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    Home » Recipe Index » Sauces, Dips and Condiments

    Vegan Caramel Sauce (Healthier Recipe)

    Published: Apr 11, 2021 · Modified: Sep 27, 2023 by Jessica

    JUMP TO RECIPE PIN SHARE

    This healthier vegan caramel sauce is like magic! Amazing sweet dates are blended with a few simple ingredients to create a luscious, super sweet and highly addictive caramel sauce. It's a very simple recipe done within 15 minutes. You can spoon/pour it over just about anything without feeling like you are overindulging. SO good!

    There is a homemade vegan caramel sauce in a mason jar that's topped with sea salt. On the side, there are slices of apples, fresh medjool dates and a black and white hand towel.

    There are so many vegan caramel sauces on the web, but lots of them are made using vegan butter, vegan cream and granulated sugar. These amazing gooey vegan caramel sauces are perfect for the occasional special moments. But, don't you feel like we should be able to enjoy caramel sauces at any time without feeling like we are spoiling a good healthy eating day? A caramel sauce that you would generously pour over your children's morning oatmeal bowls without any guilt?

    I got you covered.

    This version is made using only 4 ingredients: fresh medjool dates, maple syrup, vegan milk and a hint of coconut oil. It will NOT give you the exact classic caramel-y texture that stretches and pours like a thin sauce. BUT, its flavor and smooth sticky texture is SO darn delicious. You won't be able to resist eating it by the spoon!

    And it is very straight forward to prepare. After you soak the dates, then you only have to blend everything together. Easy peasy. Play around with the amount of vegan milk to reach a desired consistency and use this caramel sauce in anything you want to add a caramel-y flavor!

    (psst. if looking for a delicious layered caramel dessert, then check out this vegan millionaire shortbread!)

    There is a homemade vegan caramel sauce in a mason jar that's topped with sea salt. On the side, there are slices of apples, fresh medjool dates and a black and white hand towel. You can also see a hand holding on a piece of apple and digging in the sauce to show the texture.

    Why you will love this vegan caramel sauce

    • Rich flavor
    • Sticky, thick and super smooth texture
    • Extra sweet, thanks to the medjool dates
    • Easy, quick and simple recipe
    • No cooking required!
    • A healthier option compared to regular caramel sauces

    How to make this vegan caramel sauce

    • Soak the pitted dates in plenty of boiling water for 10 minutes. Drain.
    • Then, blend the softened dates, maple syrup, coconut oil and vegan milk until smooth.
    • Et voilà!
    Showing are the ingredients needed to make this recipe: fresh medjool dates, maple syrup, coconut oil and vegan milk

    Watch how to make it

    YouTube video

    Tips when making a date caramel sauce

    • The type and freshness of your dates will largely influence the result of your caramel. You want to choose large, moist, soft and fresh medjool dates. The small-ish, dried out and old dates that have been hanging out in your pantry for a while might not be the best choice when making this caramel sauce. You are looking for plump dates that will create a rich flavor and texture. You can find medjool dates in the produce section at your grocery stores.
    • When blending the sauce, take a few breaks to scrape the walls. You might have to do this for a few times. Even after soaking your dates and using a high speed blender, dates can take some time to be crushed into a luscious sauce.
    • You can adjust the texture of your sauce with more vegan milk if desired, especially if looking for a more pourable sauce. Using more milk will make your sauce not as sweet, which you could adjust by adding an extra tablespoon or so of maple syrup.

    Recipe variation

    I keep this recipe simple as I find its flavor so rich and delicious just as it is. But, you can also:

    • Add a hint of vanilla extract to enhance even more the sweetness.
    • Use canned coconut milk (mix well before using) instead of regular vegan milk. This will add more fat to the recipe, but also more richness and creaminess.
    • If you love the salt and sweet flavor combo, then add a pinch of sea salt.
    There is a homemade vegan caramel sauce in a mason jar that's topped with sea salt. On the side, there are slices of apples, fresh medjool dates and a black and white hand towel.

    How to use this vegan caramel sauce

    The question should be more how not to use this decadent delicious sauce! Here are my favorite usages:

    • Morning oatmeal or vegan overnight oats
    • Generously spread over toast or this vegan apple cinnamon bread
    • As a dipping sauce for fruits (perfect for apples)
    • Over vegan ice cream or when making caramel ice cream cups
    • To top cakes, cupcakes, healthy black bean brownies, vegan banana muffins
    • Or, for bad-days-binge-eating by the spoon. You do you, we are not watching.

    Storage

    Keep the date caramel sauce in a airtight container for 1-2 weeks in your fridge. Stir before using. The caramel might appear thicker as it cools down.

    It can also be frozen for up to 3 months.

    There is a homemade vegan caramel sauce in a mason jar that's topped with sea salt. On the side, there are slices of apples, fresh medjool dates and a black and white hand towel.

    Other sweet dessert sauces/toppings you might like

    • Cherry marmalade
    • Coconut whipped cream
    • Healthy peanut butter frosting
    • Vegan cashew vanilla icing
    • Tahini caramel sauce
    • Vegan fruit dip

    I hope you enjoy this vegan caramel sauce recipe 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!

    Let's stay in touch with Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook. Also, don't forget to subscribe to my newsletter to be sure not to miss anything.

