This quick & easy salted tahini caramel sauce is one of my favorite plant-based pantry recipes. Done within 2 minutes, no cook and fully vegan and dairy-free. Use over ice cream, brownies, in oatmeals and so much more. Loaded with a nice sweet nutty flavor and makes for a healthy twist on the classic caramel sauce.
This is the third post in a run of quick and easy recipes! I just posted these 20-minute kale noodles and this 5-ingredient customizable banana bread. I know you all love these no fuss recipes, so here is one more: a silky, rich and done within a blink of an eye vegan tahini caramel sauce.
Actually, it is so quick and easy that I'm not even sure it can officially be called a recipe.
More of a kitchen hack. Like a 2 minute max, 3-ingredient-if-you-count-the-salt and sweet-rich-very-caramelish kitchen hack.
It really is a perfect recipe for when you want a caramel sauce ultra quickly (yes, caramel emergencies are a thing), but without using any dairy cream, butter or refined white sugar, and also while avoiding cooking anything at all.
There is no thermometer implicated and no wait time staring at the pot hoping for not a burnt disaster. All you need to do is to stir in a bowl and that's it! I love how fail proof this recipe is and how it stores very well too.
Soooooooo, let's talk about flavor now. Because the texture is, to my opinion, absolutely perrfffect. Look at that stream below ❤️.
But, the thing is that you kind of need to appreciate the flavor from tahini already. This recipe is 50% tahini + 50% maple syrup with a little salt, which means that the flavor from the tahini will be quite obvious.
Oh boy, we love it so very much. Tahini adds a hearty flavor with a lot of nutty background. It actually makes the sauce super rich, loaded with deep flavors and without that fake sugary taste you get in some caramel sauces. See what I mean?
Plus, using tahini to make a caramel sauce really boosts its nutrition. It is filled with healthy fats, minerals (lots of selenium), vitamins and even antioxidants. All things you would not get from using cream and white sugar!
If you are not sure about using tahini to make a caramel, then check out my date caramel instead. This one is more of a dip though. If you want a pourable caramel that really looks like the real deal, then this recipe will be better.
You NEED to try it out! And since this recipe really simply is to combine an exact ratio of tahini and maple syrup together, why don't you try it out with just a little bit for a taste test? I'm sure you will end up make yourself a huge jar afterwards.
Let me know if you liked it in the comment below, I want to know! 😀
What's tahini
Tahini paste or butter is made by grinding sesame seeds into a runny consistency. You can find either hulled or un-hulled tahini, which will depend if the outer layer from the sesame seeds was remove prior to grinding.
Tahini has a prominent nutty flavor and can be used for both sweet and savory recipes, such as spicy tahini sauce for buddha bowls, sweet tahini Asian sauce for sushi roll or simply garlic tahini sauce for pasta (Italian style). I also love to use tahini for salads, especially when combined with balsamic vinegar (check out this creamy tahini dressing).
It really is a versatile ingredient that's healthy and rich in good-for-you fats. You can easily find it in any grocery stores, usually around the peanut butter or in the international section.
When purchasing tahini, ensure there are no other ingredients added and aim for a hulled tahini if new to the flavor (hulled = milder in flavor and lighter in color). But, both hulled and hulled will work here.
I used the tahini from the brand 365, but any brand should work as long as it has a pourable consistency.
Is tahini gluten-free?
Yes! Tahini is a single ingredient paste made only using sesame seed. This means that this caramel sauce is completely gluten-free as well!
Ingredients you'll need
- Tahini paste
- Maple syrup
- Kosher salt
How to make it
So simple! Combine the tahini, maple syrup and kosher salt in a medium bowl, whisk well and enjoy looking at the mixture turn into a beautiful smooth caramel sauce within 30 seconds. It should only take a minute or two!
It is ready to serve right away or transfer to a storing container to use later.
Watch how to make it
Useful tips
- If you end up using a tahini paste that's thicker, then you might want to add a little more maple syrup to help loosen up the consistency to a saucier one. You can check out my video to have an idea of the tahini texture I am talking about.
- Feel free to add more flavor to your sauce, such as cinnamon, cardamom, vanilla extract, etc. I like mine simply salted, so I added a little kosher salt, but that's optional.
- I know maple syrup is kinda expensive, but I believe that agave nectar would work too instead. Just start with a little less and adjust the amount as needed (maple syrup and agave don't have the exact same consistency).
Dairy-free caramel sauce serving suggestions
This caramel sauce is amazing over so many sweets! My favorite way to use it is drizzled over ice cream, but also try over cake, brownies, pies or any baked goods. I served it over a vegan brownie mug cake and it was such a treat!
Also, this sauce is healthy enough to be enjoyed for breakfast such as oatmeals (amazing over this matcha chocolate oatmeal), smoothie bowl or simply fruits, especially apple slices. Another good idea would be to use it instead of maple syrup for pancakes and waffles.
Try drizzling it over lattes to add creaminess and sweetness and add more kosher salt at serving for an added crunch.
Storage tips
Simply store in an air-tight container in a cool pantry. It is such a small batch recipe and delicious that it never lasted more than a week in my house. But if yours survives longer, then I would imagine it would store better in the fridge (will firm up a bit in that case).
More sweet sauce and frosting recipes
- Peanut butter frosting
- Vegan dark chocolate frosting
- Coconut whipped cream
- Date caramel
- Blueberry chia jam
- Cherry marmalade
- Vegan cashew icing
I hope you like this tahini caramel sauce 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!
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Salted Tahini Caramel
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup maple syrup
- ⅓ cup tahini - pourable consistency
- pinch of kosher salt - to taste
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, simply combine all the ingredients and whisk well until uniform. Taste and add as much kosher salt as you want.
- Use right away over ice cream, in oatmeals, over smoothie bowls or even lattes, etc. This tahini caramel is especially delicious drizzled over brownies! Transfer to an air-tight container for storage. Keep in the pantry for up to 7 days. Transfer to the fridge for longer storage (will thicken as it cools down).
Video
Notes
- If you are using a thicker tahini, then you might need to add more maple syrup to loosen up its texture.
- I know maple syrup is kinda expensive, but I believe that agave nectar would work too instead. Just start with a little less and adjust the amount as needed (maple syrup and agave don't have the exact same consistency).
- Flavor the tahini caramel by adding cinnamon, cardamom or vanilla extract.
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