Step 1: Start by adding the sugar to a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook it until the sugar dissolves and turns a deep amber color.
    Boiling caramel sauce in a sauce pan.
    • Step 2: At this point, turn the heat down to low and add the vegan butter. Continuously whisk the mixture to prevent any sugar clumps. The caramel will bubble up as you add the butter, but just keep whisking it until the butter is fully melted.
    Caramel sauce in a sauce pan with a frothy swirl over the top.
    • Step 3: Slowly whisk in the oat milk until it is completely incorporated, then immediately remove the saucepan from the heat. Whisk in the vanilla extract and salt, mixing well.
    Vegan caramel sauce in sauce pan.
    • Step 4: Set the sauce aside and let it cool for about 15 minutes. Once cooled, transfer your vegan salted caramel to an airtight glass jar. It will continue thickening as it cools down completely.

    What to serve with vegan caramel

    You can enjoy vegan caramel in all the same ways you’d normally serve regular caramel. Here are some of my favorite ideas:

    • On top of protein pancakes or waffles
    • Drizzled over vanilla bean ice cream
    • Mixed into flaxseed pudding
    • To sweeten oatmeal or yogurt
    • As a dip for apple slices or other fruit
    • Paired with oat milk whipped cream
    Vegan caramel sauce drizzling over vanilla ice cream in a coconut bowl.

    Storage & Reheating

    To keep your vegan salted caramel sauce fresh, follow these storage and reheating tips:

    • Fridge: Store the caramel in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. Leaving it at room temperature for an hour before using will also help loosen the consistency.
    • Freezer: If you can’t get to your vegan caramel recipe quickly enough, it will keep in the freezer for up to 5-6 months in a freezer-safe container.
    • Reheating: Warm the caramel in a saucepan over low heat. Alternatively, microwave it in 30-second intervals, stirring frequently, until you’ve reached your desired consistency.
    • Prep ahead: Since this recipe lasts so long in the fridge, it can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator until you’re ready to use it.

    Variations

    • Coffee: Stir in a teaspoon of instant coffee or espresso powder for a coffee-infused salted vegan caramel. 
    • Chocolate: Add 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder or vegan chocolate chips during the butter melting stage.
    • Spicy: Add a pinch of cayenne or chili powder for a spicy kick.
    • Coconut: Use coconut milk instead of oat milk for an ultra-rich and creamy flavor.
    • Maple-infused: Swap the sugar for maple syrup and reduce the amount of oat milk.
    • Rum: Once it’s off the heat, stir in a tablespoon of dark rum for a unique twist.
    Vegan caramel sauce in a glass jar next to green apples.

    Top tips

    • Don’t burn it: Keep an eye on the sugar as it cooks to avoid burning. If it does, you’ll have to make it over again to prevent a bitter flavor.
    • Whisk the caramel: Continuously whisk the mixture to ensure a smooth and lump-free sauce.
    • Adjust the salt: Adjust the salt level to suit your personal taste. You can even omit it!
    • Be cautious: When you add the butter and milk, the caramel may bubble up, so be extra careful to avoid any burns.
    • Let it cool: Allow the caramel to cool slightly before using it since it tends to thicken more as it sits.

    FAQ

    Can I use a sugar substitute like stevia or erythritol?

    I haven’t tested this vegan caramel recipe with sugar substitutes, but the caramelization process and final texture may vary if you use something else. Make sure you check the brand’s instructions for substitution ratios.

    Can I make this caramel sauce without added salt?

    Absolutely! Just omit it completely for a classic vegan caramel sauce.

    How can I thicken the caramel if it's too thin?

    If the caramel is too thin, return it to the stovetop and cook it for a few minutes while constantly stirring.Β 

    A spoonful of vegan caramel sauce drizzling over a glass jar full of caramel sauce.

    More flavor enhancers

    If you enjoyed this vegan caramel recipe, be sure to check out some more of my favorite flavor enhancers like these:

    • Brown Sugar Syrup: A rich, complex sauce made with only two ingredients.
    • Lavender Simple Syrup: Simple syrup infused with ​​floral and herbal flavors.
    • Cardamom Syrup: A unique flavor that will enhance all your favorite dishes from coffee to ice cream.
    • Lemongrass Paste: Sweet, sour, spicy, and salty soup base or stew enhancer.
    Spoonfull of vegan caramel sauce drizzling over a glass mason jar full of it.

    Salted Carmel (Vegan)

    5 from 2 votes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes mins
    Total Time: 10 minutes mins
    Serving Size: 1 small jar
    Author Puja Verma
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe

    DESCRIPTION

    Rich and velvety caramel sauce made 100% vegan. It has the perfect balance of sweet and salty elements. Serve it with pancakes, waffles, or your favorite desserts. A drizzle of this deep amber colored sauce is so heavenly.

    INGREDIENTS
      

    • Β½ cup sugar
    • ΒΌ cup oat milk full fat
    • 2 tablespoon vegan butter
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • ΒΌ teaspoon salt

    METHOD
     

    • Add sugar to a small sauce pan on medium heat. Cook until sugar dissolves and turns a deep amber color.
    • Turn down the heat to low. Add butter and continuously whisk to avoid sugar to form clumps.
      Note: The caramel will start to bubble up when adding butter, but continuously whisk till the butter is all melted.
    • Slowly whisk in the oat milk until it is all incorporated, then immediately remove from heat.
    • Whisk in the vanilla extract and salt.
    • Set aside and let it cool down for 15 minutes. Then transfer it into an air-tight glass jar.
      Note: The caramel thickens once it is completely cooled down.

    NOTES

    • Don’t burn it: Keep an eye on the sugar as it cooks to avoid burning. If it does, you’ll have to make it over again to prevent a bitter flavor.
    • Whisk the caramel: Continuously whisk the mixture to ensure a smooth and lump-free sauce.
    • Adjust the salt: Adjust the salt level to suit your personal taste. You can even omit it!
    • Be cautious: When you add the butter and milk, the caramel may bubble up, so be extra careful to avoid any burns.
    • Let it cool: Allow the caramel to cool slightly before using it since it tends to thicken more as it sits.

    NUTRITION

    Calories: 148kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 0.3g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.03g | Sodium: 198mg | Potassium: 11mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 26g | Vitamin A: 298IU | Calcium: 22mg | Iron: 0.1mg
    Course: Condiments
    Cuisine: All
    Keyword: vegan caramel, vegan salted caramel
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
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    Puja from Green Heart Love

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