    📖 Recipe

    There is a homemade vegan caramel sauce in a mason jar that's topped with sea salt. On the side, there are slices of apples, fresh medjool dates and a black and white hand towel.

    Vegan Caramel Sauce (Healthier Recipe)

    5 from 6 votes
    This healthier vegan caramel sauce is like magic! Amazing sweet dates are blended with a few simple ingredients to create a luscious, super sweet and highly addictive caramel sauce. It's a very simple recipe done within 15 minutes. You can spoon/pour it over just about anything without feeling like you are indulging. SO good!
    PRINT RECIPE PIN RECIPE
    Prep Time15 minutes mins
    Cook Time0 minutes mins
    Total Time15 minutes mins
    Servings 8
    Author Jessica Laroche

    Ingredients
      

    • 15 large medjool dates - pitted
    • ¼ cup maple syrup
    • 1 tbsp coconut oil - choose refined to avoid coconut flavor
    • ¾ to 1 cup vegan milk - or more to reach desired consistency, use oat milk for a nut-free recipe

    Instructions
     

    • Soak the pitted dates in boiling water for 10 minutes.
    • Drain the date and transfer to a blender. Add the rest of the ingredients and blend until very smooth. Start with ¾ cup of vegan milk and add more (¼ cup at the time) to reach the desired consistency.
    • Transfer to a air-tight container and store in the fridge for up to 7-10 days. Can be frozen for up to 3 months.

    Video

    YouTube video

    Notes

    • This healthier recipe yields a caramel sauce that is not easily pourable (it is more of a plop-able caramel!). This texture is due to its healthier ingredients. The flavors are incredible and the texture very smooth and sticky.
    • Serve over vegan ice cream, cakes, toasts, oatmeal bowls, vegan overnight oats, vegan ice cream cups, topping vegan banana muffins or cupcakes. Or, simply by the spoon!
    • Nutrition: please note that the nutritional information is an estimate per serving provided for informational purposes only (calculated by software) and accuracy is not guaranteed. Consult with your healthcare provider or a registered dietitian if you need precise nutrition calculations for health reasons.

    NUTRITION

    Calories: 178kcal | Carbohydrates: 43g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.03g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Sodium: 12mg | Potassium: 347mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 38g | Vitamin A: 113IU | Calcium: 72mg | Iron: 1mg
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Amy J. says

      February 02, 2025 at 6:30 am

      5 stars
      Yummy! I omitted the oil and it’s still super creamy and delicious! I use it to make a healthy caramel macchiato.

      Reply
      • Jessica says

        February 02, 2025 at 2:30 pm

        Hi Amy, thanks so much for your feedback, so glad it worked out! 😊

        Reply
    2. Keiarra T says

      June 06, 2024 at 10:52 pm

      What can I sup coconut oil for? My daughter has but allergie.

      Reply
      • Jessica says

        June 08, 2024 at 3:54 pm

        Hi Thanks for your question! You can omit the oil completely, it will still work! 😊

        Reply
    3. Dani says

      June 04, 2024 at 12:13 pm

      5 stars
      Made this today minus the maple syrup and it was just the right sweetness for my liking. I’ve eaten it with an apple and added some to my peanut butter protein balls. Thank you for this delicious recipe!

      Reply
      • Jessica says

        June 04, 2024 at 2:15 pm

        Hi Dani! Thanks so much for taking the time to comment. I'm glad you liked it! 😊

        Reply
    4. laura says

      February 29, 2024 at 3:36 pm

      has anyone use honey instead of maple syrup??

      Reply
    5. Jenny says

      December 08, 2023 at 8:03 pm

      5 stars
      This is soooo delicious! I’m totally addicted to this dip with apple slices…Yummo!! I make it with canned coconut milk to make it extra creamy and add a pinch of salt.

      Reply
      • Jessica says

        December 09, 2023 at 6:59 am

        Oh yum, coconut milk sounds amazing 😊 Thanks for sharing!

        Reply
    6. Evelyn says

      April 10, 2022 at 6:40 pm

      5 stars
      This is absolutely my favorite. I make it weekly😊. I first tried it with Deglet Noor dates as that is all I had and a big tub from Costco. Finally tried Mejooled dates and what a difference. I loved them before. But now wow these are fantastic

      Reply
      • Jessica says

        April 10, 2022 at 6:49 pm

        Thank you for your comment Evelyn! I'm glad you like it 🙂

        Reply
    7. Kimberly Grant says

      December 06, 2021 at 8:02 pm

      5 stars
      Love this sauce! Has a great flavor and just the right amount of sweetness.

      Reply
      • plantbasedjess says

        December 06, 2021 at 9:27 pm

        Oh great Kimberly! I'm glad you liked it 🙂

        Reply
        • Pam says

          February 21, 2022 at 1:36 pm

          5 stars
          This is a wonderful recipe!
          I make it often! Just wanted to add that I save the soaking water and use it in a variety of ways!!! It’s just enough sweetness for smoothies or cereal or whatever creativity takes you with it!!☺️

          Reply
          • Jessica says

            February 21, 2022 at 2:53 pm

            Hi Pam! I'm so glad you like it, thanks for your comment! 🙂

            Reply

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    Hi there! I’m Jessica, a pasta obsessed French Canadian now living in beautiful Maine. I’m a mom of two, experienced foodie and ninja meal planner. I believe everyone can make stress-free plant-based meals with wholesome ingredients that your family and friends will love. 

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